I WILL DWELL AMONG THE ISRAELITES

Passage: Exodus 29:29-46

Key verse: 45-46

NIV

29 “Aaron’s sacred garments(A) will belong to his descendants so that they can be anointed and ordained in them.(B) 30 The son(C) who succeeds him as priest and comes to the tent of meeting to minister in the Holy Place is to wear them seven days.

31 “Take the ram(D) for the ordination and cook the meat in a sacred place.(E) 32 At the entrance to the tent of meeting, Aaron and his sons are to eat the meat of the ram and the bread(F) that is in the basket. 33 They are to eat these offerings by which atonement was made for their ordination and consecration. But no one else may eat(G) them, because they are sacred. 34 And if any of the meat of the ordination ram or any bread is left over till morning,(H) burn it up. It must not be eaten, because it is sacred.

35 “Do for Aaron and his sons everything I have commanded you, taking seven days to ordain them. 36 Sacrifice a bull each day(I) as a sin offering to make atonement(J). Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate(K) it. 37 For seven days make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will be most holy, and whatever touches it will be holy.(L)

38 “This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day:(M) two lambs a year old. 39 Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight.(N) 40 With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah[a] of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin[b] of oil(O) from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering.(P) 41 Sacrifice the other lamb at twilight(Q) with the same grain offering(R) and its drink offering as in the morning—a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord.

42 “For the generations to come(S) this burnt offering is to be made regularly(T) at the entrance to the tent of meeting,(U) before the Lord. There I will meet you and speak to you;(V) 43 there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory.(W)

44 “So I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests.(X) 45 Then I will dwell(Y) among the Israelites and be their God.(Z) 46 They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt(AA) so that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.(AB)

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Footnotes
  1. Exodus 29:40 That is, probably about 3 1/2 pounds or about 1.6 kilograms
  2. Exodus 29:40 That is, probably about 1 quart or about 1 liter
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

29 “The holy garments of Aaron (A)shall be for his sons after him; they shall (B)be anointed in them and ordained in them. 30 The son who succeeds him as priest, who comes into the tent of meeting to minister in the Holy Place, shall wear them (C)seven days.

31 “You shall take the ram of ordination and (D)boil its flesh in a holy place. 32 And Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram and the (E)bread that is in the basket in the entrance of the tent of meeting. 33 (F)They shall eat those things with which atonement was made at their ordination and consecration, but an (G)outsider shall not eat of them, because they are holy. 34 And if any of the flesh for the ordination or of the bread remain until the morning, then you shall (H)burn the remainder with fire. It shall not be eaten, because it is holy.

35 “Thus you shall do to Aaron and to his sons, according to all that I have commanded you. Through (I)seven days shall you ordain them, 36 and every day you shall offer a (J)bull as a sin offering for atonement. Also you shall purify the altar, when you make atonement for it, and shall (K)anoint it to consecrate it. 37 Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it, and the (L)altar shall be most holy. (M)Whatever touches the altar shall become holy.

38 “Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: (N)two lambs a year old (O)day by day regularly. 39 One lamb you shall offer (P)in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer (Q)at twilight. 40 And with the first lamb a tenth measure[a] of fine flour mingled with a fourth of a hin[b] of beaten oil, and a fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering. 41 The other lamb you shall offer (R)at twilight, and shall offer with it a grain offering and its drink offering, as (S)in the morning, for a (T)pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. 42 It shall be a (U)regular burnt offering throughout your generations at the entrance of the tent of meeting before the Lord, (V)where I will meet with you, to speak to you there. 43 There I will meet with the people of Israel, and it shall be (W)sanctified by my glory. 44 I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar. (X)Aaron also and his sons I will consecrate to serve me as priests. 45 (Y)I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. 46 And they shall know that (Z)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.

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Footnotes
  1. Exodus 29:40 Possibly an ephah (about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters)
  2. Exodus 29:40 A hin was about 4 quarts or 3.5 liters
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Aaron’s garments symbolized righteousness, service and God’s calling. Each succeeding priest would put them on, implying the continuity of God’s covenant and the sacred responsibility from generation to generation. In the same way, God’s work continues by calling his servants in each generation. God calls us as “a royal priesthood” (1 Pe 2:9) and cloths us in the righteousness of Christ. We represent God in the world and intercede for others.

During the 7-day ordination, Aaron and his sons were to eat the meal at the entrance to the tent of meeting. This meal symbolizes communion with God and participation in his holiness. They were to offer the sacrifice to God regularly each day, demonstrating that the forgiveness of sins and fellowship with God were needed daily.

God’s ultimate desire was not the priestly garments, rituals, and sacrifices, but his dwelling among his people. He wanted a relationship with them. The Scriptures are the stories of God who pursued fellowship with his people. Jesus became flesh and made his dwelling among his people (Jn1:14). He is dwelling among us through the Holy Spirit. We must live before his presence daily, having communion with him as vessels of his glory.

Prayer: Lord, you are my God, dwelling in me. Help me have fellowship with you and serve you daily.

One Word: God dwells among his people