Do you ever watch ‘Air Crash Investigations’? Its one of those fun shows that Kath and I like to watch. It’s not always morbid. Sometimes there’s a happy ending, though that is the exception, not the rule. It’s important to take note of disasters that have happened. We need to learn about cyclones and floods and mine disasters and air transport accidents, and road tolls, and wars, and murders. It’s not just because I am fascinated by tragedy and death. And with modern technology you can find out about all the tragedy of life from the comfort of your living room between snack breaks.
On ‘Air Crash Investigations’, I find it interesting that when something goes wrong with a plane, one of the pilots will keep flying the plane, maybe the copilot, and the other pilot will read the procedures. So you’ve got this disaster unfolding in the cockpit, and one of the pilots is reading the manual. I guess it proves the saying ‘When all else fails, read the manual’.
Following procedures is very important. Stick to the recipe. It might turn out OK when the Little Chef in Ratatouille improvises. There is a time for experimenting. But remember, most of the time the experiment turns out to be a disaster.
Why didn’t my spag bol work out? Did you follow the recipe? Well, no I improvised. Well, that’s your problem. In 99 cases out of 100, improvisation doesn’t work.
You don’t want the doctor to improvise on your hernia operation, do you? You don’t want the nuclear scientist to improvise at Lucas Heights. Hey, I’m a bit bored with these safety procedures. Let’s see what happens if we shut off the water cooling system on the fuel rods.
Today, we see what happens when God’s priests don’t follow procedures. And it’s not pretty viewing.
Previously in Leviticus, we’ve seen God set up the sacrificial system for Israel. To come into God’s presence and worship him, you have to deal with sin. And it involves slaughtering animals, catching their blood, splashing it round the right places, ripping up birds, and burning lots of fat and carcasses. It’s hard manual labour and all with rich symbolism. The big idea is that without blood and death, there is no forgiveness.
And then last week, Chris stepped us through the particular job description for the Priests. You had to be from the right family, and a man. You had to have a strong stomach. You needed to be a meat-eater. You had to have attention to detail.
But most importantly, you had to be able to do what you were told. If you want to be safe in the nuclear reactor, you have to follow procedures. If you want to be safe in a jet plane, the pilots and engineers had better follow procedures. And if you wanted to be safe in God’s tabernacle, and dwelling in God’s presence as God’s people Israel, both the priests and people had better scrupulously follow procedures. Because just as we found out with Chernoyble or Fukoshima, when things go wrong, its bad for everyone. Safety procedures keep God’s people and God’s priests safe.
In Leviticus chapter 8, Moses ordains Aaron and his four sons for the task of the High Priest. And we see that Moses isn’t going to improvise. All the way through the ordination process, Moses carefully follows the procedures set down by God. The procedures involve wearing the right things and doing the right things.
Dangerous jobs always need safety workwear. No T-shirts and shorts are allowed when you go to fight the bushfire. Firefighters need to wear rated helmets and expensive steel lined boots. Protective clothing and breathing apparatus are absolutely necessary. If you want to survive, then you must wear the right gear.
The High Priest and his associate priests had to wear the appropriate safety clothing. And so Moses gets the Priest dressed up in the requisite clothing. Turn with me to Leviticus chapter 8 verses 5 to 13.
5 Moses said to the assembly, "This is what the LORD has commanded to be done." 6 Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water. 7 He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also tied the ephod to him by its skilfully woven waistband; so it was fastened on him. 8 He placed the breastpiece on him and put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece. 9 Then he placed the turban on Aaron's head and set the gold plate, the sacred diadem, on the front of it, as the LORD commanded Moses. 10 Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it, and so consecrated them. 11 He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times, anointing the altar and all its utensils and the basin with its stand, to consecrate them. 12 He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him to consecrate him. 13 Then he brought Aaron's sons forward, put tunics on them, tied sashes around them and put headbands on them, as the LORD commanded Moses. (NIV)
Moses follows all the procedures. God has given the procedures, and Moses is going to stick to them.
Some of the clothing is for safety. Just like a firefighter can’t have exposed skin, the priest also needs to be properly covered up. The headgear, the tunic, even the underwear covers the priest’s skin. You need to be modestly dressed to meet God.
