Have you ever had to stand before your class, or company, and make a presentation on behalf of a group? It can be daunting. I remember times, even now, when I've gotten flustered by the nerves. To get ready for moments like this we focus and prepare a lot! We read and reread our lines, practicing inflection, intonation, and cadence. We want (and often need) to make a good impression on the boss or teacher.
So if I've worried in moments like that, I wonder what Aaron and his sons were going through as they were being consecrated to stand before the one true living God as Israel's "group leader!"
I once watched a show about soldiers preparing to stand at attention at a given national monument dedicated to fallen war heroes. Before they were allowed to go out they went through a rigorous uniform inspection. Exacting rulers were used to take measurements of different parts of the uniform. Things had to be ironed exactly, each metal and cord placed perfectly. These men prepped for over four hours preparing to be inspected so that they might be worthy to represent their country in uniform.
Aaron and his sons were to prepare to stand before God! From head to toe these men had to be adorned just as God required. But at the temple it wasn't just the external, but the internal these men had to prepare. For God doesn't look solely on the external, rather God looks at the heart. Multiple offerings over a seven day period were required to consecrate these men and prepare them to minister before God. It took seven days to complete the process! A right standing before God was not based just on the outside appearance, it was the entirety of man which needed preparation to stand in His presence. Aaron and his sons were given the awesome task of representing over a million Israelites. Perfection was required.
Yet again though, the offerings demanded by the just God reminded them that they were nothing of the sort. They were not worthy to stand before a holy God, nor were they any better than the ones they represented. They had sin that had to be dealt with. Yet God allowed them to minister before Him making provision for them, through the covering of their sins by the blood of the sacrifices. They were only consecrated by atonement through blood (29:21).
Yet as the book of Hebrews in the NT reminds us, those men had to continually readdress their sin if they were to continue to serve. Even the seven-day event was not enough, year after year they had to prepare. Even with God's animal sacrifices, temporary covering was all they could achieve.
God's standards were high, in fact too high for man to obtain. But there was one who came after them, Christ, our now everlasting High Priest, who was and is worthy to stand in our place as our representative. He alone is worthy in Himself to stand and make mediation between us and the Father. Even as Aaron and his son prepared, they could only trust in the mercy of God knowing full well they were only momentarily exonerated. Christ, the Righteous, needed nothing beyond Himself. By His shed blood, He even cleanses us... preparing us to be a royal priesthood to God, able to stand before the Father through the work of the cross.
Praise be to the best group leader ever! We are guaranteed an A if we are found on his team!
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