(2)A Chosen People • Exodus 29

Review & Overview

1. Previous Study’s Review

Moses went up the Mountain of God in chp.24,    there he will receive instructions regarding

the Tabernacle…    the Ark… the Table of Showbread… the Golden Lampstand… & others things… he’ll remain up there until chp.32.

In chp.26-27 God told Moses how to build the Tabernacle…        &        the Altar of Burnt offering… 

2. Current Study’s Overview

Now in chp.28-29  God continues to give Moses instructions…      this time regarding the Priesthood…

There are 3 things to note about the Priesthood in these 2 chapters…

Here in Ch. 29 we will look at 2 more things regarding the priesthood.

1. Vs. 1-14

2. Vs. 15-22

3. Vs. 23-28

4. Vs. 29-37

5. Vs. 38-46

The Consecration of the Priests

Consecration. Speaks of a Separation of people, utensils, buildings, or places for exclusive dedication to holy or sacred use.

In the Bible consecration was executed through an appropriate rite or vow.

In the Hebrew the word consecration implies:

“separation” (Ex 13:2; Lv 8:10–12; Dt 15:19),

“dedication” (Lv 21:12; Nm 6:9),

or “ordination” (literally, “filling the hand,” Ex 28:41; 1 Kgs 13:33).

1. Consecration Involves Death Vs. 1-14

God ordained Aaron and his sons as the first priests. After that the only way to become a priest was by being born into the priestly tribe and family.

Today, In the church the only way to become a priest is by the new birth (Rev. 1:5)

Revelation 1:5–6 NKJV

5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

So they got all dressed up poured oil on their heads and started to sacrifice the bull & 2 rams…

At the end of vs.10 they put their hands on the head of the bull symbolizing the transfering of sin. then in Vs. 11 they would kill the bull…

APPLICATION: Death is always the result of Sin…  

ILLUSTRATION: Talk about a local pastor saying the God didn’t want Jesus crucified.

Genesis 2:16–17 NKJV

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

From divine command, it is evident that death was the declared consequence of sin.

The day Adam and Eve transgressed, spiritual death – a severance from the close relationship they had with God – occurred, and the process of physical death began.

The Bible further emphasizes the correlation between sin and death in Romans 6:23...

Romans 6:23 NKJV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This overarching principle is clearly seen throughout Scripture.

Now, understanding in light of the consequences of sin, God in His mercy provided a way for humanity to find reconciliation.

This is where the concept of animal sacrifices in the Old Testament comes into play.

Animal sacrifices were a symbolic representation, pointing to the deeper truth that sin requires a payment or atonement.

When an Israelite brought a lamb or another animal as an offering, they laid their hands on its head, symbolically transferring their sins onto it.

The animal's subsequent death served as a temporary payment for the person's sins. This ritual was a vivid reminder of the cost of sin and the gravity of the separation it caused between man and God.

APPLICATION: but P.T.L. our High Priest has conquered sin death & hell...

2. Consecration Involves Blood Vs. 15-22

So the 1st ram was offered to the Lord…   the 2nd ram was to consecrate Aaron & his sons...

The blood was put on his Ear: Telling God I want to hear You…     

Thumb: Telling God I want to serve You…    

&    Toe: Telling God I want to follow You…

Lord I want my whole body to be set apart for You…   everything I hear…    everything I touch… everywhere I go…                 totally living my life for You…

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NKJV

19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

ILLUSTRATION: You know there is a story of a world-renowned artist Raphael. Who spends years crafting a masterpiece of a painting.

He pours every ounce of his skill, heart, and soul into this creation. Every stroke, every color, every tiny detail is thoughtfully placed. The world watches in awe, but just as Raphael finishes, the painting is stolen from him.

Over time, the artwork is passed from one owner to another. Each new owner adds their touch, a splash of paint here, a new stroke there.

They mean well, but with each addition, the original design gets more obscured. The painting loses its essence, its identity.

Then, after years have passed, the painting finds its way back to a gallery. Raphael, now an old man, walks in and recognizes his masterpiece.

It's damaged and barely resembles his original vision. With tears in his eyes, he purchases it, no matter the cost.

In his studio, Raphael begins the restoration process. He peels back the layers, removes the foreign strokes, and revives the vibrant colors he once chose.

With dedication and love, he brings the masterpiece back to its original design.

APPLICATION: You see, dear friends, we are much like that painting. God, the Master Artist, has intricately and wonderfully designed each one of us.

But as we journey through life, we allow the world to add its strokes, to change our design. We give pieces of ourselves to our desires, to society's expectations, to fleeting pleasures. We forget our original design, our true value.

Just like Raphael, God paid a high price to reclaim His masterpiece—you and me.

Through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, He purchased us back. And now, He is in the process of restoring us, of peeling back the layers of the world's influence, to reveal the original masterpiece beneath.

When we truly understand that we are not our own, that every part of us belongs to God, it changes everything.

Our thoughts, our bodies, our eyes, every aspect of who we are, is His. And when we surrender every part of ourselves to Him, we allow the Master Artist to restore us to our true design.

3. Consecration Involves Symbolism Vs. 23-28

So "wave" and "heave" refer to specific ceremonial actions taken during the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests.

1. **Wave Offering (or Waved)** - The bread , cake, wafer, breast of the ram...

And move the offering back and forth in a horizontal manner, almost as if "waving" it before the Lord.

This movement symbolizes the presentation of the offering to God and then its return to the priest for their consumption.

2. **Heave Offering (or Heaved)** - The thigh of the ram...

This involves lifting the offering up and down in a vertical manner.

This movement is also a symbolic act of presenting the offering to God. After the heave offering, the designated part is typically given to the priest as their portion.

Both the wave and heave offerings represent a symbolic gesture where the offering is presented to God, and then a portion is returned for human use or consumption.

So these offerings are part of the ordination ceremony for the priests, emphasizing the idea that while they serve God, they are also provided for and sustained by Him.

APPLICATION: About how God will always provide for us as we serve Him.

4. Consecration Involves Preparation Vs. 29-37

For 7 Days they are to wear the Holy Garments, have Oil poured on them and Slaughter a bull…

For 7 days they are covered from head to toe with oil & blood before they could Serve the Lord…

APPLICATION: There is always a time of preparation before we can serve the Lord…  if it seem like a long time of preparation in your life…     just be thankful you don’t have to spend 7 days covered in oil & blood.

5. Consecration Involves the Work of God Vs. 38-46

Ephah:  4-6 gal…   Hin:  6-8 pints…

Even though Aaron and his sons did many things as it pertains to being Sanctified or Set Apart…

vs.44-46 it was the Lord who sanctified them…  &  brought them out of Egypt to dwell among them…

APPLICATION: What an amazing truth for us…  we aren’t sanctified by our good works or deeds, its by the Lord…

and He desires for all of us to come out of Egypt which represents the flesh that He may dwell among us…