Aaron - First High Priest of Israel

 

Aaron was the firstborn son of Amram and his wife/aunt Jochebed, who were Levites (Exodus 2:1; 6:20). He was born during Israel's time in Egypt, 83 years before the Exodus, 3 years before his brother Moses, and about 10 years after his sister Miriam (Exodus 2:1,4; 6:20; 7:7).

Aaron married Elisheba, a daughter of Amminadab, who was of the tribe of Judah (Exodus 6:23; 1 Chronicles 2:10). They had 4 sons - Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

When the time of the Exodus came, God sent Aaron (Exodus 4:14, 27-30) out to meet the returning Moses (who had just spent 40 years out in the Sinai with Jethro), to join with him in their assigned task. Aaron was to be the spokesman for Moses, who was unable to speak well, perhaps from stuttering (Exodus 6:30; 7:1-2,9-10,19). Although Moses was the leader, it was Aaron who did the actual speaking to Pharaoh through the events leading to the Exodus, and the crossing of the Red Sea.

Aaron stepped up as a strengthening partner throughout the ordeal, then later led the people in formalized worship of God in the wilderness.

 

Aaron was a faultless servant with his brother, at least at first. At Rephidim, when Moses overlooked the battle with the Amalekites from a nearby hill with the rod of God in his outstretched hand, it was Aaron and Hur (his brother-in-law, Miriam's husband), who held up Moses' tired arms until Israel's forces under Joshua won the battle (Exodus 17:8-13).

Aaron's greatest lapse in judgment occurred while Moses was away on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments from God. For whatever reason, Aaron gave in to the people's demands, and made that now-infamous golden calf for the people to worship (Exodus 32:4). When Moses returned, Aaron was sternly rebuked, but was forgiven by God after Moses prayed for him. Aaron came very close to being killed for that incident (Deuteronomy 9:20)

Aaron was appointed directly by God to be the first high priest. He and his sons were consecrated to continue the priesthood through time (Leviticus 8 and 9).

Aaron again displayed a failure in good judgment at Hazeroth when he and Miriam spoke out against Moses for marrying a Cushite (Ethiopian) woman. Once again, The Lord vindicated Moses, and punished Miriam, who had led the minor rebellion, with leprosy (Numbers 12:1-16). After Aaron acknowledged his and Miriam's error, at the intercession of Moses they were forgiven by God.

Aaron's career seemed to blow hot and cold. He certainly had his low points (i.e. the golden calf), but overall he remained a steadfast ally of his brother. During the Korah rebellion, Aaron stood courageously with Moses (Numbers 16:1-50). Not long after that, the miraculous sprouting of his staff was used to demonstrate that he was indeed the high priest to those who were questioning his authority (Numbers 17:1-13). That staff was afterwards preserved in the Tabernacle (Hebrews 9:4)

Neither Moses nor Aaron were permitted to enter the Promised Land (See Heartbreak Mountain). Aaron was involved in the water-from-the-rock incident at Meribah (Numbers 20:8-13), and for that presumptuous disobedience to God's instructions both were not permitted to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:24).

Aaron died at Mount Hor after his priestly authority was transferred to his son Eleazar. He was 123 years old (Numbers 20:23-29, Deuteronomy 10:6, 32:50). The people mourned his passing for 30 days

 

Accomplishments of Aaron:

Aaron began Israel's first formal line of priests, was first to wear the priestly garments and started the sacrificial system. He helped Moses defeat Pharaoh. With Hur, he supported Moses' arms at Rephidim so the Israelites could defeat the Amalekites. When Israel had finished its wandering, Aaron went up Mount Sinai with Moses and 70 elders to worship God.

Aaron was loyal to Moses, an eloquent interpreter, and a conscientious priest.

Aaron's Weaknesses:

When Moses did not come down from Mount Sinai, Aaron helped the Israelites craft a golden calf and worshiped it with them. Aaron did not set a good example for his sons and did not instruct them in absolute obedience to the Lord, resulting in his sons Nadab and Abihu offering "unauthorized fire" before God, who struck both men dead.

