A High Priest
Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control – for Aaron had let them get out of control . . . Exodus 32:25
Out Of Control – It was a sad day for Israel. Moses was up on the mountain with God, receiving the summary of God’s constitution for the governance of His people. In his absence, these recently-liberated slaves demanded that Aaron produce a physical representation of God. Aaron succumbs to their request and the golden calf is fabricated. When Moses discovers the idolatry, terrible consequences result. The text tells us that the people entered into pagan fertility cult practices in their revelry. There is little doubt that their “worship” involved sexual activity, the same sort of activity that God absolutely condemned in the Canaanite religion. God’s judgment was swift. Thousands died. But amazingly, Aaron did not. There is something very odd about this because it is Aaron who actually shoulders the blame for the actions of the people. Aaron let them “run wild.” He actively participated in the idolatry. But instead of dying with the rest, he is forgiven and elevated to the office of high priest. How can this be? In an age when Christians routinely shoot their wounded, what can we learn from this incident?
Two lessons emerge from the treatment of Aaron. The first is obvious. God is full of mercy and grace. Those who repented, including Aaron, were spared and reinstated into a relationship with YHWH. Of course, forgiveness was not automatic. Confession (something Aaron struggled to do) and repentance were absolutely necessary. In addition, even after repentance and forgiveness, the relationship with YHWH changed. Read the story again. Following this incident, the presence of God remains outside the camp until the completion of the Tabernacle. The people recognize this breach. They are allowed to experience the grief that follows infidelity until the pain of separation is indelibly impressed. Nevertheless, this event demonstrates God’s amazing grace.
But what about Aaron the high priest? It seems to me that this incident underlines the problem of sin, even in the high priest. Aaron is not the holiest of men, chosen by God because of his blameless righteousness. In fact, Aaron is a moral failure just like the rest of us. He knows what it means to deny the Lord. He knows what it means to lie about his complicity. He knows what it means to stand before God by grace alone. When God chooses Aaron for the task of high priest, God makes it abundantly clear that this high priest can’t save anyone, not even himself.
And that points us forward to another high priest, a high priest who does not come from the line of Aaron, who is not from the tribe of Levi and whose standing is of the order of Melchizedek – a different order entirely. Yeshua shouldn’t even be a high priest, according to the requirement of Levi. But He is, by another means. Nevertheless, there is something that connects these two high priests. They both know temptation. Yeshua is not insulated or immune from the very temptations that lead us astray. He knows Aaron’s failure, just as He knows mine. But He didn’t let the people run wild. He didn’t fall into sin as the order of Levi did. He knows what it means to struggle with human self-will, but He isn’t part of that choice. His is the true priesthood of grace.
Aaron points. Yeshua delivers.
Topical Index: high priest, Aaron, Exodus 32:25, Hebrews 4:15
Praise God for His mercy and grace! Mercy – not receiving what we deserve (i.e. death). Grace – receiving what we don’t deserve (i.e. being restored to relationship).
There are a couple of other points worth making about this story that are rather pertinent to today. Firstly, although they had been physically set free from Egypt they still hadn’t learned to think like free men – they still thought like slaves. They came out of a culture where one could not go directly to any god – an intermediary was necessary. Moses fulfilled this role, as evidenced by their plea, “Moses – don’t let God speak directly to us any more, lest we die. You tell us what He says, and whatever you say, we’ll do!” (paraphrased). When Moses failed to come back down the mountain in the time frame that they expected (“we don’t know what has happened to this Moses”) they begged Aaron to make for them another intermediary to “act” between them and YHVH.
Look at what Aaron says when He has made the calf. “Tomorrow is a Feast to YHVH”. Were they really worshipping the gods of Egypt? I don’t think so, not in their minds. In their mindset they wanted to worship YHVH but did it their way, through an intermediary of their own making and celebration of their own design instead of in the way that YHVH said that He wanted to be worshipped. Kind of sounds like another prominent religion today, doesn’t it? Worshipping God our way instead of His? And, yes, I’ve been just as guilty of this as the next person, so I’m not pointing any fingers. To quote a very experienced Torah teacher, “What happens to the fathers happens to their descendants.” Or, like fathers like sons…
Did YHVH accept their excuses? No way! In HIS view it was idolatry, pure and simple, and the people suffered the consequences. We should take heed today and learn how the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob said that He wanted to be served and worshipped. To do otherwise, to tell God how we will worship Him and expect Him to find that acceptable, is presumptuous and arrogant.
