Exodus

Exodus 29: God makes His servants holy

Begin in prayer

Before Aaron and his sons are prepared for service, let us ask God to show us the holiness He requires. Pray that we will find cleansing through Christ and serve from the grace He gives.

But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

Psalm 73:28

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us that You alone make sinners holy. Show us Jesus, the perfect priest and sacrifice, and prepare our hearts to serve You. 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 tells Moses to wash, clothe and anoint Aaron and his sons for their priestly office. A bull is offered for sin, and its remaining flesh is burned outside the camp. Two rams follow, with blood and oil marking the priests and their garments as holy. God assigns the offering portions, the priestly meal and the garments to be passed to Aaron’s successor. The consecration lasts seven days, and daily lambs will then be offered morning and evening. God promises to sanctify the tent, altar and priests, dwelling among the people He brought from Egypt.

As you read Exodus 29, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God makes His servants holy so He may dwell among His people.

The priests need to be made holy before they can serve in the dwelling God commands. Washing, garments and anointing mark Aaron and his sons as set apart under His word. The bull is a sin offering, so the priests' own guilt is addressed before their ministry begins. One ram is offered whole, while the other belongs to their consecration. Its blood is placed on ears, thumbs and toes, marking the men themselves for God’s service. Portions are waved before God, burned on the altar or given to the priests, and the holy meal excludes outsiders. The seven-day consecration also includes atonement for the altar, followed by morning and evening lambs throughout Israel’s generations. God finally declares that His glory will sanctify the place and that He Himself will sanctify the priests. The purpose of the exodus is His dwelling among them, fulfilled through the holiness and sacrifice of Christ.

How does Exodus 29 show us that God makes His servants holy so He may dwell among His people?

God’s priests need cleansing before they serve.

They are washed and clothed, and Aaron is anointed. They place their hands on the bull brought as a sin offering. Their office does not remove their guilt, so they need the sacrifice God appoints.

God sets the priests apart through the appointed blood and offerings.

The consecration ram’s blood marks their ears, hands and feet. Blood and oil are sprinkled on the men and their garments. The holy meal and its portions belong only to those God appoints for this service.

God promises His sanctifying presence among the rescued people.

The altar needs atonement through the seven days, and the daily lambs keep sacrifice before Israel. God Himself will sanctify the dwelling and the priests. Jesus fulfils this purpose through His one sufficient offering, as Hebrews 10 verses 10 to 14 teach.

Memorise

I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.

Exodus 29:45

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what guilt am I hiding behind service instead of bringing to Christ?

God promises, “Aaron also and his sons I will sanctify.” Washing, clothing and sacrifices follow His command, yet He is the One who makes His servants holy. He rescued Israel in order to dwell among them.

Our religious service cannot remove the sin within us. Jesus offered Himself for His people and carried their guilt outside the gate in His suffering (Hebrews 13 verse 12). He died at the cross and rose after securing their cleansing. His one offering has accomplished everything needed, and His sacrifice is enough to make His people holy.

Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Through Him, sinners who repent receive forgiveness and access to God. Bring Him the guilt that service cannot conceal. Then serve with gratitude to the Lord who cleanses His people and draws them into His presence.

Parent's note

Tell your children that priests needed cleansing and that Jesus died and rose to make His people holy. 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 making His servants holy and dwelling among those He rescued, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

John 17:19

Father, thank You that You make Your servants holy. Please forgive the sins we try to hide behind useful work. Turn us toward Jesus and teach us to trust His sacrifice. Give our family clean hearts, humble service and joy in the presence He secures. Amen.