God requires ‘ABSOLUTE’ OBEDIENCE from US as ‘HIS PRIESTS’!
February
2 Bible Reading: Leviticus Chapters 7-9
God requires ‘ABSOLUTE’ OBEDIENCE from US as ‘HIS PRIESTS’!
"Then Aaron lifted his hand toward
the people, blessed them, and came down from offering the sin offering, the
burnt offering, and peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the
tabernacle of meeting, and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of
the Lord appeared to all the people and fire came out from before the Lord and
consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw
it, they shouted and fell on their faces." (Lev 9:22-24)
Leviticus
chapter 9 gives us an accurate description regarding the start of the priestly
ministry of Aaron and his sons. After Aaron and his sons were consecrated for
the priestly ministry by Moses (8:1-32), they were prohibited from leaving the
door of the Tabernacle for seven days and nights (8:33-36). As an act of
absolute obedience, "Aaron and his
sons did all the things that the
Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses." (8:36)
On the
eighth day, Moses called Aaron, his sons and the elders of Israel, and gave
specific instructions to offer a sin
offering, a burnt offering and peace offerings as they would begin
their priestly ministry (9:1-4). Then
Moses said, "This is the thing which the Lord commanded you to do, and the
glory of the Lord will appear to you" (9:6). As a response to God’s
Word through Moses, Aaron and his sons obeyed completely and did everything
that was required (9:7-21). At the end of this ceremony, “Aaron lifted his hand toward the people, blessed them, and came down
from offering the sin offering, the burnt offering, and peace offerings.”
We can see
something extraordinary that happened when Moses and Aaron completely obeyed
God and satisfied His requirements (9:23-24):
- God’s glory appeared to ALL the people of Israel.
- A fire came out from God and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar, signifying God’s approval of the offering.
- When all the people of Israel saw these mighty acts of God, they shouted, fell on their faces and worshiped God.
As a
spiritual application, we need to realize that we are the ‘holy priesthood’
of God on this earth. "You also,
as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to
offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ"
(1 Peter 2:5). We also are the ‘royal priesthood’ of God. "But you are a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim
the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous
light" (1 Peter 2:9).
