In verse 1, God told Moses to consecrate Aaron and his sons as priests. The instructions were given in verses 2-3, “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread.And assemble all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting.”Thus, in verse 4, Moses did as God commanded. He assembled the people at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and told them in verse 5, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded to be done.”

In verses 6-9, “Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. And he put the coat on him and tied the sash around his waist and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him and tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod around him, binding it to him with the band.And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. And he set the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown, as the Lord commanded Moses.”

Israel came out of Egypt as slaves. They had not been able to worship God and were beginning to learn again how to be God’s chosen people. It is like their process of sanctification to become a holy nation. This was what Moses told Pharoah, the reason to let “my people go,” to worship God. Thus, the first part of Leviticus 8 began with the consecration and installation of Aaron and his sons as priests. Moses did as God commanded before God’s people to consecrate and install them as the priesthood of Israel.

This sanctification process of becoming a holy nation began with installing the priests to lead the people to worship God. Aaron and his sons were set apart to take up this office to serve God and His people in the offering of sacrifices to God. They were appointed by God Himself through His servant, Moses who anointed them with oil and sin offerings and even clothing Aaron as the high priest. Moses did this before the people so that they would recognize them as God’s anointed priests. The installation service of pastors today in the churches is patterned after the Old Testament practices.

The important lesson here is the servant of God must take his instructions from God. He must do everything God tells him like Moses, and not pick and choose what he likes or wants to do only. Moses did all that God commanded him even though he did not like facing the people who are always challenging his leadership. There are people including pastors who only want to do what they are comfortable doing. They are not willing to step out of their comfort zone. Are you one of them? Are you doing all that God tells you to do or are you just doing what you like or want to do only? If you are, you need to “undo” yourself so that the Lord can sanctify you to become the man and woman He wants you to be.

Jesus Christ is our High Priest as He was sent by God and baptized by His servant, John the Baptist, and sacrificed as the Lamb who takes away all the sins of the world. He did not like to do what He wanted to do as depicted in His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. But whosoever believed in Him will not perish but have eternal life. Jesus is our Sanctifier who sets us apart to be holy. Thus, we must pick up our crosses to follow Him every day.

Prayer: By grace, I have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ, the great High Priest. In the sanctification process, I am set apart to live a holy life for Him! My prayer O Lord as Your chosen people. I am consecrating myself to and for You to use this day.