Numbers 20 Aaron’s Death
Moses and Aaron are not allowed to go into the Promised Land. Aaron’s death isn’t from disease or old age. It’s from God calling him home.
How would you like to know the exact time of your death? Unless you choose death by your own hands, most of us will not know when it is to come. I heard a story of a famous evangelist who knew the day of his death. He waited in his chair, praising the Lord, until that moment when he was taken away. I don’t remember his name, and Google was no help in finding the story.
God is about to being the people into the Promised Land, but there are still a few more people who have to die before He does. Aaron’s work on earth is done. It’s time for him to step aside. The struggles of Israel are not done, but God’s plan includes ‘proving out’ Eleazar, Aaron’s son, in the role of high priest before the people have to move on without Moses. Moses will leave the people too, but today, it’s Aaron’s turn. Let’s join our congregation as they deal with this loss and transition.
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Moses received, and accepted, the firm “NO” from the king of Edom about passing through his land. It wasn’t welcome news, but that didn’t discourage Moses. He will STILL trust in the Lord to bring them through. “Wherever You lead Lord, Your people will follow” Moses promises to the Lord. In his quiet moment, he ads to, “If I have to drag them there myself)
The pillar cloud lifts from the roof of the Tabernacle. The people see it and get excited. They all know what it means. It’s time to move out again. Supplies are stored, fires are extinguished, children are readied, and tents begin to fall. In the Tabernacle, the Levites are hard at work preparing each individual part of it is packed and readied for travel.
When the pillar begins to move forward, the trumpet’s blast starts the tribe of Judah moving forward. Issachar and Zebulon follow on his heels. The rest of the camp moves out according to their assigned order. They are quite well practiced in this procedure, as they have been repeating it for nearly 40 years.
The people walk, one after another, trusting in the Lord for their direction. Finally, the pillar has stopped. It is time to make camp. The people settle into their places and the Tabernacle is quickly, and expertly, reassembled. By the time the Tent and outer court are up, the furnishings have arrived. The most important pieces themselves.
Aaron, himself, guides the Ark into place then raises the inner curtain. This curtain separates the Most Holy Place from the rest of the Tent of Meeting. The final piece is to put the staff that Aaron had given to the Lord in front of the altar of incense.
Once everything is completed, the people take a moment to look around at the place the Lord has brought them to. They are at the foot of Mt. Hor. Still on the boarder of Edom’s territory. They know they won’t be going through it. Moses has already told them this. They are curious as to why the Lord has stopped them here.
Moses and Aaron don’t have to wait long to find out why the Lord had them stop here. As Aaron is preparing the morning sacrifice, Moses stands by watching. Just as Aaron stokes the fire for the sacrifice, the Lord speaks to both of them.
“Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up to Mount Hor. And strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron shall be gathered to his people and shall die there.” (Numbers 20:24-26)
All the color drains from Aaron’s face as he considers what the Lord has just told them. “I am to die” he thinks to himself. Without even trying, all the different ways that the people have died spring to his mind. His sons’ by fire, Korah by the ground opening up, the people by the plague… “How will I die” he wonders.
Moses’ mind goes to a slightly different place. “What will I do without Aaron?”
Both Aaron and Moses found comfort in the aroma rising off the sacrifice. They both know that the Lord has them in His hands. And that He is a loving God.
After the offering was consumed, Moses went in search of Eleazar. He would need to know of his part in what was to come. He wasn’t hard to find, as he was assisting a couple who were offering a sacrifice for their first-born child. Moses waits patiently while Eleazar completes his task.
Eleazar notices Moses standing off to the side. It makes him a little nervous to have THE leader of their people watching him. “Moses is just a man, like all the rest of us” he tells himself. Eleazar purposefully ignores Moses’ presence so he can concentrate on doing the work the Lord has called him to.
The work is finally done and Eleazar washes his hands in the bronze basin and removes his ephod. Moses is pleased by the care and the adherence to the Lord’s Law that Eleazar took while performing his duties. “He will make a good high priest” Moses says to himself. “It’s time to tell him so.”
“Eleazar, can I have a moment of your time.”
“Certainly, my lord. What may I do for you?”
“This is not an easy thing to say, but the Lord has called for your Abba to join Him.”
Moses notices the look of confusion on Eleazar’s face. He continues on quickly, knowing that Eleazar will understand all by the time he has finished.
“Tomorrow, you, Aaron and I will go onto the Mountain. There I will remove the priestly garments of Aaron and place them on you. You will become the high priest for the Lord. And Aaron will stay on the mountain. He will be gathered to the Lord.”
Eleazar doesn’t know whether to rejoice or mourn. Serving as the high priest for the Lord is an incredible honor. But for him to have this honor, his Abba must die. He knew this day would come. And he knew it would before reaching the Promised Land. That doesn’t make this loss any easier.
Moses knows exactly how Eleazar feels. He rests a hand on his shoulder and conveys his feelings with a nod and sorrowful eyes. A thought reaches through the warring feelings. “You have an opportunity that not all men receive. You have the opportunity to say goodbye to your Abba. To spend time together this final day. I would take advantage of it if I were you.”
