Key Text: Leviticus 16:1-2 (KJV)
"And the Lord spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the Lord, and died; And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat."
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the weight of your sins? Have you ever wondered how you could possibly approach a holy God, knowing the mistakes you've made? These are questions that have haunted humanity since the beginning of time, and they're questions that God addresses in a powerful way in the book of Leviticus.
Today, we're going to dive into Leviticus 16:1-2, a passage that might seem obscure at first glance, but one that holds profound truths about God's character and His plan for our salvation. Let's break it down together and see what lessons we can learn.
First, let's set the scene. The book of Leviticus is all about holiness - God's holiness and how His people can live holy lives. It's filled with laws and rituals that might seem strange to us today, but each one has a purpose in teaching us about God's nature and our relationship with Him.
In our key text, we see God speaking to Moses right after a tragedy. Two of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, had just died because they approached God in the wrong way. They offered "strange fire" before the Lord, something He had not commanded. This incident teaches us an important lesson: God is not to be approached casually or carelessly.
Now, you might be thinking, "That sounds harsh! Why would God do that?" It's a fair question, and one we need to grapple with. You see, God isn't being cruel here. He's actually protecting His people. God's holiness is so pure, so perfect, that sinful humans can't just waltz into His presence whenever they feel like it. It would be like trying to stare directly at the sun - it's too powerful, too intense for us to handle.
So what does God do? He sets up a system, a way for people to approach Him safely. He tells Moses to instruct Aaron, the high priest, not to come into the Most Holy Place - the innermost part of the tabernacle where God's presence dwelt - whenever he wants. There's a specific time and a specific way to do it.
Now, let's pause for a moment and think about what this means for us today. We don't have a physical tabernacle or temple anymore. We don't have high priests offering animal sacrifices. So how does this apply to our lives?
Well, the principle remains the same. We are still sinful people trying to approach a holy God. The difference is, we now have a perfect High Priest - Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:14-16 tells us, "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Jesus has done what Aaron and all the other high priests could only symbolize. He has entered the true Holy Place in heaven, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, securing eternal redemption for us (Hebrews 9:12).
But here's the amazing thing - while God told Aaron he couldn't come into the Most Holy Place at just any time, we are invited to come boldly to God's throne of grace at any time! Through Jesus, we have constant access to God. We don't have to wait for a special day or perform a complex ritual. We can pray anytime, anywhere, and know that God hears us.
However, this doesn't mean we should take this privilege lightly. Remember, God is still holy. He's still the all-powerful Creator of the universe. We should approach Him with reverence and awe, even as we come with confidence.
