Exodus 28:3 …make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
If you have watched a royal wedding you know the pomp, the circumstance, the pageantry, and the beauty of such an event. The clothing, not just of the royal couple but of all of the attendants, is elaborate. It is amazing because it represents more than the person who is wearing it. The person personifies and embodies the significance of the event and, in many cases, of the entire nation.
Exodus 28 is all about gorgeous garments that represented much more. They represented God and they represented the people to God. Why were these gorgeous garments made? Verse 1 tells us, “And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minster unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.” So, they were to make, as the chapter outlines, these holy garments for glory, beauty, and specifically for Aaron.
These garments were singular. No one else had anything like them. They were not the same as everyone else’s, and they were not fair, if by fair you mean that everyone is dressed the exact same way. But this is not about garments or glory; this is about God. These garments were to be made that Aaron might minister to God in the priest’s office.
Now as you look at Israel’s story as if unfolds from here, there oftentimes were people who envied what someone else had, what God had given someone else. For instance, Korah envied Aaron. He wondered why Aaron was the only one who could be the high priest. That was not fair. Aaron was the only one who got to have all these trappings. God judged Korah severely. Ironically, Aaron himself envied Moses and basically said, “There are all these people in this vast nation. Is Moses the only one who can lead these people?” We read of Nadab and Abihu who are famous because God struck them dead for taking their office carelessly.
The point is that this is not about a garment or glory for Aaron. It is about God. Hebrews 5:4 tells us, “And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.” This was not Aaron’s idea or choice. This was not based on Aaron’s merits specifically. It was based on God placing Aaron in a place of service. There was a reason for all of this elaborate dress we read of. Verse 35 reminds us that “it shall be upon Aaron to minister.” The reason for all of this clothing was for Aaron to minister to God.
I don’t know what place God has given you to serve Him, but accept your place of service. It doesn’t mean your place can’t expand or change, but accept your place of service. This includes two parts: enjoy your perks and bear your responsibilities. In the very garments that Aaron was to wear, the Bible tells us repeatedly that Aaron was to bear the names of the children of Israel as a memorial before the Lord. There is a lot to that, but the point is that there are blessing to enjoy and there are burdens to bear in anyone’s position. Don’t lose sight of that.
Recently, I was driving to a hospital, and I saw this beautiful sports car, new, fast and with a personalized license plate. The car happened to belong to a doctor. I remember thinking that I loved that car, but I was glad the doctor had the car. In my opinion, he deserves it! I would not want his job, so he can have his car. The doctor may love his job, and if so, all the better. The point is that I love the perks of my job, and I would not want his responsibility just for the perks that he has.
When I was growing up, I remember that whenever my family got to do something exciting, like see the Sears Tower or the Alamo, my dad would say, “Kids, do you know why we get to enjoy this? We get to enjoy this because your dad is an evangelist. Because we travel we can enjoy these things.” It is easy to be blind to either the perks of your service or the burdens of the responsibility of your service.
There are days I don’t much like my job because it means responsibilities that I didn’t ask for. There are other days I enjoy perks from my responsibilities that I don’t deserve but I have because of that responsibility. Balance comes from enjoying the perks, bearing the responsibilities, and accepting your place of service before God.