Eleazar smiles weakly. “I still have work to do for the Lord. I will do my best to do this work with my Abba nearby.”
“Come to my tent in the evening and we will have a meal to celebrate Aaron and all he has done for the people.”
“I will be there. Thank you, my lord. I will also prepare for tomorrow.”
Moses goes in search of Aaron now to inform him of his plans for the evening. Again, he has to wait while Aaron completes his tasks. Moses knows that he needs to hurry though because he has work to do as well.
It only took a moment to inform Aaron of his desire to honor him. Aaron said he felt unworthy, but agreed to come anyway. Once in his place, Moses sent a runner to his wife, letting her know that they would have guests for dinner that night. He didn’t give her the reason for the dinner because he didn’t want the whole camp to know what was about to take place; yet.
When the day is done, they all gather to celebrate the life that is Aaron. Aaron has found peace in what is to come, and after dinner he shares his feelings with Moses.
“Moses, I’m 125 years old! God has blessed me with health beyond my wildest imagination. But I’m tired. I’m ready to leave. I’m tired of hearing the people complain against the Lord. I was as frustrated as you were that morning at the rock. However He takes me is fine with me. I know I will wake in a better place. A place with no more suffering. No more sin. I WANT to go!”
“I don’t blame you in the least. But I’m going to miss you. I’m going to be the last of our Abba’s children. I am tired of the complaining too. I know though that I must complete the journey with the people. I can’t leave yet. But SOON, I will join you.”
“Abba, I PRAY with all my heart that I will be able to stand in the gap for the people with even half as much success you have had. I know I too will fall short. Yet, I will serve wherever He calls me to.”
The three men finally retire for the night, knowing that they will all be safe in the Lord’s plan. They are at peace with what is to come.
Morning dawns and Aaron offers his last sacrifice to the Lord. After completing the work, Moses, Aaron and Eleazar go to the foot of the mountain. From here, Moses has Aaron and Eleazar blow the two silver trumpets to summon the congregation. Once everyone is gathered at the foot of the mountain, Moses tells them what this day holds.
“We are going up the mountain to pass the high priest role from Aaron to Eleazar. The Lord has called Aaron to Himself.”
Murmurs filter through the congregation, but the three men pay them no mind. Together, they turn and head up the mountain. They reach about half way up the mountain before stopping. Moses noted that they were visible to all the congregation. Eleazar had purposefully not worn his ephod or any of his priestly garments. Aaron was dressed in all the garments the Lord had included in His requirements for the high priest.
Moses started by removing Aaron’s turban with the gold plate on it. He had Eleazar hold it, as it would be put on last for Eleazar. Next, Moses untied the sash and laid it across Eleazar’s arms. Moses then unfastened the breastplate, with the Urim and Thummim stones tucked in it, from the shoulder stones that had the names of the tribes of Israel written on them. Next, Moses unfastened all the bindings of the ephod and slipped it over Aaron’s head. This was added to the pieces Eleazar was holding. Finally, came the blue priestly robe. This left Aaron wearing his undergarments and his tunic.
Once all the pieces had been laid across Eleazar’s arms and Aaron stood without them, Moses shifted them to Aarons arms so he could redress Eleazar. First was the blue robe, then the ephod. Next was the breastplate with the Urim and Thummim. Then came the sash to tie it all together. The last piece to be placed was the turban.
After all the pieces had been transferred from Aaron to Eleazar, Eleazar turned and faced the congregation. Moses kissed Aaron’s cheeks, and Aaron turned and walked the rest of the way up the mountain. Moses and Eleazar came back down the mountain and stood before the congregation.
“Your new high priest.”
Aaron watched from above the people. It was hard to make them out from his altitude. After Moses and Eleazar joined them, Aaron looked away. His work was done. “Here I am Lord. Do with me as You will” Aaron called out to the Lord. He then sat down on a nearby rock and fell asleep for the last time. There was no pain or mighty hand of judgment. Simply curling up in the Lord’s lap for a final rest.
The congregation wept for Aaron. They knew he would not be coming back down. After the congregation dispersed, Moses sent Joshua and Caleb up to the top of the mountain to bury Aaron.
This was first day of the fifth month of the 40th year since Israel came out of Egypt. There would be the respectful 30 days of mourning for Aaron. They would not journey on until their days of mourning were over.
(to be continued)
Father God, thank You for letting me into Your story again today. I’m sorry it took me so many starts and starts to get through out story. Even now, there are things that are distracting me. I don’t want to be distracted, but when I have to care for my husband, I don’t always get time alone.
I can’t imagine being in Aaron’s place. Knowing the day you would die. But I also think he was probably ready. Being the ‘go to person’ for so long had to be wearing. I would bet that Moses felt the same way. Forty years of listening to whining and complaining. I’m sure there were good times too, but…
What kind of relationship did Moses and Eleazar develop over the rest of the year? Were they already close? There were at least two major battles still waiting ahead for the people. Was Moses able to lean on Eleazar, like he would have Aaron? Or were You already making the transition from Moses to Joshua? Moses would spend time going over the entire journey and all the laws with the people before You called him home. But were they already looking towards Joshua for their future?
I know. More questions. Thank You for my enquiring mind. It makes our story time much more vibrant.
