Upon reading through Leviticus 16 today, I was struck by one more observation related to Leviticus 10. (I told you I had a lot to share about this passage!)
In the aftermath of all that happened to Nadab and, the two son's of Aaron who offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, we a presented with a brief scene involving Moses their uncle and their father Aaron.
The two sons had just been consumed by fire from the LORD's presence. And Leviticus 10:3 says, Then Moses said to Aaron, "This us what the LORD meant when he said,
'I will display my holiness
through those who come near to me,
I will display my glory
before all the people.'
God is holy... Absolutely holy. There is not even a hint of imperfection in him. What he does is holy and he will always show himself as holy... No matter what the cost. Part of God's holiness and perfection is that he always says what he means and means what he says. If God were inconsistent in this, he would not be absolutely holy. That's why Nadab and Abihu were struck down for what they had done. God had told them to proceed with this ceremonies in a particular way. They chose to devise their own method and it had deadly consequences. God showed himself as holy by saying what he meant and meaning what he said. He displayed his glory by demanding faith in his words and obedience to his specific commands.
Leviticus 10:3 ends by saying, And Aaron was silent.
There was nothing Aaron could say. He trusted in God and reckoned God as holy. He had continuously experienced the LORD's holiness and power since he and the Hebrew people had left Egypt. What could he say? ... Aaron knew God meant what he said and said what he meant.
There is evidence of Aaron; this humble, teachable, usable servant of God's heart in Leviticus chapter 16.
God had continued to use Aaron as high priest and continued to prepare him fully for service.
Leviticus 16:2 says, The LORD said to Moses, "Warn your brother, Aaron, not to enter the Most Holy Place behind the inner curtain whenever he chooses; if he does, he will die. For the Ark's cover-- the place of atonement-- is there, and I myself am present in the cloud above the atonement cover."
God went on to give very specific directions about when and how to approach the atonement cover of the Ark of the Covenant. And Aaron had already shown himself a workman approved for the LORD's service. He was ready to be used for God's glory no matter the cost. Was Aaron perfect? No... We need only to go back to his shenanigans with the golden calf at the foot of Mount Sinai to see evidence that he was not. But Aaron had one excellent attribute... He was a listener... When God spoke Aaron listened and his actions followed suit.
Are we listeners? That's a good question for us to ponder. Are we as James wrote, Quick to listen-- slow to speak-- slow to become angry...? God does speak and move in our hearts. The question is: Are we taking time to listen?
We will make mistakes and wrong choice in life... We will slip-up at times... But what do we do in the aftermath? Do we stop-up our ears, dig in our heels and pridefully continue wallowing in sin? Do we continuously perpetuate the pattern of sin and disobedience? Or do we stop and listen? Do we listen to that still small voice calling us back to himself... Calling us to turn away from wrong choices-- Calling us to give our hearts to God-- Calling us to go his way from that point on.
That's what Aaron displayed in Leviticus 10 and 16 and onward into his life and ministry. That's the kind of heart and attitude God wants us to have too. A listener's attitude... A humble heart... And a moldable spirit. Then God can use us and continue to make us more like his son.
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