GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor.

At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah. Get Aaron and his son, Eleazar, and take them up Mount Hor. Remove Aaron's garments and put them on his son, Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will die there."

Moses did as the Lord commanded: They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son, Eleazar. And Aaron died there on top of the mountain.

Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.

Numbers 20:22-29

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Earlier in this chapter in Numbers, we found God saying this to Moses and Aaron:

"Because you did not trust in Me enough to honor Me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them." v.12

These words resonate with us as we look at the closing verses of chapter 20 for the Lord had passed judgment on Moses and Aaron for their sinfulness when they took credit for bringing water from the rock at Meribah, an act clearly resulting from God’s almighty, miraculous power and that alone.

So as the Israelites turn away from Kadesh after being denied entry by the king of Edom, we read that they came Mount Hor and it was there that Aaron’s life ends with his son, Eleazar, being appointed to replace him as high priest.

This event was dictated by God and was intended to be seen by the Israelite community. For we read that God commanded Moses to take Aaron and Eleazar to the top of Mount Hor where the turnover of authority over all priestly duties would take place. The scriptures tell us that Moses was to remove the special garments that identified Aaron as God’s spiritual leader in the tabernacle and put them on Eleazar after which Aaron would die on the mountain. The Lord made it clear that this happened because of the rebellion and disobedience of Moses and Aaron "at the waters of Meribah".

Consider for a moment how difficult this must have been for Moses for he was being told by God to carry this out, to up the mountain and transfer priestly authority to Eleazer fully knowing that as soon as the act was finished, so too would be his brother. It was just one more loss he would have to grieve after just seeing his sister, Miriam, die (see verse 1 of this chapter). Additionally, Moses had to be thinking about his own punishment as well because now that God was making good on His promise that Aaron wouldn’t enter Canaan, Moses knew the same punishment had been imposed on him. He didn’t know where or when this would occur but he knew it would because God always keeps His promises.

And so we find Moses, still obedient in service to God despite knowing his fate would be as his brother’s, doing “as the Lord commanded". He took Aaron and Eleazar up onto Mount Hor "in the sight of the whole community" and there, we read where Moses "removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar". Then, "Aaron died…on top of the mountain."

As this took place, we get a sense that the Israelites hadn’t fully realized what was happening. They must have wondered:

“Why was Moses undressing Aaron and placing the priestly garments on Eleazar?

Well, the scriptures tell us that it wasn’t Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain that the people learned the fate of Aaron and this resulted in the “entire house of Israel” mourning him for “thirty days."

One of their beloved spiritual leaders, the first God-appointed high priest of the tabernacle was now dead.

As we read this passage, we’re reminded of two important things about God:

1. He always keeps His promises.

He told Aaron he would not make it into Canaan and he didn’t.

2. He always makes sure His work continues, especially when it comes to ministry in His name.

Aaron was soon to be gone but tabernacle leadership would still be needed and so the Lord ensured the high priest responsibilities would be passed to Eleazar who was completely aware of the position’s requirements and more than qualified to take over for his father.

Friends, as we journey through this life and its challenges, we need to ever cling to the promises of God. For He has given us all blessed assurances through His word, assurances we should never forget. He has also given us equally wonderful warnings to make it clear that there are consequences for not serving Him in total obedience. The Bible is clear as to what His expectations are and no one needs to wonder what God wants them to do.

The bottom line is that there’s nothing that God expects from us that He hasn’t provided in advance. There are no surprises, only promises, and what a comfort it is to fully know what He wants. There’s no inconsistency there and so we need only concentrate on fulfilling everything He desires.

When we do, we’ll discover that there is no greater joy than living entirely for the Lord and experiencing His favor and blessing upon our lives. To that end, I pray we’ll be able to echo the words of David as he wrote this in the 16th Psalm:

"Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night, my heart instructs me.”

“I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let Your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." Vv. 5-11

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.