Thursday 6 October 2011

AARON - WHO GAVE HIS ALL


AARON - WHO GAVE HIS ALL

It’s of no use to simply keep turning the pages of the Bible. One can’t gain anything by
mindless perusing. But, if it is done with the mediation of the Holy Spirit then a life time
will also prove short for understanding it. This universe is massive. Astronomers are
discovering new galaxies every day that are continually expanding its boundaries. And,
in this unending vastness of our universe, the words that wield most force are those
within the Bible.

We are blessed, if we are learning how to wield these words and if our life and heart
is set on these words.Not those that simply read it, but those whose life is set on it.
Such people are the most blessed in this the world. The stars, the creation and all living
things long to hear these words and we have been chosen to understand and know
them by God.

Background:

The book of Leviticus is meant for those that are called to ministry. Levi was a tribe
of Israel that was chosen by God to specially work for and represent God amongst
God’s people. They were a group of people chosen to serve, through special mediation,
service and commission, as a link between God and his people. Therefore, the book
has been named Leviticus. Moses as well as his brother Aaron belonged to the tribe of
Levi. And their children were Levites and so, this book was written for them.

Moses has led the people out of Egypt. They have now almost reached the boundary of
where God wants to lead them. They have prepared the Tent of Meeting. The distance
was very short. In current times, one could have reached the land within 10 minutes via
helicopter.

Scripture Reading:

 1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added
incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his
command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed
them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what
the LORD spoke of when he said:

   “‘Among those who approach me      I will be proved holy;
in the sight of all the people      I will be honored.’”

   Aaron remained silent.

 4 Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and
said

front
outside the camp, as Moses ordered.

 6 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your
hair
will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, all the Israelites, may
mourn for those the LORD has destroyed by fire. 7 Do not leave the entrance to
the tent of meeting or you will die, because the LORD’s anointing oil is on you.”
So they did as Moses said.

8 Then the LORD said to Aaron, 9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or

other
This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, 10 so that you can
distinguish
clean, 11 and so you can teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given
them through Moses.”

Leviticus 10:1-10

God ordains people for His purposes:

This passage is very tricky and hard to understand. Aaron had two sons, Nadab and
Abihu. God had appointed Moses over everyone. He was in the place of God for Aaron,
Nadab and Abihu. His words are final for them. This is a very important point for us in
our life. God places people on his behalf in our life. But we don’t consider the weight
that their words carry. In this case, Moses was carrying the Word of God for them.
Moses was speaking to Aaron, Nadab and Abihu not God. But God had ordained him.
This is very significant. In life, God ordains people for his own purposes. One can’t
decide and pick and choose on his own. This is not a job to be taken up. The scripture
teaches that God works only through people he has ordained. Here, God has ordained
only three out of the thousands of Levites. They are Aaron, Nadab and Abihu. They
were not useless just because they were burnt to death. They were chosen men of God.
God has picked them and ordained them to do his service.

If people who haven’t been chosen try to take on God’s matters in their hands, it will
never work. God chooses people and expects them to work according to his pattern.
Moses was doing the same. Probably, they took Moses’s words lightly. God has told
Moses that for Aaron, Moses would have been at God’s place. Moses was doing his job
faithfully and was instructing them accordingly. God had very intricately instructed them
included the tiniest of details and they did it.

God’s Word is All-Sufficient:

When God asked the people to make the Tent of Meeting, they were in the wilderness.
He asked them to use leather of seals but how would they get it there. He asked to use
acacia wood which wasn’t found in the wilderness. Where would they get all this? They
were asked to use precious stones and gold beyond measure. Provision of all this was
not possible in the wilderness but God wanted to teach Moses that HIS WORD IS ALL
SUFFICIENT.

When he speaks, he does so with all sufficiency. When God says he’ll accomplish
something, he has already done it. Whenever he says anything, he prepares everything
necessary for it. One need not wail and cry for it. One need not confirm it several
times. His Word is all-sufficient. This was the point of focus. And we see that they
were provided with all that God asked the Israelites to use. We don’t know how it was
accomplished but it became possible because His Word is preceded by complete
provision.

They were asked to inlay the gold plates with precious stones. They had to use gems
called Urim and Thummim. One meant enlightened and therefore, represented one who
has received the revelation of God, one who has encountered God. He is the one who
speaks beside God. Thummim meant holy and hence, represented one who walks in
his holiness. The man who wielded these stones was a man of revelation and holiness.
Thus, he was according to God’s image representing the Garden of Eden.

These three were appointed by God for this work. But they seemed to take Moses’s
words lightly.

1

incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his
command.

It is written that the fire to be used should be from the altar in the Tent of meeting.

(Lev 1:7, Lev 3:5, Lev 6:12,13). The fire on the altar should never go out. It should
always stay alight. And this fire was to be used. God had spoken through Moses that
it should always remain alight. The point is that it represented God’s character, his
holiness and his power. The people were to remain aware at all times that the God who
was amongst them was all-powerful and holy. And therefore, God had instructed this.
But Nadab and Abihu used another fire. They took it lightly. They thought that any fire
would do. They didn’t see any difference in this fire and any other fire. Therefore, they
did this. So, they got the fire from another place. The moment they did this, a massive
fire burnt them alive.