Good morning brother Skip- (and friends!)
I remember my son, (years ago), announcing to us as he woke up.. “I’ve got a smile in my mouth!”
Today, I feel the same way- I’ve got a smile in my mouth!- Praise His name!
By G-d’s Word, at last my sin I learned, then I trembled at the law I’d spurned, till my guilty soul imploring turned -to Calvary. Mercy there was great and grace was free.. pardon there was mulitiplied to me! There, my burdened soul found liberty! At Calvary.
For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. (John 1.17)
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2.10)
Yeouch! I am the guilty one- condemned, unclean. “The law” has established my guilt before a holy G-d. Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! (Isaiah 6.5)
What to do? what to do? -“O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death?” (Romans 7.24)
And then Rabbi Shaul answers His own question in the very next verse: “O thank God! [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord!”
And why am I so happy today? “For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1.17 AMP)
Free from the law, O happy condition,
Jesus has bled and there is remission,
Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,
Grace hath redeemed us once for all.
Once for all, O sinner, receive it,
Once for all, O brother, believe it;
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.
Now we are free, there’s no condemnation,
Jesus provides a perfect salvation.
“Come unto Me,” O hear His sweet call,
Come, and He saves us once for all.
Once for all, O sinner, receive it,
Once for all, O brother, believe it;
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.
“Children of God,” O glorious calling,
Surely His grace will keep us from falling;
Passing from death to life at His call;
Blessed salvation once for all.
Once for all, O sinner, receive it,
Once for all, O brother, believe it;
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.
Hi Skip,
I read this piece last night and again this morning and found it informative and interesting.
But both readings left me with a feeling of concern for Jews and some non-Jews.
It seems to me that it would be very easy to conclude, based on these “facts” and especially if you have knowledge of Truth (Jesus), that only followers of Jesus have a true religion.
Shalom Michael, (not sure this comment is responsive to your feelings …. but two cents anyway 🙂 )
Concern and mourning are indeed appropriate … but so is HOPE!
Religion is one thing (and The Word tells us that it is not unimportant) …. but relationship with G_D is another matter and this simply can not happen without Yeshua/Jesus! HE is our EVERYTHING! ELOHIM is no respecter of persons be they Jew or Gentile. All come unto ELOHIM through and in The only begotten SON!
So we should be concerned and do what we are supposed to do as servants …. try our best to usher folks (by our faith and knowledge of the Truth) towards Yeshua and He will do His glorious work! 🙂 … and so we pray! Ahmein!
I have at times been heart broken for all of Egypt (this old creation) and then stop and realize that my concern and mourning are nothing compared to the feelings that ELOHIM must have. But we …. like the servants in Heaven …. can rejoice every time a sinner repents and comes back into a relationship with ELOHIM through Yeshua!
Ultimately a religion (collection of doctrine, practices/halakha, etc.) without being lived in, through and for The Son …. isn’t going to cut it!
Hi Drew,
With all due respect, the following belief:
“religion (collection of doctrine, practices/halakha, etc.) without being lived in, through and for The Son …. isn’t going to cut it”
is “counter productive.” It might get us into Heaven or it might not, we don’t know.
In my view, the “Son,” like the “Truth,” is an abstract concept that usually implies a oneness with “God.”
But to say I believe in the Son, or the Truth, or God doesn’t mean much to me; anybody can say it under any circumstances.
In my environment, Silicon Valley, people usually don’t discuss their religion; it would almost be considered inappropriate.
But the people who are serving Others tend to stand out, at least in my view, and I tend to want to work with them.
