In the last chapter we were speaking of Aaron’s offering the sacrifices in the presence of all the children of Israel on the eighth day. Yet we know that the veil is upon their hearts as a nation (2 Corinthians 3:1515But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. (2 Corinthians 3:15)) while they abide in unbelief (Romans 11:2323And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. (Romans 11:23)), but we know that the day is coming when they, like Thomas, will see and believe. They do not know the value of the work of Christ on Calvary now, but when He comes in glory with His saints, they will then know that the One whom they rejected was the One who accomplished redemption for them. They will take up the words of Isaiah 53, owning how He was despised and they esteemed Him not when He came in His humiliation, but then they will say, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:55But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)). Then will they learn the value of His sacrifice on Calvary, and what a day of blessing that will be for them.
We notice therefore that as soon as Aaron had made an end of offering the sacrifices, then he lifted up his hand and blessed the people and came down. Their guilt had been met, faith had laid hold of this on their part, and now they are blessed.
King, Priest, and Future Glory
Then “Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people” (Leviticus 9:2323And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people. (Leviticus 9:23)). Here we have the blessing of both Moses and Aaron, typically Christ as King and Priest, and what glory will be seen in Jerusalem in the millennial day when the kingdom is set up. The fire came out and consumed the sacrifice “which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.” How the nation will indeed shout and fall on their faces in worship in that day!
As we contemplate the marvelous wisdom of God in all these types, and the way in which they are given to us in such a perfect order, we are forced to say that only God could write such a book. Here we have traced the various aspects of the work of Christ as seen in the offerings, then Christ as our Great High Priest, and every believer as priest, too, as seen in the consecration of Aaron and his sons. After Aaron and his sons had remained inside the door of the tabernacle for seven days (like the church now as separated to the Lord), on the eighth day the people saw the sacrifice, and Aaron lifted up his hand and blessed them. After this, Moses and Aaron together went into the tabernacle and came out and blessed them, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. This looks on to the day when Israel will learn the value of the sacrifice of Calvary, and then Christ’s kingdom will be established in power and blessing on the earth, Israel being the center of government in that day.
Once again we see that God gives us His own purposes in grace before letting us see how sadly man fails, as he always does, when put on his own responsibility. We will see this very definitely in the next chapter, but how blessed to lose sight of man in nature and to see God’s Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the vast scene of glory that will be brought in through Him and His finished work.
For Further Meditation
1. When will Israel learn the value of Christ’s work on Calvary?
2. It is wonderful to think of the Lord Jesus openly receiving the honor that belongs to Him. Contrast that with the way He is treated today and you’ll find a tremendous difference. How does this truth affect our daily life?
3. The millennium is a vast subject and goes far beyond the scope of this chapter. However it is a fascinating and healthy consideration. You might find reading the short book The Coming and Reign of Our Lord Jesus Christ by E. H. Chater to be a very healthy activity for your soul.