Let
us turn to Aaron’s Family next. He had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazer and
Ithamar. In Leviticus, Chapters 8 and 9 we have a most interesting account, and
a most solemn one, of the consecration of Aaron and his four sons. They were
brought into the nearest place to God of any in Israel; no other young men
possessed the privileges that were given of them.
Not
only on their Father’s side were they sons of the High Priest, but on their
mother’s side they were nephews of the Prince of Judah, the kingly tribe.
The
ninth chapter of Leviticus ends with the glorious culmination of the whole
eight days of consecration ceremonies “And there came a fire out from before
the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat; which
when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.”
How
fearfully sad then to find in the very first verses of the next chapter that
Ndab and Abihu venture to offer to the Lord “strange fire”. And what was the
result? “Fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before
the Lord.” Their act may have been due to intoxication, judging from the ninth
verse of the tenth chapter; but of this we cannot be sure. What a speedy and
awful judgment on those in the place of greatest privilege, who venture to
approach God in their own way! How terrible to see the eldest son, the one in
line for the wondrous office of High Priest, cut off in a moment! But the
greater the privilege the greater the responsibility.
“And
Aaron held his peace.” A father’s heart goes out to Aaron in keenest sympathy,
realizing a little of the agony of that moment. And while he opened not his
mouth, did not his mind’s eye turn back about one year only, and did he not see
himself making the golden calf, and even making the people naked in their
horrible feasting before it? What an example to set before his sons! Was it any
wonder that they should be careless as to the glory of God when they had seen
their own father transgress so terribly! It does not lighten the stroke to know
that I am in part, or altogether, responsible for my children’s sin and
punishment. Like Aaron we can but bow in broken-hearted submission, and “hold
our peace.”
But
there is comfort as well as warning in Aaron’s family. How beautiful to see Eleazer
his son step into his father’s place at his death! And as we follow Eleazer’s
pathway from that time on through the Book of Joshua, and see his son Phinehas
growing up to walk in the steps of his Father and Grandfather, it cheers and
comforts the heart. (See Joshua 22.) And indeed he honor of the priesthood,
through these two sons, Eleazer and Ithamar, continued as long as the
priesthood “after the order of Aaron” lasted. Now, another Great High Priest,
after the order of Melchisedec, and not after the order of Aaron, has arisen;
and in Him there is no failure.
It was Grace, pure Grace that gave to Aaron this high honor, and this joy and blessing in his sons and grandson, even in spite of his grievous sin and failure. Thanks be to God, we have the same God, and the same Grace, on which we may count, in spite of all our failure!