To me, their actions speak more loudly about their values than their words about God.
“Just do it” seems to be the name of the game.
Of course at home with friends and family it is a different “game.”
Michael … correct …. faith without works is dead and works without faith is useless. So let us re-do this …. “religion (could be works) without faith in Yeshua/Jesus won’t cut it. There are plenty of humanists who are atheistic who “do good works” … what shall we say … they can get to His presence on their own merit?
What is counter productive my brother in declaring the obvious …. that our lives need to reflect our faith in a way approved by His Word?
There is no maybe …. religion without Yeshua will not get anyone into His presence! Good works without Yeshua will not get anyone into His presence.
As for Silicon Valley … I am not sure of the aspect you may be referring too: I work out of LA and NY (home base being northern NJ) … what is the point about where we are? I get into religious discussions often … despite the Egyptian (metaphor of course) environment!
And we will simply have to agree to disagree on our idea of Yeshua …. an abstract concept? For me Yeshua is not an abstraction …. He is as real as the pulse that beats within my body! He is real because what has taken place within me is not something I could have achieved on my own accord … simply not possible!
Shalom
the point about where we are?
Hi Drew,
I was just sharing my experience of working here in Silicon Valley. I tend to support engineers and product development folks who are not in my group, so the relationships are primarily “professional.”
The majority of my product teams are either Buddhist, Muslim, or Hindu and they tend to work under a VP of Engineering whose “GodFather” code demands a “strictly business” mode of conduct 110% of the workday.
Values are an important part of the business culture, and teamwork, quality, and service are extremely important values.
But theological discussions are not a high priority to most of the VPs and you would not want to receive an offer you cannot refuse 🙂
Michael, you wrote “But the people who are serving Others tend to stand out, at least in my view, and I tend to want to work with them.
To me, their actions speak more loudly about their values than their words about God.”
Isn’t this exactly what Yeshua said when he spoke these words?
“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
(Read the full passage in Matt 28:31-45 for context). Where did he get this from? Torah! Torah teaches that we are to look after the poor, the widow, the orphan etc. In God’s economy no one is to be left out. Ministering to the less fortunate is commanded in Torah and those doing so are being obedient.
You’re quite right – actions speak louder than words. If I say, “let your hunger be satisfied”, yet don’t give you food to eat, my words are empty, but if I feed you, I need not speak at all, except maybe to say, “this is God’s provision for you – He loves you. Thank Him.”
Hi Rodney,
I agree and find your quotation of the following passage very powerrful:
“Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
the “Son,” like the “Truth,” is an abstract concept.
Michael.. I want to express this as clearly as I am able. I am praying as I write for “inspiration.”
G-d was incarnated into flesh approximately 2,000 years ago and walked among us as a man. He was born through the womb of a young virgin by the name of Mary, and lived for the first thirty years of his life in a carpenter’s home in Nazareth. (can anything good come out of Nazareth?-lol!) El Elyon was manifest as a man. His entire life was lived as a man would live. He never “pulled rank” but as the holy, humble, second “Adam”, defeated Hasatan as a man, demonstrating to us the authority given unto us, in and through the words of YHWH. We should be quick to say “it is written.” “What saith the Scripture?” should be tattooed somewhere on our person! (metaphorically speaking). My friend, it was the Creator who we crucified on the cross. His death was voluntary and needful for our salvation. The full wrath of YHWH was “spent” on the one known as Yeshua. He was the propitiating, and atoning sacrifice necessary for our salvation. “This,” Yeshua said, is the “new covenant in my blood.” ..Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood..(Romans 3.25). For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Messiah, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Peter 1.18,19) “G-d will provide (Himself) a lamb” (Genesis 22.8) was the foreshadowing of the later sacrifice of another “only begotten Son.” The Son, my friend is none other than Yeshua Hamashiach/Jesus the Christ, Son of G-d and Son of Man- forever the G-d/man.
Hi Carl,
I see a disconnect here.
My point (true or false) was that the “Son,” like the “Truth,” is an abstract concept that cannot “stand alone” and mean very much to me. Hope that is clearer.
