The ingredients
- Aaron and his sons
- water
- the garments
- the anointing oil
- a bull as the sin offering
- two rams
- a basket of unleavened bread
Since in Jesus we are a holy priesthood . . . a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:5, 9), there is much for us to learn by analogy in this consecration ceremony. God wants us to set apart for His purpose and will, and He uses these principles to accomplish that goal.
Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.
a. Aaron and his sons: This was not a ceremony for just anyone in Israel. There were special consecration ceremonies available to anyone - such as the Nazirite vow in Numbers 6. But this ceremony was for priests, for Aaron and his sons.
b. And washed them with water: The process of consecration began with cleansing. All priestly ministries began with cleansing, and a cleansing that was received: you shall wash them. Aaron and his sons did not wash themselves; they received a washing.
i. This was humbling, because it took place publicly at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. We cannot be cleansed from our sin without being humbled first.
ii. “Some Jewish interpreters have maintained that the washing of Aaron and his sons was by immersion, as was required of the high priest on the day of atonement (Leviticus 16:4).”
iii. This great cleansing was a one-time thing. From then on they just needed to cleanse their hands and their feet.
iv. Like these ancient priests, every Christian is washed by the work of God's word (Ephesians 5:26), by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). This cleansing work was accomplished by the death of Jesus for us (Revelation 1:5) and appropriated by faith.
And he put the tunic on him: After being cleansed, the priest had to be clothed - but not in his own clothes. He had to put on garments given by God.
i. Like these ancient priests, every believer is clothed in Jesus Christ and in his righteousness (Revelation 3:5). These are clothes that are given freely by Jesus, but received and "worn" by faith.
ii. "Note, that these garments were provided for them. They were at no expense in buying them, nor labor in weaving them, nor skill in making them; they had simply to put them on. And you, dear child of God, are to put on the garments which Jesus Christ has provided for you, at his own cost, and freely bestows upon you out of boundless love."
b. Girded with the sash . . . the ephod . . . the breastplate . . . the turban: Each of these specific articles of clothing were made for the high priest, garments to show the glory and for beauty of the priesthood (Exodus 28:2).
And you shall not go out of the door of the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the days of your consecration and ordination are ended; for it will take seven days to consecrate and ordain you. (Leviticus 8:33)
Functioning in the Priesthood
There are secrets hidden in the Old Testament which point out to Lord Jesus Christ. The New Testament is nothing but the Old Testament revealed.
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1 Peter 2:9)
The New Testament calls all those who have received Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour as Priests. In the Old Testament there was a ritual priesthood but in Jesus we have a royal priesthood.
Whether you are rich or poor, black, white, yellow, green, educated or uneducated - you are a royal priesthood.
and Moses killed it (the sacrifice). Also he took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. Then he brought Aaron’s sons. And Moses put some of the blood on the tips of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. And Moses sprinkled the blood all around on the altar. (Leviticus 8:23-24)
Notice the blood of the sacrifice was applied on three main areas
- Ear
- Thumb
- Toe of the foot
Right Ear – We hear with the physical ear ( HEB: ᾽ozen) but the Lord is more concerned with one’s hearing His voice spiritually. God opens up the ears so man can receive direct godly instructions.
See Psalm 40:6
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
My ears You have opened.
Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
Failure to receive instruction can lead to sin and disaster
Peter obeyed one instruction and his poverty to prosperity
Guard your ear gate very carefully. Faith or fear is the end result
Right Thumb – take your right hand, picture your hand without the thumb and ask the question: “How can I grab hold of something and hold on to it without having my thumb?”. God has placed awesome power in the thumbs.
In Exodus 29:20 the blood is applied as a sacrifice to the thumbs of the hands of Aaron’s sons and we all know and understand the power of the Blood.
I have long believed that the thumb represents the power we use in the work we do for the Lord that He calls us to do for Him. God never gives us something to do unless He equips us for the job. Can a person serve God without a right thumb? Of course they can. My point is symbolic about the thumb and its use.
What is my calling?
I have seen people often write to me asking, “Am I an Apostle, Prophet, Teacher, Pastor and so forth.” I did not wait to find out.
God has sanctified the work of your hands - go ahead.
(Prayer: I cover my hands with the blood of Jesus. I cover the work of my hands with the blood of JEsus)
Ecclesiastes 9:10 – (a) Here we are instructed that “whatever our hands find to do that we do it with ALL our might.”
Right Big Toe – Make a mental picture of your right foot without the big or great toe and how difficult it would be to walk and keep your balance without that big toe. Certainly something to thank God for concerning your feet.
Psalm 40:2 indicates stability as GOD “set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm”.
This big toe has much to do with the balance of the walk you have with the LORD. Anything not of the Lord will tip you “off balance” causing you to stumble and possibly fall to the ground.
That big toes should represent your having a firm foundation in the truth of God, walking uprightly as He directs you, avoiding those places and activities that might cause you to stumble.
Visiting those friends and drinking alcohol has destroyed homes and marriages. I greeted one boy ‘Happy Fathers day’ He said, I hate my father. He only drank and beat us.
Are your feet going in the wrong direction….
Seven day consecration period for Aaron and his sons
And you shall not go outside the door of the tabernacle of meeting for seven days, until the days of your consecration are ended. For seven days he shall consecrate you. (Leviticus 8:33)
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