This is a Christian inspirational site. Bethelstone suggests a touchstone where believers can find inspiration. The daily bible in a year studies will be short and meditative: a bit heavier for foundation principles, a bit lighter for factual content.

Day 35: Exodus 28-31 - Dedication of the priests



In chapter 28, Aaron and all his sons, were set apart by God for the priesthood

It took extraordinary skill to produce garments of such distinction, “hand-made” with the choicest cloths, donated by the Jews – including gold and fine linen.

It is rather specific that the materials would of Gold, of Blue, of Scarlet, of Purple, and of fine-twined linen. Those were royal colors, costly, precious, worthy of a king. I think that was it most costly to God, by far, is the fabric of lives who have overcome life and dedicated their lives to Him.

Scarlet was a dye derived from a Middle-Eastern worm and was symbolic of sacrifice. Blue symbolized heaven. Purple was a blend of heavenly blue and earthly sacrifice, a wonderful portrayal of Jesus. Gold, being highly refined, spoke of righteousness, as did fine linen.

The garments comprised a mitre for the head, an embroidered coat, a robe over that, an ephod, a sleeveless outer vestment, and a breastplate, which attached to the ephod. Not seen were the linen breeches that covered them from the groin down to the thighs.

They wore no shoes, for they walked on holy ground

On each shoulder was a six-sided onyx stone with the names of the tribes engraved on it, in order of birth. Evidently Onyx is a healing stone for it has an apparent calming effect. Well, maybe the whole idea of them being on the priests shoulders conveys the same meaning.

On the breastplate, close to the heart of the priest and, as such, the true objective of their role, were the twelve stones that symbolized the tribes of Israel.

Inside was the Urim and Thummim

The two articles were hidden inside the ephod. They were either stones, sticks or bones, used to make important decisions. Moses never relied on them, but many important decisions made use of them. Their only virtue here is that the priest carried them near to his heart to put the will of God above his own subjective feelings.

In Samuel 28:6, they failed Saul. He also hoped to hear from God through a dream. The silence had more to do his Saul’s state of heart and that, to me, is the key to hearing God. The alternative is to expect God to just endorse our own thoughts and intents.  

“Sensors” also let their feelings overrule faith at the Jordan River, where the faithful only trusted God and, as such, always made better decisions.

Sadly, the church is still a little too Urim and Thummin today, relying on prophetic inferences and feelings rather than the word of God mixed with faith.

Chapter 29 is all about the dedication of the priests 

It was a demanding ritual. Firstly it required them to be washed at the entrance to the tabernacle, where all could witness the ceremony, but also because it made their access to the tent possible.

A series of sacrifices ensued. In one, the priests laid their hands on a bull, to transfer their sins. The bull was sacrificed and its blood used to anoint the altar, then its organs were burnt, but the carcass was carried outside the camp for burning: to bear away their sins.

Two rams were also offered with similar blood anointings, but the second was used to anoint the tips of the priest’s ears, their finger tips and their toes, to dedicate their hearing to God, their service to His glory and their walk to His honor.

The consecration of the priests took seven days and that initiated a continuous daily sacrificial pattern that would keep the nation sensitized to God, to sin and their commitment to righteous living. However, its repetition implied inadequacy and temporariness.

Chapter 30 is dedicated to the golden altar of incense 

If you have ever passed an abattoir you will appreciate why. The smell of death is nauseating and pervasive. God knew that and prescribed an altar of incense that would displace the fragrance of death with the fragrance of life. What a contrast to pagan temples. 

Movies glorify death, horror, darkness: a morbid fascination of the pagan temples, that speaks of the maggots that consume dead flesh. It is a dreadful picture of sin and its unfulfillable lusts. As such, hell is described as a place where the worm never dies.

In contrast, God prescribed an anointing oil made up of 5 different spices, all significant and so special that anyone mimicking it was destined to be cut off. It was the first registered patent. It speaks of the anointing on our lives, which must be in the right mix and never contrived.
  • Myrrh, an embalming ointment, speaks of the death of Christ. He was presented with it at His birth, because He came to die (Hebrews 10:5). In our own lives, the truest form of dedication is to die to self – no, not get a suitable qualification, but die to self (Romans 6:11-13). 
  • Cinnamon is a sweet spice, which speaks of a life that has become a sweet savor to God, a life that exudes the life of Christ (Ephesians 5:2). Myrrh neutralized the stench of death but Cinnamon and Calamus added the sweetness of new life. 
  • Calamus or Cane was for double sweetening and implied the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5 or the list of virtues found in 2 Peter 1:5-6. All too often ministry reduces to a businesslike function rather than the elusive sweetness of a transformed life. Sadly, many are preferred for ministry because of their external qualities, that they fit in, look the part, say the right things and please men, but the standard implied by God is quite different and, as such, is often not discerned in deeper, more reflective souls.
  • Cassia was drawn from a tree that grows in swampy areas. It speak of a life that is planted by living waters and anchored in God (Psalm 1:3, Jeremiah 17:8).
  • Olive oil was the foundational ingredient and was the result of crushing and pressing. Until our lives are crushed and pressed to release the oil of anointing, we will never really be effective.
We too are priests of God, washed with the water of God’s Word (Ephesians 5:26). We too are unshod before God, always on holy ground and we carry the names of the saints in our hearts, but the weight of the church on our shoulders.  

That describes Bezaleel well. He had the vision and skill to make all the furnishings and the tent, because his natural talents were blended with God's spirit. God desires to make something as beautiful of your life. 

(c) Peter Missing @ bethelstone.com
Image: Not cited, Pinterest.