Aaron was one of the three family members sent by God to bring His people out of Egypt; ‘I … redeemed thee out of the house of bondage; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam’, Mic. 6. 4 RV. He was closely associated with Moses in this great work; ‘The Lord … appointed Moses and Aaron … who brought forth your fathers out of Egypt’, 1 Sam. 12. 6-8 RV. Aaron accompanied Moses on his frequent visits to Pharaoh – from the very first, stormy interview to the nocturnal meeting when Pharaoh finally capitulated – and is jointly credited with leading God’s people ‘like a flock’ through the Sea, Ps. 77. 20. In many respects, Aaron was overshadowed by his younger brother. In two areas, however, he excelled. He was specially gifted as Moses’ prophet and specially privileged as God’s high priest.
Moses’ prophet. Following Moses’ objections to His call, God took up and used Aaron as his ‘spokesman’ to the people, and as his ‘prophet’ to Pharaoh. Clearly, Aaron was a gifted and capable speaker. God Himself paid tribute to Aaron’s fluency; ‘I know that he can speak well’. Coming from the One who ‘made man’s mouth’, this was no small commendation! It was Aaron who subsequently did the actual speaking to Pharaoh, as well as being directly responsible for some of the signs and plagues.
God’s high priest. Aaron was distinguished as the first of a long line of men who, for some 1,500 years, held the highest office in the only God-ordained religion in the world. Not only did he, as Moses’ prophet, represent God before men, but, as God’s high priest, he represented men before God. He bore the names of the children of Israel both on his shoulders and his heart. He alone was admitted ‘once every year’ into the Holiest of all, on which occasion he made atonement for all the congregation of Israel.
He was qualified for his priestly office in a way that Moses was not. For, when Moses enjoyed the comfort of the courts of Pharaoh, Aaron shared the affliction of the people in the slave camp of Goshen. His firsthand experience of their trials fitted him well to be their high priest, even as the earthly, human experiences of our Lord fit Him to be our ‘great high priest’.
Lord, help me to use my abilities and to appreciate my privileges.
