Monday Jan 29
Compromise and Redemption {Lev. 8:1-10:20}
In chapters 8-10 of Leviticus we learn of the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests to the nation of Israel. While reading I couldn’t help but wonder why Aaron was chosen, especially after his sin of creating the golden calf. The more I researched, the more I realized that Aaron’s story was a warning against unwise compromise, and an example of the redemption God offers to those He calls His own.
Aaron was the older brother of Moses. He became Moses’ right hand man, and spokesman to Pharaoh in the land of Egypt. He received a divine calling when God choose him to be high priest, the supreme religious leader, to the people of Israel. He was the first to wear the priestly garments, and to start the sacrificial system. Through him began the line of priests from the tribe of Levi. Because this calling was such an important responsibility, as high priest Aaron had to be holy in his conduct. But unfortunately Aaron had a weakness for stumbling under pressure. And that weakness cost him, his sons, and the people of Israel dearly.
When Moses didn’t come down right away from Mount Sinai, the people grew impatient and asked Aaron to craft a calf of gold to serve as their god. Instead of standing strong and instructing them in obeying the Lord, he caved under the pressure and forged the calf and worshiped it with them. This fatal compromise led to the deaths of three thousand of his fellow Israelite's. After such a terrible sin, why would God leave Aaron seemingly unpunished and allow him to become high priest to His people?
Allowing Aaron to remain in his appointed position is an awesome example of God’s grace and forgiveness. After the sin of the calf, Exodus 36:26 says that Moses stood at the gate of the camp and asked who was on the side of the Lord. All of the sons of Levi gathered around him. Aaron, being a Levite Himself, was among them. Because of his declaration and repentance, and the fact that Moses went to God and interceded for the people, he received God’s forgiveness and redemption. Aaron is yet another example of God using the least likely people to accomplish tasks for His glory. “Aaron, the man who led the Israelite's astray to worship a golden calf, was the very man God chose to lead Israel in worship of the Lord. This pattern is often observed in Scripture. Many times, God uses the least likely to accomplish tasks for His glory. Other examples include David,a shepherd boy turned king; Paul, a church persecutor who became a martyr and missionary leader; Peter, a fisherman-turned-evangelist; Mary Magdalene, a demon-possessed woman who became the first to see the resurrected Jesus; and many others.” (gotquestions.org)
Although forgiven and redeemed, Aaron did experience loss and punishment for his compromise and sin. Not only did he die in the wilderness and never enter the promised land, he also endured the loss of two of his sons in a judgement from God. His story reminds us that no matter the circumstance, God requires complete obedience. And in those times that we sin, as we all will do, when we repent and ask for forgiveness, God is quick to redeem and restore us. So the next time we are faced with compromising or obeying, we would do well to remember Aaron who learned the hard way that we serve a holy God who insists on being treated as such.
