I was ordained 56 years ago as a young pastor of a small country church. Pastors from the surrounding area gathered to test my biblical knowledge and doctrinal views.
Afterward, each pastor laid their hands on my head and prayed over me. I received a small Bible and a certificate of ordination which I’ve since lost.
Though it was a long time ago, I still remember that day fondly.
I can only imagine how Aaron and his sons must have felt, being the very first to be ordained as priests to serve God in the Tabernacle.
The ordination of Aaron and his sons emphasized the profound seriousness of their mission to worship a holy God. This same principle applies to me and other ordained ministers; we are entrusted with a significant task and a crucial mission to accomplish.
The Ritual
The men designated to serve as priests were washed with water, a symbolic act signifying the removal of uncleanness caused by sin.
“You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water” (Exodus 29:4).
“You shall bring the bull in front of the tent of meeting. Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull,
And you shall slaughter the bull before the Lord, at the entrance of the tent of meeting,
And shall take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and all the rest of the blood you shall pour out at the base of the altar” (Exodus 29:10-12).
When they laid their hands on the bull’s head, they were, in effect, transferring their sins to this sacrificial animal. They were essentially saying, “This is what I deserve, but by God’s grace, this bull is taking my place.”
Certain parts of the bull were consumed by fire on the altar, while those deemed to be permeated with sin were burned outside the camp.
The significance of this act was recognized by the author of Hebrews, who addressed how Jesus served as the ultimate bearer of our sins.
For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.
Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured (Hebrews 13:11-13).
A second ram was used to consecrate Aaron and his sons.
“You shall take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram,
And you shall slaughter the ram and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear and on the lobes of the right ears of his sons and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet and dash the rest of the blood against all sides of the altar” (Exodus 29:19-20).
The blood was applied in three places on the priests’ bodies to signify their role with God and the community.
(1) The application of blood to their right ears signified their commitment to hearing God’s word.
(2) Blood was also applied to the thumbs of their right hands, symbolizing the work they would perform as mediators on behalf of the people.
(3) Finally, blood on the big toes of their right feet indicated their dedication to walking in holiness before the Lord, serving as examples to the community.
The Role of the Priest
Throughout my 50 years of active ministry, I have focused on various aspects of church life. However, one area I should have probably emphasized more was the precise role of the first priests, who were ordained to make God’s presence real to the people.
“I will dwell among the Israelites, and I will be their God.
And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God” (Exodus 29:45-46).
There is no higher calling than that.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 