Adventure Day 21 - 3/14/09

Standing between the living and the dead. That's how today's Adventure Scripture passage describes Aaron as he followed Moses' orders to save the people of Israel from a plague allowed by God to punish them for their rebellion. [Read Numbers 16:41-50]

Aaron the priest had the solemn yet urgent task to take holy incense with burning coals from the altar of the Tabernacle, and carry it out among the people to "...purify them and make them right with God. (v. 46). So the plague provoked by the protesting people of Israel was averted by Aaron. He legitimately held the incense censer as a priest of God (unlike those earlier in the chapter that thought they should have that right, but did not), and "stood between the dead and the living (v.48)."

This last phrase strikes me, as it reminds me of our task as intercessors. As followers of Christ, we are all "priests" - i.e., those who represent people to God, and intercede for them [see Revelation 1:5-6 to check your credentials]. Who is it that you are interceding for today? Just think about this... we have been given the holy task of carrying the fragrance of Christ out among the people to "...make them right with God." To bring our world to Christ...

Questions to Ponder: We are not told in this passage what prompted Moses and Aaron as leaders to rescue the people. What do you think it was? In what ways can we emulate the actions of Moses and Aaron?