“And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”
The Context:In the book of Exodus, the Israelites had been delivered from slavery in Egypt and were journeying towards the Promised Land. At Mount Sinai, God gave Moses instructions for building the Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary where His presence would dwell among the people. The process of setting up the Tabernacle took seven days, and on the eighth day, the priests were consecrated and anointed for their sacred duties.
The Anointing:Anointing in the Bible was a symbolic act of pouring oil on a person’s head as a sign of God’s chosen calling and empowerment for a specific role or task. In this case, Aaron and his sons were anointed to be priests. By anointing Aaron’s sons, God designated them to assist in the priestly duties, to serve Him and represent the people before Him.
Ministering Unto the Lord:The primary purpose of the priests was to “minister unto me [God] in the priest’s office.” Their role involved offering sacrifices, conducting rituals, and performing various religious duties on behalf of the people. The priestly office was a sacred and honorable responsibility, and their service was directed toward God. Their actions and decisions had spiritual significance and impact on the nation.
Everlasting Priesthood:God declared that the anointing of Aaron’s descendants would establish an “everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.” This means that the priesthood would be passed down from generation to generation within the line of Aaron. However, it’s important to note that the word “everlasting” here does not mean that the same individuals would serve as priests forever. Instead, it refers to the ongoing line of priestly succession within the Aaronic priesthood.
Symbolism and Fulfillment:The Aaronic priesthood foreshadowed the greater priesthood of Jesus Christ, who would become the ultimate High Priest. Jesus’ priesthood is described as “after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 6:20), an eternal and superior priesthood (Hebrews 7:17). As Christians, we believe that Jesus fulfilled and surpassed the role of the Aaronic priests, offering Himself as the perfect and eternal sacrifice for our sins (Hebrews 9:11-14). He intercedes for us before God the Father as our advocate and High Priest (Hebrews 7:25).
In conclusion, Exodus 40:15 reminds us of the significance of the priestly office in the Old Testament and points forward to the ultimate fulfilment of the priesthood in Jesus Christ. As believers, we are now part of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), called to offer spiritual sacrifices and serve God as His representatives in the world.