Aaron joined Miriam in criticizing Moses' marriage to a Cushite woman. Aaron also shared in Moses' disobedience to God at Meribah, when the people demanded water, and thus was forbidden to enter the promised land.

Life Lessons:

We all have strengths and weaknesses, but the wise person asks God to reveal both. We tend to be proud of our strengths while ignoring our weaknesses. That gets us into trouble, as it did Aaron.

Whether we are operating in one of our talents or struggling under our shortcomings, we do well to keep our focus on God for guidance. Aaron's life shows us we don't have to be the leader to play an important role.

Adam

Adam was the first man on earth, and for a short time he lived alone. He arrived on the planet with no childhood, no parents, no family and no friends. Perhaps Adam's loneliness moved God to quickly present him with a companion, Eve. Before God created Eve, he had given Adam the Garden of Eden. It was his to enjoy, but he also had the full responsibility of taking care of it. Adam knew that one tree was off-limits, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Adam would have taught Eve the rules of the garden. Even though she knew it was forbidden to eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden, when Satan tempted her, Eve was deceived. When she offered the fruit to Adam, the fate of the world was on his shoulders. As they ate the fruit in that one act of rebellion, man's independence and disobedience separated him from God.

But God already had a plan in place to deal with man's sin. The Bible is the story of God's plan for man. Adam is "our" beginning, and we are all his descendants.

According to the Bible, Adam was the first human being on Earth and the father of all humanity. In the book of Genesis (1:26), Adam is created by God on the sixth day of creation, in God's own image, and given dominion over all the animals of the world. God then gives Adam a female partner, Eve. Eve feeds Adam fruit from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge, after which an angry God expels them from the Garden of Eden. In Christian theology, Adam's failure to obey God is known as the Original Sin. Adam fathered three sons by Eve: Cain, Abel and Seth.

Adam's Accomplishments:

God chose Adam to name the animals, making him the first zoologist. He was also the first landscaper and horticulturist, responsible to work the garden and care for the plants. He was the first man, the father of humankind. He was the only man without a mother and a father.

Adam's Strengths:

Adam was made in the image of God and shared a close relationship with his Creator.

Adam's Weaknesses:

We see that Adam avoided his God-given responsibility. He blamed Eve and made excuses for himself when he committed a sin. He hid from God in shame, rather than facing his error and admitting the truth.

Life Lessons:

We see from Adam's life that God wants us to freely choose to follow and obey him out of love. We also learn that nothing we do is hidden from God. Likewise, it does not benefit us to blame others for our own failings. We must accept personal responsibility.

The meaning of the names of the 12 Tribes

1. Judah -           "I will praise The Lord "
2. Ruben -           "He has looked on me "
3. Gad-                "Given good fortune"
4. Asher-            " Happy am I "
5. Naphtali-        "My wrestling"
6. Manasseh-     "Making me to forget"
7. Simeon -       "God Hears me"
8. Levi-            " Joined to me"
9. Issachar-      "Purchased Me"
10. Zebulun-      "Dwelling"
11. Joseph-        "Will add to me"
12. Benjamin-    "Son of his Right Hand"

Jacob

 
Jacob was one of the great patriarchs of the Old Testament, but at times he was also a schemer, liar, and manipulator .Jacob is a troubling character in the Old Testament. He is conniving and he is spiritual too. He has moments of strong faith as well as of fear. His family is sometimes in disarray, and yet at the end he is the one who sets it straight. Jacob, whose very name suggests "deceiver," is renamed by God as "Israel" -- "one who has struggled with God." And an entire nation is named after this patriarch -- the nation of Israel.

Jacob is a bit too much like us -- with very human strengths and weaknesses, but a man with a striving for spiritual things. From this imperfect man we learn important lessons of faith. Especially, we learn about God's grace

God established his covenant with Jacob's grandfather, Abraham. The blessings continued through Jacob's father, Isaac, then to Jacob and his descendants. Jacob's sons became leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel.

