“Then Aaron lifted his hand toward the people, and he blessed them, and he came down after sacrificing the sin offering and the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings. Then Moses and Aaron entered the tent of assembly. When they came out, they blessed the people, and Yahweh’s glory appeared to all the people. Then a fire went out from before Yahweh, and it consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And all the people saw it, so they shouted for joy, and they fell on their faces.” (Leviticus 9:22–24, LEB)
I have a plan for Sunday. It rolls like this: I’ll get to the church somewhere around 8 in the morning, come into my office, and start collecting my thoughts for the day. I’ll check throughout the church for anything that seems out of place and then I’ll make some coffee. Around 0930, people will start getting here, then we’ll have Sunday School. When 11 rolls around, we will gather in one batch and sing, have some announcements, sing some more, take an offering, and I’ll preach a sermon.
That’s the plan. It’s been the plan for years. I do know that it is the plan that is an invention of man, but many of those were good men that put it together. Good people have followed it for years.
And it, typically, works. Through the ebb and flow of ordinary church life, relationships are built between families. People learn the Word of God and grow as disciples. People come to an understanding of the truth and surrender their lives to Christ.
How does this connect with Leviticus 9 (link)? Great question.
When the chapter begins, the process of Aaron starting his work as High Priest over all Israel is described. There is a pattern established how this is to be done, and Aaron follows it. And for years and years to come, the faithful of Israel will follow it.
Yet something extraordinary happens this one time. After Aaron has gone through all of the prescribed rituals and behaviors, then God sends forth fire to consume the sacrifice. This was not part of the plan—but it was how God worked this time.
Are we prepared for that? Do we expect it to happen? Even if we do not expect something out of the plan, are we willing to adjust to it when it happens?
That’s a necessity. We must be ready for God to work.
One prerequisite: know and do that which God has commanded. This is what Aaron does through the majority of the chapter.
So what about you?
Are you preparing by walking in obedience?
No comments:
Post a Comment
To deal with SPAM comments, all comments are moderated. I'm typically willing to post contrary views...but I also only check the list once a day, so if you posted within the last 24 hours, I may not be to it yet.