There is a message here. God doesn’t compromise with his Word. He doesn’t go back
on what he has spoken. He never compromises. If he says something, he stands by it.

He never waters down his Word. His Word is to be followed exactly to the letter. And
thus, he sends this message through the fire.

When God ordains, he does so for separation. It’s not a side business. Moses asked the
other sons not to mourn because the oil of Anointing was on them or they would have
died. There was a purpose upon their lives and there was a destiny ordained for them.
Moses was asking them not to move from that or their condition would become like their
brothers.

One can’t take God’s words lightly. You might be living in such a condition only because
someone is interceding for you. He is the God who never changes. He is the same
today. Your security, the grace upon you is because the people of God are interceding
for you. Don’t tempt your destiny and let the people of God move away from your life.
The God of Nadab and Abihu is alive today. In the times of Elijah, he brought down fire.
During the time of Daniel, fire couldn’t destroy his friends. God is the same today.

Aaron – the man of revelation:

In this case, Aaron emerges as an interesting character. He has to do the same work.
He has to minister at the altar where his sons were burnt to death. We generally
remember Abraham but not Aaron. Abraham had not even killed his son [though his
significance can’t be denied] but we remember him but here the situation is graver.
Aaron or his sons had not chosen to serve God. But God had appointed them. To serve
God was a very fearful responsibility and they were aware of that. God told Moses
to call Aaron and his sons and appoint them. Humanly speaking, they should have
declined it but they didn’t. And now after his sons have fallen dead, Aaron doesn’t flinch
from walking to the same altar. He didn’t shirk from it.

The key quality of Aaron was the revelation of God that he carried. He knew whom he
was serving. The one who has the true revelation of God overcomes every situation.
The man of revelation is not cowed down by emotion. God doesn’t speak at any time
during this incident; it is only Moses who speaks. Aaron’s other sons pick up the dead
bodies and go. Aaron doesn’t become a part of it. [v.4]

 4 Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and
said to them, “Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the
front of the sanctuary.”

The man of revelation is strong. He is not moved. The God that he has encountered is
all-sufficient. The realm that he has entered is all-sufficient. He places all his conflicts,
sufferings, struggles on one hand and the revelation of God on the other and praises
God. He remembers his redeemer. He knows his King and walks in his revelation. The
same is true for Aaron. The one who has the revelation of God walks by this revelation

not by sight.

Paul had to go through many struggles and yet, when he encounters King Agrippa,
all he can say is “How can I deny what I have seen?” The same situation occurs with
Aaron. The young men took God’s word lightly and hence faced the wrath of God. God
didn’t compromise his standards. He believes in quality and maintains his standard.

If we have received the revelation of God, we have been enlightened by the King,
then, don’t take that lightly. If we take it lightly, we still serve the same God who didn’t
compromise with Nadab and Abihu. He will never compromise his standards. There is
no room for crossing his limits.

We, then, see that Aaron is to dedicate his other two sons. And Aaron’s reaction is of
complete submission. He is not broken with emotions nor has the situation bowed him
down. He doesn’t walk in fear of what his next two sons might do. Aaron’s dedication to
God is remarkable. He is ready with his family. His attitude is that of Job that God takes
what he gives. God’s words should be understood in light of his judgment. God gives his
instructions to the letter and if the people of God don’t follow them, there’s a judgment to
face. It reflects His authority and His Lordship over His people.

Moses then brings God’s word to Aaron that whoever approaches me should declare
his Holiness and His Glory. The same is true for the Church. We approach God to
attribute His Holiness and His Glory and increase it. God is a God of detailing. He pays
attention to detail as well as the overall model. He wants to teach us that everything that
He does is according to a model, a pattern.

Aaron took these words seriously. He didn’t mourn for forty days nor did he mourn with
his family. His attitude was of complete dedication. The same attitude is seen in the
people who sell all their possessions and put it at the feet of the Apostles. All that is
their’s is given with complete dedication.

All that is mine is the Lord’s.

Staying under God’s Anointing:

The oil of Anointing is upon us. Anointing is entering the realm of the abilities of God.
We do this by allowing God to work in us. Its sign is that we have seen the Kingdom,
that we have seen the King, that we have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. We have
been anointed to work in His strength, ability and power. God keeps one expectation
from us after he anoints us

Walk in my strength not yours. Walk in my purposes not yours. You are mine.

The anointing represents God’s ownership over your life. The Holy Spirit puts a seal

on us ‘Separated for the Lord’. Anointing is not accidental, it is purposeful. We are no
longer our own, we are the Lord’s. The choice lies with us. Just as Aaron said and so
did his other two sons,

 “You want us. Here we are ”

The anointing brings them from one position into the position of God’s presence. Lets us
consider our lives and decide where we will go. Will we go the way of Nadab and Abihu
or of Aaron, Eleazar and Ithamar? The cost doesn’t matter, are we ready to pay it and
dedicate ourselves towards his purpose beyond compromise, beyond self?

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