Divine Guidance
Exodus 39:14-15: "[On the breastpiece,] there were twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They were like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes. And they made on the breastpiece twisted chains like cords, of pure gold."
Aaron and his sons would soon go through the week-long ceremony to be purified and anointed to serve as priests in the tabernacle. The Lord had been quite specific about the priests' clothing just as he was about the tabernacle. Aaron and his sons were set apart to serve him as priests within the tabernacle. From the offering of the sacrifices to the replenishment of the oil, priestly work was done unto the Lord on behalf of the nation of Israel.
Priests represented the people. A physical demonstration of this responsibility was on the shoulder pieces and the breastplates worn by the high priest. On both items of clothing, there were twelve stones bearing the names of Israel's twelve tribes. These stones represented the fullness, or the completeness of God's nation. As the priest went into the tabernacle, he brought the full nation of Israel with him. Abraham and his descendants were not forgotten, but their legacy lived on through the tribes of Israel. The covenants that God gave to these forefathers were never forsaken but were fulfilled and would continue to be fulfilled to the very end. These covenants gave assurance through the wanderings, assurance that God was faithful to lead and guide his people to this perfect fulfillment.
Exodus 28:29-30 provides more details about Aaron's breastpiece:
As Aaron brought the nation of Israel before the Lord, he had the responsibility to bear the burdens of the people. As we have seen Moses do, now Aaron will also sit in judgement of the people. Because there were no formal Scriptures written as their guide in those days, the Lord gave the Urim and the Thummim to sit on Aaron's heart. The Urim and the Thummim were stones worn upon the breastpiece of the priest, which the Lord used to provide guidance. We don't know exactly how this worked, but we know that the breastpiece was referred to as the "breastpiece of decision." With this divine guidance, Aaron would continue to guide his people in obedience to the covenant.
These days, we are blessed to have many wise and discerning pastors to teach us God's truth and to counsel us in his ways. The Lord does not limit his wisdom to these leaders. Jesus told us of how God's guidance would come: "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you" (John 16:13-14). The Lord has placed his guidance on your heart through his Spirit of truth.
The Lord, himself, will guide you, convict you of sin, and teach you his will and plan for you. No longer do you need someone to represent you before the Lord, no longer do you need to consult the the Urim and the Thummim as a guide. Jesus is the great High Priest who bears your needs and questions on his heart, he is your source of guidance and discernment. You now have direct access to the Father through the Son, and the Holy Spirit lives within you so you may know the truth.
Reflection:
The Lord graciously provided the means for the nation of Israel to know him and to know his will for them through Moses their mediator and then through Aaron the high priest. Now, we have an even greater provision in Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Are you looking to Jesus as your mediator and to the Spirit as the one to speak God's truth into your life?
Aaron and his sons would soon go through the week-long ceremony to be purified and anointed to serve as priests in the tabernacle. The Lord had been quite specific about the priests' clothing just as he was about the tabernacle. Aaron and his sons were set apart to serve him as priests within the tabernacle. From the offering of the sacrifices to the replenishment of the oil, priestly work was done unto the Lord on behalf of the nation of Israel.
Priests represented the people. A physical demonstration of this responsibility was on the shoulder pieces and the breastplates worn by the high priest. On both items of clothing, there were twelve stones bearing the names of Israel's twelve tribes. These stones represented the fullness, or the completeness of God's nation. As the priest went into the tabernacle, he brought the full nation of Israel with him. Abraham and his descendants were not forgotten, but their legacy lived on through the tribes of Israel. The covenants that God gave to these forefathers were never forsaken but were fulfilled and would continue to be fulfilled to the very end. These covenants gave assurance through the wanderings, assurance that God was faithful to lead and guide his people to this perfect fulfillment.
Exodus 28:29-30 provides more details about Aaron's breastpiece:
"So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgement on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord. And in the breastpiece of judgement you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron's heart, when he goes before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly."
As Aaron brought the nation of Israel before the Lord, he had the responsibility to bear the burdens of the people. As we have seen Moses do, now Aaron will also sit in judgement of the people. Because there were no formal Scriptures written as their guide in those days, the Lord gave the Urim and the Thummim to sit on Aaron's heart. The Urim and the Thummim were stones worn upon the breastpiece of the priest, which the Lord used to provide guidance. We don't know exactly how this worked, but we know that the breastpiece was referred to as the "breastpiece of decision." With this divine guidance, Aaron would continue to guide his people in obedience to the covenant.
These days, we are blessed to have many wise and discerning pastors to teach us God's truth and to counsel us in his ways. The Lord does not limit his wisdom to these leaders. Jesus told us of how God's guidance would come: "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you" (John 16:13-14). The Lord has placed his guidance on your heart through his Spirit of truth.
The Lord, himself, will guide you, convict you of sin, and teach you his will and plan for you. No longer do you need someone to represent you before the Lord, no longer do you need to consult the the Urim and the Thummim as a guide. Jesus is the great High Priest who bears your needs and questions on his heart, he is your source of guidance and discernment. You now have direct access to the Father through the Son, and the Holy Spirit lives within you so you may know the truth.
Reflection:
The Lord graciously provided the means for the nation of Israel to know him and to know his will for them through Moses their mediator and then through Aaron the high priest. Now, we have an even greater provision in Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Are you looking to Jesus as your mediator and to the Spirit as the one to speak God's truth into your life?
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