In your paragraph above, you seem to be summarizing a Biblical narrative that concludes with a definition of The Son.
I’m no authority on this stuff, but it seems to me like you are providing textual evidence to support your point.
I also think of Jesus as the Son, the Model of Discipline that we need to imitate, and God as the Father.
My criticism was not directed at you, but at people who think that just believing in these concepts grants the some sort of moral authority over others who don’t.
Hope this helps clarify my point 🙂
Our “authority” is the word of G-d. Yeshua did not say for naught,- “it is written.” The Bible is absolutely foundational to our faith. (faith comes by “hearing” hearing by the word of G-d). Concerning “moral superiority”- that is a myth. We all are “sinners saved by grace.” From the least to the greatest- the ground is level at the foot of the cross. The “point” I was trying to “point out” for us, is to realize and recognize: the Word has been incarnated into flesh and has became one of us. He came from heaven to earth to show the way, from the earth to the cross my debt to pay, from the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky.. LORD- I lift your name on high. The (crucified,risen and now ascended) LORD- He is G-d!
brother Drew.. Hallelujah! “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things!- The Bible, (both halves!) G-d’s holy word is our Him-book! (lol!) “And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17) It’s an open call.. and when Adonai said, “whosoever”.. (praise His name), He included me!
For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: (Colossians 1.16)
He existed before everything and holds everything together. (Colossians 1.17)
If you have never seen this, it is an eye-opener! The LORD- He is G-d! Yeshua- the glue of the galaxies!
LORD of the telescopic and LORD of the microscopic!
http://www.snopes.com/glurge/laminin.asp
“religion without Yeshua will not get anyone into His presence”
Hi Drew,
Let’s pretend that they invented a time machine over at Google.
I purchase one and invite you to take a trip with me back in time.
We look up Hagar and tell her that religion without Yeshua will not get anyone into His presence.
She would probably look at us and say she does not know who Yeshua is, but she does know the presence of Yahweh very well.
Would she be lying or wrong or neither lying nor wrong?
I think neither lying nor wrong.
You might say “but Yeshua is Yahweh;” and I would say that is one way to look at it.
But Hagar might not need that information to get closer to God.
While we stand at the end of a long line of exegesis and fuller progressive revelation, it is tempting to think that everyone who approaches YHWH must share the same fullness that we do. But this just isn’t tenable nor is it historically accurate. Abraham knew less about YHWH than Moses, Moses less than Isaiah, Isaiah less than Peter and Peter less than you and I. If we traveled back to speak with Hagar, we would find her theology inadequate (by today’s standards). She probably wouldn’t have a clue about eschatology, ecclesiology or soteriology. But she had a direct experience with the divine being – and frankly, I would trade all my “theological education” for that! Hundreds believed before they had any idea who Yeshua was or is. Hundreds still do – they still believe without having any idea about the man or the Messiah. That does not prevent God from bringing them near. While the theology teaches us that they come near only on the basis of the sacrifice of the Lamb, a sacrifice that occurred before the foundation of the world, that theological reality does not require a temporal counterpart. In other words, whether I know it or not, Yeshua’s death and resurrection are sufficient for me no matter how my personal road toward YHWH actually works out. Yeshua provides the foundation for my faith even if I don’t actually recognize Him as my “personal” Savior.
So, the time machine question is a good one – and the right one. We must stop thinking that every person on earth has to have the same theological appreciation that we have in order to be an adopted member of the Kingdom. As the Ethiopian, some believe without knowing the whole story. Once they hear the story, it all makes sense, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t believer UNTIL they heard the whole story.
Shalom once again …. well I don’t have to agree with all commentary to enjoy thought provoking dialogue! As always … its a pleasure to have the opportunity to discuss what matters most … The Lord!
Ultimately Skip as you point out … it boils down to belief first and foremost. My commentary herein was dealing specifically with those “rejecting” The Son in the here and now … I was not addressing the ignorance aspect … which is a different conversation!
Enjoy the rest of the evening … 🙂