Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Unchained Hands: Aaron and the People

      "And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him...And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him."
                                                                                                                          -Exodus 32:1,19-23

      In these set of scriptures we find a situation where the people overcome the authority of the priest/pastor of the Lord's congregation. Since Moses didnt returned from his venture into Mount Sinai to commune with God, the people became desperate, their desperation brought them to the point of pure open rebellion against God. Idolatry was the core of it.

    "They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of Egypt."                                          -Exodus 32:8

     The reason they had the ability of idolatry was simply they went to a man they knew who could make the idol they vainly worshipped, Aaron. Aaron wasnt just a common man amongst the people, Aaron was Moses's right hand man and the father of the levitical priest hood of the Old Covenant. In the sense of it all he was the pastor, or associate pastor, of the congregation, the spiritual leader and example for the people. The people knew that since Moses was absent, the next person to handle things wouldve been Aaron. Cause of fear of the people, Aaron's hands were bound and chained to where he had to submit unto their wishes and build them the idol their hearts so desired.

    "And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he recieved hem at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of Ebypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, to morrow is a feast to the LORD. And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt-offerings, and brought peace-offerings: and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play."                                                                     -Exodus 32:2-6

    If I can say one thing to any minister, if I can say one thing to any pastor, or preacher, or reverend, I would say dont be like Aaron and have YOUR HANDS BOUND UP by the people of your congregation! Many sheep and flocks today are trying to lead the shepherd appointed over them by God wheres it is meant by God's grace for the shepherd to lead the flock. Too many pastors and ministers are appeasing to the hearts of the people than to the throne of almighty God. When you were called into the ministry you werent called to be bound to men and their desires but, by God's grace, made free to preach and proclaim the liberty of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

    "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."                            -John 8:36

    "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. but watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of they ministry."
                                                                                                                                -2cd Timothy 4:1-5

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.                     -Joshua 1:9

     Dear preacher friend, dear pastor, or whoever reads this that is in the ministry and has been called to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, dont be afraid of what the people may do to you. Like what Paul said unto Timothy, "Preach the word", be of good courage and endure all that is set before you, for your God and Saviour walks with you and faces those things with you every step of the way.

    "And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands."                                                     -1st Samuel 17:47

   "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."                                                                                                         -1st John 4:4

Bro. Michael Grant
A Cry in the Wild Ministries

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