Exodus 29   The Lord gives Moses detailed instructions for consecrating the priests,  beginning with Aaron and his sons.  It is not a simple ceremony.  It is complex and filled with meaning.  To consecrate - to make, pronounce, clean, appoint, dedicate - hallow, holy.   This was a calling like no other.. to be a mediator between God and man; to serve the Living God who came to dwell among His people.  There had to be a transformation in these men and the dedication process illustrated the need...

First, Aaron and his sons were brought to the doorway of the tent and washed.  Their clothes were changed into the garments that were prepared specifically for this ministry.  Aaron was anointed with oil. His sons were dressed and ordained.

Then, the bull was brought to the tent and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on it.  It was sacrificed as a sin offering. Its blood was used on the horns of the altar and around its base.  Some of the entrails were burned on the altar, but the flesh, hide, and refuse were burned outside the camp.

Next, a ram was sacrificed and offered wholly to the Lord as a burnt offering.  "it is a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the Lord." 

Then, the other ram was brought.  Aaron and his sons laid their hands on it and then it was slaughtered.  The blood of this ram was used to anoint Aaron and his sons - on their right ears, right thumbs, and right toes.. The rest was spread around the altar.  Then some of the blood mixed with oil was sprinkled on Aaron's clothes and on his son's clothes!  Their beautiful, white robes were intentionally stained with blood!   Some of the meat from this ram was used as a wave offering or heave offering.  Some would be given to Aaron and his sons to eat.  Because it was offered first to the Lord, this would be holy and only those who had been consecrated could even touch it or eat it.

Every day the priests were to offer two lambs on the altar. One in the morning and one in the evening. Along with the lambs, which were to be 1 year old, a bread of flour and oil and some wine would be offered.  It was to be continually offered.

They were commissioned for this ministry before God. "It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway of the tent of meeting before the Lord where I will meet with you, to speak to you there. And I will meet there with the sons of Israel, and it shall be consecrated by My glory.... And I will dwell among the sons of Israel 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." 

Washed, anointed, a sin offering, a burnt offering, a wave offering, a blood anointing - all to consecrate these 5 men to meet with the Lord. And men think they can just send up an SOS to the "man upstairs"!   Our world has no understanding of Who the Lord our God really is!

We know that Jesus came to be our Mediator and Great High Priest.  He was washed in the baptism of John.  He was anointed by the Holy Spirit.  He became our sin offering, with His body taken outside the camp.  He was the Lamb of God, slain for us.  He told His followers that, " He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life.. "  He came to speak to us.. to dwell among us.. to abide with us, so that we will know that He is the Lord our God.

Every part of the Law has been fulfilled by Jesus. No more daily offerings are needed, for our Perfect High Priest completed it all. "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood,  He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. " ( Hebrews 9:11-12)

Father in heaven, we hallow Your Name. You are a great and Holy God.  You are our God and we are Your people, through Jesus Christ our perfect High Priest. Hallelujah!  Thank You for this great gift of salvation.  We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!  Be exalted O Lord.  May we walk in full surrender and obedience to Your Word, according to the power of Your Spirit who fills us by Your grace.  May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  In the name of Jesus our Lord we pray.  Amen.