Some of the clothing is for identification. Firies wear their crest, police wear their badge, and Aussie soldiers wear the flag. Likewise, the High Priest of Israel wears 12 jewels over his chest, next to his heart, one for each of the 12 tribes, each jewel inscribed with the tribe’s name. He wears two shoulder pieces, with the names of six tribes on each. He wears ‘Holy to the Lord’ inscribed on the gold plate on his forehead. So the High Priest carries God’s people over his heart and on his shoulders into the holy place as their representative, to offer sacrificial blood for them. And with his own hands he sprinkles the blood of the lamb he has slaughtered for the people. Aaron as High Priest represents his people. And the high priest bore all the hopes and aspirations of Israel into God’s presence. He brings their offerings for them, and steps onto holy ground for them, to carry their concerns before their God.
Aaron and his sons spend seven days in the brand new tabernacle and its courtyard. It is seven days of preparation and orientation to their new family business, which is the priesthood. They eat there. They sleep there. They sacrifice there. They sprinkle blood there. They burn what must be burnt. They dispose what needs to be disposed. They don’t go anywhere or do anything except what they are told. They are on duty. They stand before God, serving him, and doing only what they are told.
Chapter 8 verses 33 to 36 gives us a look at their pre-employment training. Here is God’s command through Moses for the five new priests.
33 Do not leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed, for your ordination will last seven days. 34 What has been done today was commanded by the LORD to make atonement for you. 35 You must stay at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days and do what the LORD requires, so that you will not die; for that is what I have been commanded." 36 So Aaron and his sons did everything the LORD commanded through Moses. (NIV)
The seven-day ordination is required because Aaron and his sons are sinners. They must first make atonement for themselves. They are sinners who must approach God, God’s way. If they do it wrong, they will die. So they better do it right. The commands of Leviticus to the priests are God’s safety procedures. They keep the priests alive while they do the important and dangerous job of atonement for the people.
Chapter 8 covers the one week ordination, in which the priest’s offer sacrifices for themselves, and wait on God. Then on the eighth day, the priests start their bloody work for the people. Up until then, they’ve only offered sacrifices for themselves. On the eighth day, they begin to serve the congregation, the people of God, which is why they’ve been given the priesthood. And that is what Leviticus chapter 9 is about, in which Aaron and his sons, the priests, begin their ministry for Israel. For they are not there in the tabernacle and courtyard to serve themselves alone. Of course, they have to start by offering sacrifices for themselves. They are sinners as well. But once they have received atonement, they can get to work offering blood for the people, and administering God’s forgiveness to them. That’s what they are there for. That is now the business of Aaron and Sons, Priests to the People of God.
And God promises that something special will happen to encourage them and all Israel as they begin their work. On the morning the Tabernacle opened for normal operations, you would have seen this. In their beautiful clothing – Aaron as High Priest in shimmering, colourful and bejeweled robes, and his four sons all in priestly garments of pure white – the priests slaughter the unblemished farm animals. They sacrifice the whole burnt offering, the sin offering and the peace offering. They catch the blood and pour it out at the base of the altar. They slaughter and butcher and chop and cook and burn. Aaron does everything literally by the book. And Moses is there to advise and ensure. And in Leviticus chapter 9 verses 23 to 24, God manifests his acceptance in a special way. Chapter 9 verses 23 to 24:
23Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. 24 Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell face down. (NIV)
Eureka! It works! It really works! That is the wonderful feeling of a good day at work. I did it! I achieved everything I was meant to do. The sacrifices the priests offered did the job and God accepted them. And this said to Israel, ‘Yahweh is really with us, and He is really our God’.
Aaron’s sacrifices are acceptable to God. The fire is visible proof of Yahweh’s acceptance of Israel. God himself lit the fire and consumed the fat and the whole burnt offering. Aaron and Moses did it by the book, following the procedures, and it worked.
The people celebrate, with fear and trembling. They have joy, because they have God. For everyone who finds God finds joy. When you come to believe in God, the way God says, you finally discover your maker, and judge, whom you always knew was there, and whom you were made to glorify, and you are glad. That is the joy of every believer in the gospel. That is the happiness now found in coming to God through Jesus. I have peace with God. Hooray. And nothing can put that fire out.
