How does the phrase "do for Aaron and his sons" reflect God's covenantal promises? Setting the Scene Exodus 29 details the consecration ritual for Israel’s first priests. In v. 35, God tells Moses, “So you are to do for Aaron and his sons everything I have commanded you”. The wording “do for Aaron and his sons” is much more than procedural; it reaches back to God’s covenant with Israel and points forward to His unfolding plan of redemption. Unpacking the Phrase • “Do” stresses God’s initiative—He is the One acting, guaranteeing that His word will come to pass. • “For Aaron and his sons” identifies a family chosen to mediate between a holy God and a sinful people. Their priesthood is not a human invention but a divine appointment rooted in covenant love. Covenantal Threads Woven Through the Text • Continuity with the Sinai Covenant – God promised, “You will be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). Establishing Aaron’s line is the concrete step that makes Israel’s priestly calling operational. • Promise of Perpetuity – “It shall be a perpetual statute for them” (Exodus 29:9). God guarantees an ongoing priesthood, echoing “an everlasting covenant of a perpetual priesthood” later affirmed to Phinehas (Numbers 25:12-13). • Guarantee of Atonement – Daily sacrifices “to make atonement” (Exodus 29:36-37) reflect God’s unwavering commitment to provide cleansing for His people, fulfilling Leviticus 17:11: “It is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” • Blessing by Representation – As priests, Aaron’s sons would “bear the names of the sons of Israel” on the ephod (Exodus 28:12). God binds Himself to bless the nation through their representative ministry. Foreshadowing Greater Fulfillment • The priestly covenant anticipates the ultimate High Priest: “Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant” (Hebrews 7:22). • What God “did for Aaron and his sons” He consummates in Christ, who “lives forever to intercede” (Hebrews 7:25). • The promise extends to believers: “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), showing that God’s covenant purpose never stalls but expands. Personal Takeaways • God’s actions are covenant-driven; He keeps His word exactly. • Priesthood underscores both humanity’s need and God’s provision for mediation. • The faithfulness shown to Aaron guarantees the same faithfulness to us in Christ—assurance, access, and atonement secured by divine promise. |
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