eighth (day)...

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this reading is from Leviticus 9:1-11:47.

the summary:


(Ch.9)

On the 8th day, Aaron and his sons are told by Moses to offer a sin offering and a burnt offering.

The sons of Israel are told to bring the sin offering, the burnt offering, the peace offering, and the grain offering.

Aaron and his sons offer the sin offering and then the burnt offering for themselves.

Aaron and his sons offer the sin offering, the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the peace offering.

Aaron blesses the people after they are done.

Moses and Aaron go into the tabernacle of congregation, when they come out, the glory of Yahweh appears to the people.

Fire comes down and consumes the burnt offering and the portions of fat.

The people shout and fall on their faces.


(Ch.10)

Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, bring their own fire before Yahweh, and they're struck dead by a fire from Yahweh.

Aaron and sons Eleazar and Ithamar are bound to stay and not mourn, otherwise the whole congregation is in danger.

Yahweh warns Aaron, and especially to tell his son not drink on the job.

Moses continues telling Aaron and the remaining sons about the offerings (the grain offering, the wave offering).

Aaron's sons, Eleazar and Ithamar mess up on the goat for the sin offering; Moses is not happy.

Aaron advocates for the sons that the act of eating was foregone because of the tragedy; Moses is appeased.


(Ch.11)

Clean and unclean animals, fish, birds, and insects are mentioned.

Yahweh commands the people, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."


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Recently, I've been thinking a lot about the passage in chapter 10, where Aaron is commanded not to mourn for the death of his sons.

As I am not a parent, nor have I ever mourned for the loss of a child, I imagine that was a very very sad thing for Aaron.

With that said, I have been going through some very mildly sad times in the last couple of days, and at those times, this passage, along with the other passages that require us to rejoice has been on my mind, which has not been at all enjoyable nor fun.

I believe we as believers are called to serve and love God even when the thing that is the most precious in our sight is taken away. I wonder if Aaron had tears in his eyes while continuing on with his duties as he was commanded by Yahweh to not be sad.

This is probably one of the toughest trials we would encounter as believers in being faced with holding on to one's faith, to believe, and to trust the sovereign God, as Romans 8:28 claims to say.

The picture of Christ in this passage is Christ taking on the sin, and becoming the sacrifice and an example of the result of sin in being struck dead by Yahweh's judgment, while the Father dutifully continues his work with sadness in his heart.


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