AARON


A. "AND THE LORD SAID TO AARON, GO INTO THE WILDERNESS TO MEET MOSES. AND HE WENT AD MET HIM IN THE MOUNT OF GOD, AND KISSED HIM" - EX. 4:27
  1. Aaron - a mountain of strength:
    1. Was about three years older than Moses
    2. Was gifted speaker - he spoke the Egyptian language with ease
  2. God called him:
    1. To be Moses' spokesman - "Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. . . even he shall be unto thee instead of a mouth" - Ex. 4:14-16
    2. This fact and related truths make the life of Aaron a wonderful study to God's people
B. BACKGROUND TO AARON'S MINISTRY
  1. Aaron was the son of Amram and of Jochebed his wife, and of the family of Kohath, who was the second son of Levi, who was the third son of Jacob. Miriam was Aaron's elder sister years younger. Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Naashon, and by her had four sons - Nadab and Abihu, Eleaser and Ithamar - Ex. 4:16-23
  2. As we have stated:
    1. Aaron was an excellent speaker - recognized as such in Heaven - Ex. 4:14-20
    2. The first glimpse we have of the great Bible saint is of his encounter with Pharaoh as Moses' spokesman - Ex. 5:1
    3. When Moses protested to the Lord that he could not speak, the Lord told him, "Is not Aaron, the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well" - Ex. 4:14- 16
  3. Aaron was the first high priest in the Levitical priesthood:
    1. "Thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office" - Ex. 40:13
    2. As the high priest, Aaron represented all the children of Israel - Lev. 8:8; Ex. 25:7
    3. What responsibility rested upon Aaron in the sight of God
  4. That life of that man of God was marred on several occasions:
    1. When he yielded to the pressure of the people and made the golden calf Ex. 32:4
    2. And when he and Moses dishonored the Lord in smiting the rock instead of speaking to it - Num. 20:7-12
    3. Aaron repented of his errors, and died at the age of 123 years; and this writer believes that he will be in God's kingdom
C. HIGH POINTS IN THE LIFE OF AARON
  1. Aaron was a type of Jesus Christ, our great High Priest:
    1. Both were chosen of God; Christ, however, is the only High Priest between God and men - I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7:26-28; I John 2:1-3
    2. Both had to be clean, seeing they bore the vessels of the Lord - Is. 52:11; Aaron had to be cleansed by the blood of atonement; but Christ was clean and spotless - Heb. 7:26
    3. Both had to be clothed according to the specifications of their office - Ex. 28:3; Rev. 1:13
  2. Aaron's sons were a type of:
    1. The ministers of the gospel - set apart to minister in holy things
    2. In a sense, they were symbolic of the church of the living God - I Pet. 2:9-11
  3. Two of his sons, Nadab and Abihu, were destroyed because they used strange fire; and Aaron was forbidden to mourn their death - Num. 3:4-8
    1. This shows how serious it is to be in the service of the Lord
    2. How careful one must be lest we fall into a son that will disqualify us in the holy office
  4. How rich and yet how trying was the life of Aaron the son of Amram:
    1. He was a talented speaker, recognized so in heaven
    2. He became God's spokesman before Pharaoh, and did a good job
    3. Was the first high priest in Israel - typifying the ministry of Christ in heaven
    4. Sinned and was barred from entering the promised land
    5. Yet I believe that he will be in the heavenly Canaan


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