The younger of twins, Jacob was born holding on to his brother Esau's heel. His name means "he grasps the heel" or "he deceives." Jacob lived up to his name. He and his mother Rebekah cheated Esau out of his birthright and blessing. Later in Jacob's life, God renamed him Israel, which means "he struggles with God."

In fact, Jacob struggled with God his entire life, as many of us do. As he matured in faith, Jacob depended on God more and more. But the turning point for Jacob came after a dramatic, all-night wrestling match with God. In the end the Lord touched Jacob's hip and he was a broken man, but also a new man. From that day forward, Jacob was called Israel. And for the rest of his life he walked with a limp, demonstrating his dependence on the Lord. Jacob finally learned to give up control to God.

Jacob's story teaches us how an imperfect person can be greatly blessed by God--not because of who he or she is, but because of who God is.

 

Jacob's Accomplishments:

Jacob in the Bible account, fathered 12 sons, who became leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel. One of them was Joseph, a key figure in the Old Testament.

His name is frequently associated with God in the Bible: the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Jacob persevered in his love for Rachel. He proved to be a hard worker.

Jacob's Strengths:

Jacob was clever. Sometimes this trait worked for him and sometimes it backfired on him.

He used both his mind and strength to build his wealth and family.

Jacob's Weaknesses:

sometimes Jacob made his own rules, deceiving others for selfish gain. He did not trust God to work things out.

Even though God revealed himself to Jacob in the Bible, Jacob took a long time to become a true servant of the Lord.

He favoured Joseph over his other sons, leading to jealousy and strife within his family.

Life Lessons:

The sooner we trust God in life, the longer we will benefit from his blessings. When we fight God, we are in a losing battle.

We often worry about missing the will of God for our life, but God works with our mistakes and bad decisions. His plans cannot be upset.

Hometown:

Canaan.

Referenced in the Bible:

Jacob's story is found in Genesis chapters 25-37, 42, 45-49. His name is mentioned throughout the Bible in connection with God: "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

Occupation:

Shepherd, prosperous owner of sheep and cattle.

Family Tree:

Father: Isaac
Mother: Rebekah
Brother: Esau
Grandfather: Abraham
Wives: Leah, Rachel
Sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Gad, Asher, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali
Daughter: Dinah

Key Verses:

Genesis 28:12-15
He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." (NIV)

Genesis 28:20-22
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's household, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth." (NIV)

Genesis 32:28
Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome." (NIV)



Jonah

One of the greatest prophets during the time of Jeroboam II was Jonah the son of Amitai, who, as a prophet disciple, had anointed Jehu and who, therefore, enjoyed the king's benevolence. Once God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh, one of the largest cities of that time and foretell its destruction, because the evil of its inhabitants had reached the limit. The mission, however, was not to Jonah's liking. Nineveh was a bitter enemy of Israel, and Jonah would have liked to see its destruction. If he should succeed in his mission and Nineveh would be spared, it would remain a constant threat to Israel. Jonah therefore decided to seek escape. He boarded a ship that sailed for Tarshish, hoping to forget about his mission. Once the prophet was on the high seas, God caused a storm to break that threatened to tear the ship asunder. The sailors were frightened and each one prayed to his god. Jonah, however, lay down to sleep. The captain of the ship, seeing the sleeping man, went over to him and reprimanded him for sleeping in that fateful hour, instead of praying to God. Meanwhile the sailors drew lots to find out whose fault it was that this misfortune had been brought upon them. The lot fell upon Jonah. When the sailors questioned him as to who he was, whence he had come, and what his business was, he told them that he was a Jew and a servant of God, the Creator of heaven and earth. Then the sailors asked what they should do in order to quiet the raging sea and save their ship with all aboard. Jonah replied that all they had to do was to throw him overboard, and the storm would immediately die down, since it had been caused by his refusal to obey God's command. At first the sailors did not want to do as Jonah asked. But the storm grew fiercer and the end was seemingly unavoidable. Very reluctantly, the sailors threw Jonah into the water and the storm ceased at once.

As soon as Jonah was in the water, God sent a large fish to swallow Jonah alive. Three days and three nights Jonah stayed within the fish. In distress, he prayed to God to save him, and God ordered the fish to eject Jonah and set him on dry land.

