Exodus

Exodus 28: God provides a holy priest

Begin in prayer

Before Aaron carries Israel’s names before the LORD, let us ask God to show us why sinners need a priest. Pray that our hearts will rest in Jesus, who represents His people without sin.

For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield. Yahweh will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly.

Psalm 84:11

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us the need for a holy priest before You. Lead us to Jesus, who carries His people in perfect faithfulness. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God calls Aaron and his sons to serve as priests, with holy garments made by workers given wisdom. The ephod bears stones engraved with the names of Israel’s sons. A breastplate carries twelve stones with the tribal names, held over Aaron’s heart with the Urim and Thummim. The blue robe has bells and embroidered pomegranates on its hem. A gold plate declares holiness to the LORD and is worn so Israel’s gifts may be accepted. Garments and linen coverings must be worn as commanded, lest the priests bear guilt and die.

As you read Exodus 28, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God appoints a holy priest to carry His people’s names before Him.

The dwelling needs appointed servants, and God calls Aaron and his sons from among Israel. Their garments are holy, made for glory and beauty by workers whom God supplies with wisdom. The ephod is a priestly garment bearing two shoulder stones engraved with Israel’s names. The breastplate carries twelve named stones over Aaron’s heart, so he represents the people before God. The Urim and Thummim belong to its work of judgment, without this chapter explaining how they are used. The robe’s bells must sound when Aaron enters and leaves, lest he die. The gold plate declares that he is holy to the LORD, while his service bears the iniquity of Israel’s holy gifts. Even the linen coverings guard against guilt and death when the priests minister. Hebrews shows Christ as the sinless high priest who represents His people without the weakness of Aaron’s line (Hebrews 7 verses 25 to 28).

How does Exodus 28 show us that God appoints a holy priest to carry His people’s names before Him?

God calls the priest and supplies his holy garments.

Aaron does not choose the office for himself. God gives wisdom to workers who make the garments for glory and beauty. The priesthood begins with God’s appointment, preparing the way for the greater priest He gives in Christ.

The priest carries the people’s names before God.

The shoulder stones and the breastplate name the tribes. Aaron bears their memorial and judgment before the LORD. He represents them in the holy place, showing the need for the perfect representative Jesus provides.

Even the people’s holy gifts need God’s provision for acceptance.

The gold plate says “HOLY TO YAHWEH.” Aaron bears the iniquity of the holy things Israel brings. Bells and coverings are required lest the priests die, so beautiful garments never make God’s holiness ordinary.

Memorise

Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment on his heart, when he goes in to the holy place.

Exodus 28:29

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what am I trusting to make my worship acceptable besides Jesus?

Aaron must bear Israel’s names “on his heart” before the LORD. His gold plate also bears the words “HOLY TO YAHWEH.” The people need a representative, and their gifts carry guilt that beautiful worship cannot erase.

Jesus is the holy high priest who lives to intercede for His people (Hebrews 7 verse 25). We are sinners, yet He offered Himself without sin. He bore their punishment in His death on the cross and rose to live forever. His work is finished and is enough to bring the guilty into God’s favor.

Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Those who rely on His priestly sacrifice receive forgiveness. No garment, family name or religious role can stand in His place. Come to the Savior who knows His people and represents them before God with a righteousness that never fails.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Aaron carried Israel’s names, and that the holy Lord Jesus died and rose as His people’s perfect priest. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for appointing a priest to represent His people before Him, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.

John 17:9

Holy Father, thank You for teaching Israel the need for a priest. Thank You for Jesus, who offered Himself and lives to intercede. Please turn us from sin and lead us to trust Him. Make our worship grateful and keep us from resting in outward religious things. Amen.