Lesson 14: The Priests
Exodus 28,29,30,39
It was God’s desire that the nation of Israel be “a kingdom of priests” in the world, revealing His glory and sharing his blessings with the unbelieving nations around them. In order for this to happen, Israel had to be a holy people and that is where the family of Aaron came into play. The tribe of Levi, Aaron’s tribe, were to serve the nation as priests and were to represent God to the people by teaching them the Law and helping them to obey it.
But Israel failed to live up to the expectations of God and the priestly ministry failed to provide the spiritual leadership needed by the people. Consequently, the nation was later attacked and defeated, the grand temple at Jerusalem destroyed and many Israeli’s carried off in exile. This nation of Israel was lost from sight, never to appear again, although a secular nation of Israel was established in 1948. Some say, and preach, that the latter day Israel is the return of the old Israel but to others there are too many differences between the two to lend much credence to this argument. The main shortcoming is the lack of belief and credibility given to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior by modern Jews.
Read 28:1-43
1. Who were the priests to serve? ________________________________________________
2. What was the purpose of the “priestly garments?” ________________________________________
3. What were the seven items considered to be “priestly garments?”
A. _________________________________
B. _________________________________
C. _________________________________
D. _________________________________
E. _________________________________
F. _________________________________
G. ________________________________
4. What was to be engraved on stones set on the shoulder pieces of the ephod?
___________________________________________________________________________________
5. What was the Urim and Thummin listed in 28:10? _______________________________________
Read 29:35-46
6. The ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests took seven days. Why was there such an elaborate ceremony? _________________________________________________________________________
7. What were the elements of the ordination process?
A. The priests were washed.
B. They were dressed with their new garments.
C. They were anointed with special oil.
D. They were forgiven.
E. Their lives and fortunes were dedicated to God’s service.
F. They were marked with the blood of the sacrifice – right earlobe, right thumb and right big toe. (Listen to God, do his work, walk in His way.)
G. The priests were fed.
Read 40:1-35
The Book of Exodus opens with Moses seeing the glory of God in a burning bush and it closes with the glory of God descending into the camp and filling the tabernacle. The presence of God was not a luxury, it was a necessity for the people had shown they could not live without the presence of God near them.
The work on the tabernacle was now finished and the furnishings complete. Moses saw to every detail that God had specified in his plan. Many sincere people have tried to do God’s work their way and then asked God to bless it. But ministry does not work that way. First, we seek God’s will and then we do it to glorify him. When everything was ready and the tabernacle had been dedicated to God, then the glory of God filled it. So powerful was the presence of God’s glory that even Moses was not able to enter it himself.
Today, God does not live in buildings but he lives in each of his children, wherever they are is where his presence abides.
As we have studied this great book of the Bible, what have we learned. I hope you have been exposed to these basic truths enough to reflect on them in your own life and where needed, make adjustments. We don’t want to have to relearn the painful lessons of these people, chosen by God to be his special treasure.
1. God’s purpose for his people is freedom. He doesn’t want us to be in bondage to self, sin or the world.
2. God’s purpose in giving us freedom is to see it reflected in our conduct and service. Freedom is not a privilege for us to do as we please but freedom to do what God wants us to do.
3. Spiritual maturity comes as we experience trials and testing and trust God to see us through.
4. God wants to dwell with us but our sin grieves him and he is hurt when we rebel against him.
5. Believers of today are a kingdom of priests whose first responsibility is to worship and please God. As priests we are to minister to each other and to the world.
6. The most important goal in the Christian life is to be able to stand before God one day and say sincerely, “I have glorified you on the earth. I have finished the work which you have given me to do.” (John 17:4)
May God generously bless you as you continue your journey as a disciple.