But confidence can lead to cockiness. Familiarity breeds contempt. You’ve got the fire burning? Good. But be careful, because you can get burnt. No matter how familiar you are with electricity, it can electrocute. No matter how much wood you’ve cut, a chainsaw can still take off an arm. You might drive for a living, but you can still die on the roads.
New employees start off making sure they do everything by the book. But as the first flush of enthusiasm dies away, they sometimes begin to take liberties. They might get to work late, or leave early. All that workplace health and safety… Bah, I don’t need it. I don’t need to wear that. I don’t need the harness. And they begin to take short cuts.
Now there is a place for innovation and trying new things. But not when God has given you the procedures to keep you safe. It’s time simply for doing what you’re told, when you’re told, and only what you’re told. And if the priests take liberties, God can destroy them in his anger. And that’s what happens on the first day of operations at the tabernacle. Leviticus chapter 10 verses 1 and 2:
Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorised fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. (NIV)
Who knows what Nadab and Abihu were thinking? ‘Hey, if I were God, I would like a bit of incense. It will deal with all the dead animal smells. It seems good to us. Let’s offer him fire.’
It is not just a mistake. It is disobedience. God didn’t ask for this. And the rules of engagement stipulated, ‘Do only what you’re told’. So Nadab and Abihu died in their sin.
There are many people out there, perhaps well meaning people, who are dishonouring God and making him angry. Why? Because they want to come to God there own way. I like to think of God as…. you fill the blank. The God I believe in would never… send a tsunami, let children die, say some sex is sinful, allow war, want me in this marriage, prescribe the death penalty, allow my suffering, send this trial. But you are not God. His thoughts may not be your thoughts. Remember this. Our God is a consuming fire. And God the consuming fire burned up Nadab and Abihu for their arrogant, unauthorized fire. And each of us one day will meet that self-same God, a consuming fire, face to face.
We don’t know, but maybe Nadab and Abihu’s death had something to do with chapter 10 verses 8 and 9:
8 Then the LORD said to Aaron, 9 "You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. (NIV)
This is serious business. Don’t operate machinery under the influence of drugs. Don’t speak on your mobile phone while you drive. And don’t drink fermented drink when you go into the tabernacle, because you might die. This is zero tolerance, one strike and you’re out. And Moses explains the harsh realities of working in the tabernacle so close to God to his grieving brother. He tells Aaron why his own nephews died. Leviticus chapter 10 verses 3 to 4:
3 Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: ‘Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honoured.'" Aaron remained silent. (NIV)
If it takes the death of some priests to show God is holy, God will do it. The people will see, and fear, and be kept safe.
There is a place for negative example among God’s people. Under the New Covenant, if an elder sins, he is to be rebuked publicly, so that others might take warning. God still rebukes and disciplines and punishes his people, for our good. So as you see death all around you, you and I are continually warned of the dangers of sin. For the wages of sin is death. We die because we sin. So we must take warning as we see the bodies that fall around us. Our time will come, unless Jesus comes back soon. Make sure you are right with God, through the blood of the lamb, and God’s appointed priest, Jesus Christ, so you are ready that day.
Some of Nadab and Abihu’s cousins remove their charred bodies from the tabernacle. And Aaron and his two younger brothers must not mourn. The two younger brothers now have to get off the bench to take the place of their now dead older brothers and serve in the dangerous job of priesthood with their father. And while mourning is appropriate, it is not appropriate for the priests. They must put on their ‘ministry face’, and still do their important job. Aaron must be on God’s side, even against his own sons. It’s a tough lesson for Aaron to learn. God is more important than family.
And Jesus believes the same thing. Have you learnt that? God is more important than your family. Our families are very important. If you don’t provide for your family you have denied the faith and are worse than an unbeliever. Honour your father and your mother. Husbands, love your wives wives. Parents, don’t exasperate your children. All this is biblical and scriptural. We show we love God by loving our families.
