Aaron’s history is an interesting study of how one can serve God but allow personal weaknesses to bring tragic results. Aaron was the brother of Moses. He was the eldest son of Amram and Jochebed, a daughter of Levi (Exodus 6:20). Both Aaron and Moses were “Hebrews of the Hebrews.” In other words, both of their parents were Levites (Exodus 2:1; Numbers 26:59)
Aaron was born in Egypt three years before his brother Moses, and a number of years after his sister Miriam (Exodus 2:1, 4; 7:7). He married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab of the house of Judah (Exodus 6:23; 1 Chronicles 2:10), by whom he had four sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
When the time for the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt drew near, he was sent by God (Exodus 4:14, 27-30) to meet his long-absent brother, to assist him in all that they were required to do in bringing about the Exodus. He was to be the “mouth” or “prophet” of Moses, i.e., was to speak for him, because he was gifted speaker (Exodus 7:1-2, 9-10, 19). He was faithful to his trust, and stood by Moses in all his interviews with Pharaoh.
Aaron did not hinder the work of God by trying to tell Moses how things ought to be done. Aaron was the older brother and identified with the children of Israel, instead, he let Moses be the man God called him to be.
When the ransomed tribes fought their first battle with Amalek in Rephidim, Moses stood on a hill overlooking the scene of the conflict with the rod of God in his outstretched hand. He was assisted by Aaron and Hur, his sister’s husband, who held up his tired hands till, Joshua and the chosen warriors of Israel gained the victory (Exodus 17:8-13).
Afterwards, when camped in front of Mt. Sinai, and when Moses at the command of God ascended the mountain to receive the ten commandments, Aaron and his two sons, Nadab and Abihu, along with seventy of the elders of Israel, were permitted to accompany him part of the way, and to behold, from far away, the manifestation of the glory of Israel’s God (Exodus 19:24; 24:9-11).
While Moses remained on the mountain with God, Aaron returned to the people; and yielded (through fear, or ignorance, or instability of character), to their demands. He made a golden calf and set it up as an object of worship (Exodus 32:4; Psalm 106:19). When Moses returned to the camp, Aaron was sternly rebuked by him for his part in this matter; but Moses interceded for him before God, who forgave his sin (Deuteronomy 9:20).
On the mount, Moses received instructions on the system of worship which was to be set up among the people. Therefore, Aaron and his sons were consecrated to the priest’s office (Leviticus 8-9). Aaron was made high priest.
When Israel had reached Hazeroth, in “the wilderness of Paran,” Aaron joined with his sister Miriam in murmuring against Moses, “because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married,” probably after the death of Zipporah. But the Lord vindicated his servant Moses, and punished Miriam with leprosy (Numbers 12). Aaron acknowledged his own and his sister’s guilt, and due to the intercession of Moses, God forgave them.
Twenty years after this, when the children of Israel were encamped in the wilderness of Paran, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram conspired against Aaron and his sons; but a fearful judgment from God fell upon them, and they were destroyed. The next day thousands of the people also perished from a terrible disease, the ravages of which were stopped by the intercession of Aaron (Numbers 16).
To give further evidence of the divine appointment of Aaron to the priestly office, the chiefs of the tribes were each required to bring to Moses a rod bearing the name of his tribe. These, along with the rod of Aaron for the tribe of Levi, were laid overnight in the tabernacle.
In the morning it was found that while the other rods remained unchanged, that of Aaron “for the house of Levi” budded, blossomed, and yielded almonds (Numbers 17:1-10). This rod was later preserved in the tabernacle (Hebrews 9:4) as an evidence of his divine appointment to the priesthood.
Aaron was implicated in the sin of his brother at Meribah (Numbers 20:8-13). For this reason, he was not permitted to enter the Promised Land. When the tribes arrived at Mount Hor, “in the edge of the land of Edom,” at the command of God Moses led Aaron and his son Eleazar to the top of that mountain, in the sight of all the people.
There he stripped Aaron of his priestly vestments, and put them upon Eleazar. Aaron died on the top of the mountain, being 123 years old (Numbers 20:23-29). Compare (Deuteronomy 10:6; 32:50), and was “gathered unto his people.”
The people, “even all the house of Israel,” mourned for thirty days. Of Aaron’s sons two survived him, Eleazar, whose family held the high-priesthood till the time of Eli; and Ithamar, in whose family, beginning with Eli, the high-priesthood was held till the time of Solomon.
Aaron’s other two sons had been struck dead (Leviticus 10:1,2) for the daring sacrilege of offering unholy fire on the altar of incense, contrary to God's command.
As a side note, the Arabs still venerate the traditional site of Aaron’s grave on one of the two summits of Mount Hor, which is marked by a Islamic chapel. His name is mentioned in the Koran, and there are many fabulous stories about him found in the writings of the rabbis.
Aaron was the first anointed priest. His descendants, “the house of Aaron,” constituted the priesthood in general. In the time of David, they were very numerous (1 Chronicles 12:27). The other branches of the tribe of Levi held subordinate positions in connection with the sacred office.
Aaron was a type of Christ in his official character as the high priest. His priesthood was a “shadow of heavenly things,” and was intended to lead the people of Israel to look forward to the time when “another priest” would arise “after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 6:20).
What's the take-away from this week's message? It shows us that one moment of weakness can ruin a reputation and forever forget skills. God’s gracious forgiveness is able to erase man’s repeated failures. The greatest of human skills cannot help a man stand in the face of great temptations or fierce opposition. The only way to truly find success in rejecting temptation and angry opponents is to trust in God (Joshua 1:6-9).
Now, let's pray...
O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for in thy name's sake. Amen
Until next time...
Have a blessed week!
Bibi
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