Recently, at Baxter, we ordained two pastors and two deacons to their respective ministries. This is not a new idea, and it certainly is not merely a human institution or approval. From the beginning of Israel’s existence, the Lord instructed Moses to ordain Aaron and his sons and the other priests to serve at the tabernacle and, later, at the temple. The rites for ordination were pretty detailed and included blood: “Then he presented the ram of the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. And he killed it, and Moses threw the blood against the sides of the altar” (8:18-19). And, so, the priests served there at the tabernacle, representing God to the people and the people to God. Things were to be done according to all God’s instructions. Here is a good reminder that we must approach God in the manner and through whom he has commanded. Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, approached the Lord in an unacceptable manner and suffered the consequences. Lots going on (clean and unclean foods, childbirth, unclean animals), here, but perhaps the big takeaway, once again, is the manner in which these stories continue to push us forward toward the One who is our High Priest and through whose blood we are surely cleansed and forgiven. Always resting in Him, may we always live as he instructed.
A charge to keep I have,
a God to glorify . . .
Arm me with watchful care
as in Thy sight to live,
and now Thy servant, Lord, prepare
a strict account to give!
Help me to watch and pray,
and still on Thee rely,
O let me not my trust betray,
but press to realms on high. --Charles Wesley (1762)
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