Leviticus 8-10 The Life of Moses

(My BSF Notes)

Last week we learned that Leviticus is a handbook for priest and that God wanted them to be holy and us to be holy, because He is holy.  This week we will look a little deeper into chapters 8-10.

Leviticus 8 – Consecrating and Ordaining the Priests

Now that the tabernacle or Tent of Meeting was finished and instructions were given by God for sacrifices, Aaron and his sons who were the priests had to be consecrated and ordained as so they could do their work.

Consecration means a commitment of your life for a purpose or a setting apart.  Ordination means the process of setting apart.  God told Moses and Moses told the priests how the consecrating was to be done.  They were to bring a bull, 2 rams and the basket containing bread made without yeast.  Then gather the entire assembly at the Tent.  They were to offer sacrifices for their sins and then tell the people to offer sacrifices. 

Then God gave specific instruction as to how the priests were to be clothed.  They were to be washed with water, dressed and clothed with a tunic, with a sash, a robe and an ephod.  A turban was place on their head.  Moses then took anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it.  

A bull was presented for the sin offering.  They laid their hands on it transferring their sins, and then it was slaughtered.  Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar which consecrated it.  Then he took a ram for the burnt offering and they laid their hands on it transferring their sins.  It was slaughtered and its blood was sprinkled on the altar.  It was cut into pieces and burned offering a pleasing aroma to the Lord.  Another ram was offered for ordination.  They laid their hands on it also and then slaughtered it.  Moses put some of the blood on their right ear, on their right hand, and on their right big toe.  Then blood was sprinkled on the altar again.  Even their garments were sprinkled with oil and blood so they would be consecrated.

They were to cook the meant and eat it there with bread from the basket of ordination.  They were to stay there for 7 days and nights offering sacrifices or they would die, because that was what the Lord required.  Aaron and his sons did all that the Lord commanded through Moses.

What was the significance of the blood on the right ear, right hand, and right big toe?  The right side is usually more dominant.  The ear meant they were to listen to God’s words; the hands showed they were devoted to God’s work; the feet were to constantly walk in God’s ways.

All believers are priests today.  We are set apart.  We have been washed by the blood of Jesus, which makes us clean.   “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” – Heb. 10:22.  We have been dressed and clothed with Christ.  He has made us worthy.  “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” – Rom. 13:10.  We are anointed with the Holy Spirit who gives us all different gifts to do His work.  “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me…” – Is. 61:1.

What area in your life do you need to consecrate to God?

Do you listen to God when He speaks to you?

How are your hands serving God?

Are you walking in God’s ways?

Principle:  Consecration to God means to live for Him and not ourselves.

Leviticus 9 – The Priests Ministry Begins

On the 8^th day the priests were to begin their work.  First they were to present a bull for their sin offering  and then tell the people to present a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and lamb without defect for a burnt offering, an ox and a ram for a fellowship offering all to be sacrificed before the Lord.  Then the Lord would appear to them.  (Lev. 9:4).  They did just as they were commanded.

Aaron and his sons came out of the Tent and lifted his hands and blessed the people.  Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people.  Then fire came out from the presence of the Lord.  When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and fell facedown worshipping the Lord.

How do you worship in your church?

Do you worship God joyfully?

Principle:  Obedient acts of faith reveal God’s glory.

Leviticus 10 – Aaron’s Sons Dishonor God

Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu were called ordained and called by God, but they messed up.  They offered unauthorized fire before the lord and the fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them and they died. (Lev. 10:2).  Verse 9 indicates that they may have been drunk when doing their duties.  God forbids the drinking of wine by priests who were on duty.  Probably because it could impair them as they did their work.  They needed to have a clear mind as to what they were doing.  They were set part and should to be an example for the people.  “You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses.” – Lev. 10:10-11. 

God was severe with them because they were to model what this sacrificial system was to look like.  He is saying, “You can’t comprise with Me.  You are to be holy.”  Sin is common to all of us since Adam and Eve.  Sin brings death, both physical and spiritual.  But out of His love we don’t have to die, because of Jesus.  God made a way for us not to experience spiritual death.

They attempted to come to God in an unauthorized way bringing them death.  Today our eternal death comes to those who insist on approaching God apart from Jesus Christ.  We try to be good, do good things, be kind, volunteer and help others and think that is enough to get to God.  That is an unauthorized way to come to God and it doesn’t work.  He only accepts His way.  Jesus is the only way to God.  “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.’” – John 14:6.

God requires us to be holy as He is holy.  He wants us to honor Him.  God always demands complete holiness and obedience.  Anything else is unholy and disobedient.

When have you dishonored God?

Do you strive to be holy?

After Aaron’s sons death, Moses told Aaron to keep it together.  He reminded Aaron that God is holy and that he was still called to serve and be a priest.  So Aaron was silent.  He probably knew they did wrong.  He did not eat the sin offering on this day, maybe because he was mourning inwardly.  Maybe he felt unholy or even a little responsible for their actions.  He would be eating in sorrow and not be rejoicing or thankful.

When have you not pleased God?

Have you approached God through Jesus?

Principle:  God is concerned with our heart attitude and how we worship.

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