Tuesday April 14, 2009

Today's Passage: Exodus 39

Have you ever noticed that nearly every special job position that requires a set of skills, also requires special equipment or clothing? Take football for example, each position requires different kinds of equipment to best prepare them to play the game. The running back will generally have large shoulder pads and not a lot of knee padding. However, a lineman will have knee pads, knee braces, and so on. Here in Exodus we see the specifics concerning the garments that the priests wear. The text of Exodus is very descriptive, and Moses gives the purpose of many of these materials. Each piece of the holy garments was significant to God. It is amazing the detail in which God spoke to Moses and his people, and how He desired their worship.

But that is not where the story ends! If you have been to Bear Creek recently you may have noticed there are not specific rooms that are more holy than others. You also may have noticed Brett, or other staff members are not required to wear odd and ornately designed garments in order to preach and teach. That is because we are not under this law anymore. Moses and Aaron are not our priests. Jesus is our High Priest! Look at the this amazing verse: Hebrews 3:1b "consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession." God had an order and place for the priesthood in the days of Moses, but now that priesthood is all in the authority of Jesus. If God desired so much from the priest in the days of Moses, how much more does he desire from His Son, Jesus? Jesus is able to fulfill this role like no human ever can. We should first be in awe of the detail and energy that was put on the priest and their garments in the days of Moses. This awe should continue as we worship our Savior and Lord, who is the one and only High Priest!