Jonah in Nineveh

Again God ordered Jonah to go to Nineveh to convey the Divine message. This time the prophet traveled to Nineveh to carry out his mission. Upon his arrival in the city, Jonah stepped right into the middle of the busy thoroughfare and announced that the city would perish in forty days. The prophet's solemn warning electrified the city. The residents believed the prophecy and repented. They fasted and wore sackcloth; even the king himself took off his royal robes and put on the garbs of mourning. Everyone in the city honestly and sincerely decided to abandon his evil past. All the people truly tried to mend their ways. Possessions unjustly acquired were returned to their rightful owners, and false judgments were revised. God saw that they were sincere in their repentance and accepted it. Nineveh was saved

Characteristics of the book of Jonah

Anger: The book of Jonah shows the danger of focusing on anger and allowing feelings of anger to supersede reason and being humble before God. Selfish anger leads to errors in judgment and sometimes feelings of depression.

Disobeying God: The book of Jonah study clearly shows how intentional disobedience by a servant of God can lead to trouble not only for themselves but for those near them.

God uses imperfect people: God does not give up on his people although we may feel far from God when we are unfaithful.

God’s sovereignty: The Bible study of Jonah identifies several instances where God shows his sovereignty through nature as well as through uncooperative people.

God’s purpose for difficult times or pending judgment: The Jonah Bible study shows how God intends for difficult times or pending judgment is intended to turn people to Him. God’s delay in bringing judgment is for the purpose of allowing people time to repent.

Repentance: The people of Nineveh demonstrate the type of repentance God desires; acts of remorse and change in behavior.

Values: The Bible study on Jonah points out how selfishness leads us to prefer personal benefit over the salvation of enemies and that sometimes unbelievers show greater value for human life more than believers.

Esther

Esther was a young orphaned Israelite girl from the tribe of Benjamin (Esther 2:5-7) rose from being a former prisoner-exile to Queen of Persia. Originally named Hadassah, meaning myrtle, she later became known as Esther, which is a form of the Persian word satarah, which means a star.

Esther's family had been among those of the southern kingdom of Judah, composed of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (1 Kings 12:21) who had been conquered by the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar After the Babylonian empire was itself conquered by the Persians under Cyrus the Great, the Jews were permitted to return to Jerusalem - their descendants form the Jewish people today.

When orphaned at a young age, Esther was raised by her older cousin, Mordecai, who worked in the household of the Persian king (Esther 2:5-7). They apparently did not make use of the permission granted by Cyrus for the exiles to return to Jerusalem

In a twist of events, Queen Vashti was summoned to appear before her husband and his ministers at a banquet. The Bible says that she disobeyed her husband because he was drunk and wanted to parade her around inappropriately in front of everyone. Xerxes grew angry over her refusal to obey him and embarrassing him in front of his court. He turns the matter over to his advisors and they fall back on the laws of Persia. Xerxes is forced to decree that Vashti isn’t his queen any more and that begins a search for a new queen.

Beautiful young virgins are gathered up from all over the land and brought to the palace. Esther is one of these girls. They are trained and prepared for months before they are ready to appear for their one night with the king. Xerxes is supposed to make a choice who his next queen will be.

The Bible’s Esther is faced with difficult choices but never looses her trust in the Lord God of Israel. She is put into a position where she can save her own people from the evil plans of Haman, the minister to King Xerxes, who hates the Jews. Most of all he detests Mordecai because he won’t bow down to Haman.

Haman manipulates the King and the laws to call for total annihilation of the Jews still living in the empire. Mordecai appeals to Esther to use her power and position to save her people. She must decide and begins three days of fasting and praying for guidance. Esther realizes that all that has happened in her life has prepared her for this moment in history.

