For forty years I led you through the desert … yet your sandals did not wear out." Duet. 29:5
“This is the ceremony you must follow when you consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests.”
The solemnity of this earthly ceremony with its blood sacrifices and burnt offerings must have been awesome. And yet it pictured a far more awesome ceremony in the heavenlies, the revelation of which lay far in the future.
“For Aaron’s sons, make tunics, sashes and special head coverings that are glorious and beautiful.”
The LORD is the beginning and the end, and he knows everything in between. When he gave this command to Moses, he knew that two of Aaron’s sons would be cut off because of their wickedness. And yet, because of the sacredness of the office they would hold, even if briefly, he orders that priestly garments be made for them.
“Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the Lord’s presence all night.”
This task assigned to Aaron and his sons as priests in the tabernacle is a wonderful metaphor for the inner life of a servant of God.
And we are servants too, just as Aaron and his sons were. Unworthy, at times unreliable, yet servants nonetheless.
“Embroider it with exquisite designs, using blue, purple and scarlet thread.”
When the tabernacle was completed according to the LORD’s instructions, it was a job well done.
The ability to design and create – whether tabernacles, edifices, machines, music, art or children – is one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind. It is nothing less than the stamp of the image of God.
“These carrying poles must stay inside the rings; never remove them.”
The carrying poles were inserted into the rings for transport. But they were not to be removed, symbolizing the transitory nature of the placement of the Ark of the Covenant, where God’s presence dwelt.
“And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!”
Inexplicably, God’s deepest desire seems to be to fellowship with his covenant people.
“Do not even speak their names.”
God gave careful instructions to his people through his servant Moses, so they might be holy, and wholly devoted to the LORD their God.
“You must be my holy people.”
The little word “must” is used over and over again in this chapter, accompanying every command given by the LORD.
What an emotionally charged word! Not “could”, or “might”, or even “shall” – but “must”.
The command of God, the promise of God and the zeal of God all come together in this one little word. Must.
“These are the regulations you must present to Israel.”
The people of Israel were to be God’s treasured possession and, as such, were to reflect His justice and righteousness. To that end, God gave them these regulations. It was God’s to order. It was theirs to obey.
“If you use stones to build my altar, use only natural, uncut stones. Do not shape the stones with a tool, for that would make the altar unfit for holy use.”
Using a tool to shape the stones of the altar symbolizes man’s attempt to to be right with God by his own efforts. It is the essence of religion. But God doesn’t want it. Nothing artificial. Salvation is not man-made.
God will do the shaping. He will fit us for his work. There is no way we can fit ourselves.
How fitting the Christmas hymn now playing in the background: “…and fit us for heaven to live with Thee there”.