But God is more important even than your wife or child. In Matthew chapter 10 verse 37, Jesus said:
Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (NIV)
Well, fortunately for Israel, Aaron has two more sons. So the sacrifices can still be offered on behalf of Israel. And so as the bodies of their big brothers are carried out, the two little brothers take their place in the tabernacle. Chapter 10 verses 12 and 13:
12 Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, "Take the grain offering left over from the offerings made to the LORD by fire and eat it prepared without yeast beside the altar, for it is most holy. 13 Eat it in a holy place, because it is your share and your sons' share of the offerings made to the LORD by fire; for so I have been commanded. (NIV)
Forget about the dead. There is a vital job to do here for the good of the nation. The national interest must take precedence over family tragedy.
I don’t think Aaron thought the Priesthood was a cushy job after his first day at work. I doubt Aaron thought he was on a good wicket. This was no job for the boys, nepotism, as if Moses was simply looking after his nephews by giving them the priesthood. If I was Aaron, I would have wished the priesthood had never come to me. For the priesthood was dangerous work. But it must be done, if Israel was to live under God’s blessing.
Indeed, before the end of day one, it looks like it’s going to get even worse for Aaron, for another omission is uncovered before the close of operations on the first day. Chapter 9 verses 16 to 20:
16 When Moses enquired about the goat of the sin offering and found that it had been burned up, he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's remaining sons, and asked, 17 "Why didn't you eat the sin offering in the sanctuary area? It is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt of the community by making atonement for them before the LORD. 18 Since its blood was not taken into the Holy Place, you should have eaten the goat in the sanctuary area, as I commanded." 19 Aaron replied to Moses, "Today they sacrificed their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD, but such things as this have happened to me. Would the LORD have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering today?" 20 When Moses heard this, he was satisfied. (NIV)
The younger sons survive their first day at work only by the skin of their teeth. You reckon you’ve got a tough job! Five men started the day, but only three go home after the first day. And before the close of trade, God must extend his mercy to cover another breach of the rules. When they all went home that night, Aaron’s family knew the cost and dangers of the priesthood.
This is the first day of Israel’s functioning priesthood. Overall, it is great news. If the priests get it right, Israel can be in the presence of God. But the priests have to be so careful. They have to follow the procedures to the letter. Otherwise, the danger starts with them, and not only that, but the whole community will be in danger. For God is a consuming fire. God will show himself holy.
God’s justice is harsh. And God’s justice is still harsh. This is still the same God with whom we have to do. We cannot come into the presence of God unless we have a priest. This priest himself must himself be right with God. He must follow God’s instructions, to the letter. He must come with blood. And He must not be consumed by God the consuming fire as he does his work. And there is one priest who does things God’s way all the time. There is one priest who always obeyed God his Father. One priest who followed the procedures to the letter. That is Jesus.
And Jesus Christ has done the dangerous and costly job of priesthood so that we can by faith approach God.
Unlike the other high priests, he [Jesus Christ, Our High Priest] does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. (Hebrews 7:27 NIV)
Since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience… (Hebrews 10:21-22 NIV)
The hopes and aspirations of Leviticus are fulfilled by Jesus. Because Jesus Christ forgot about himself, and the danger to himself, and served us as our Priest, you and I can approach God and not be consumed. We can pray, and God will listen. Yes, we are sinful and weak, but we can come into God’s presence because of the dangerous work that Jesus completed for us.
And in Christ, each one of us now is a priest. Because of Jesus’ good work as High Priest, your sacrifices are now acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We together are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5 NIV)
So if you serve God through Christ, you are acceptable to God. Your lifelong sacrifice is acceptable to God. You are not like Nadab and Abihu, whose sacrifice was rejected, because it was not asked for. Your life of good works is acceptable on account of Jesus’ Christ’s blood and sacrifice.
But please, please, please, be careful in your priestly service of God. We must not allow familiarity to breed contempt. Do not think you can come to God and worship him how you like. You must come to God through Jesus and worship him only in the way he says. In other words, you must follow the procedures. The procedures are there to save your life and the lives of the people. People still die in their sins. And we do not wish to be among them. So don’t take liberties with God in your worship. Worship him only the way he says. And our way of worship is found by coming to God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son, the only Holy High priest, and obeying the great laws of the New Covenant, loving God and neighbor.
Let’s pray.