Appearing before the King without being summoned could mean certain death for her. She will have to reveal her heritage and appeal for deliverance for her people in a hostile court. Trusting in God, she asks her husband, King Xerxes, and Haman to a series of three private banquets and then petitions Xerxes. She reveals the truth about Haman and is successful in her plea

 

LESSONS from Book

1. God has sometimes used armies and sometimes flashy miracles in order to rescue His People. But He is not limited to those strategies. He can just as easily use one obscure person - male, such as Joseph, or female, such as Esther - and manipulate the circumstances around them to allow them to be the agent of His salvation.

2. Most western nations appreciate living in basically democratic societies. And rightly so. Christians can thereby be unusually free to worship according to their consciences, and free to obey God without much fear that such obedience will run afoul of the government in most circumstances. But God never in the Bible destroys kingdoms specifically because the form of government is a dictatorship so his servants could have the kind of freedoms we enjoy. Instead, He enables His people to function right within whatever system they find themselves in. Even the apostle Paul notes this:

"Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. " (1Corinthians 7:20-21, NKJV).

Paul is not thereby telling us to give up the freedom we have. He is indicating that God can use us, just as He used the Jewish Queen, wherever we find ourselves, no matter the nature of the government.

3. Serving God and fulfilling the role He called you to is possible even in an environment where almost everyone around you is a heathen. And it can be done without attempting to change everyone around you. Joseph, Esther and Daniel all served totally pagan kings and won favor with them by their exemplary conduct and example. And they were thereby able to accomplish great deeds.

4. God can use young women, like Esther, just as easily as young warriors, like David, to accomplish His plans for His people.

5. It is comforting to know that God can redeem people with unpleasant pasts and use them to advance His plans for His people - witness Rahab the harlot and Paul, the persecutor of Christians. But in some cases His plans particularly call for those who have kept themselves undefiled physically and / or spiritually. Certainly in the case of Esther, it would have been impossible for her to fulfill God's plan if she had not been a chaste young woman.

(approximate dates)

536 BC - the return from Babylon to Jerusalem
536-516 BC - the rebuilding of The Temple
478 BC - Esther became queen of Persia
473 BC - Esther saved the Jews from massacre
457 BC - Ezra went from Babylon to Jerusalem
444 BC - Nehemiah rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem

The lessons that we can learn from Esther are faithfulness, trust in God, and a willingness to follow His will whether we are afraid or not. Esther’s act on behalf of the Jews is a picture of sacrifice.  Her story is a partial illustration of what the Savior, Jesus Christ, would do 500 years later. Esther – Hadassah – was willing to sacrifice herself to save her people
 There is virtually no doubt that Esther was directly chosen by God to avert the destruction of The Chosen People  - from whom came the ancestors of Jesus Christ . To commemorate that deliverance, the Jews began the festival of Purim (Esther 9:18-32), which is still observed to this day.

Psalms Reference to Christ in the New Testament

Psalms 2:7 The Messiah will be God's Son Hebrews 1:5,6
Psalms 16:8-10 He will rise from the dead. Luke 24:5-7

Psalms 22:1-21 He will experience agony on the cross Matthew 26,27
Psalm 22:18 Evil Men cast lots for his clothing Matthew 27:35, John 19:23,24
Psalms 22:15 He thirsts while on the cross John 19:28
Psalms 22:22 He will declare God's name. Hebrews 2:12
Psalms 34:20 His bones would not be broken John 19:36,37
Psalms 40:6-8 He came to do God's will. Hebrews 10:5-7
Psalms 41:9 His close friend would betray him. Luke 22:48
Psalms 45:6,7 His throne will last forever Hebrews 1:8,9
Psalms 68:18 He ascended into heaven. Ephesians 4:8-10
Psalms 69:9 He is zealous for God John 2:17
Psalms 69:21 He was offered vinegar for his thirst on the cross Matthew 27:48
Psalms 89:3, 4, 35, 36 He will be a descendant of David. Luke 1:31-33
Psalms 96:13 He will return to judge the world. 1 Thessalonians 1:10
Psalms 110:1 He is David's son and David's Lord. Matthew 22:44
Psalms 110:4 He is the eternal priest-king. Hebrews 6:20
Psalms 118:22 He is rejected by many but accepted by God. 1 Peter 2:7, 8