Year 7, Day 73: Exodus 24

Theological Commentary: Click Here

This chapter ends on a note that is quite easy to miss if we aren’t careful.  Did you see who it is that goes up the mountain with Moses?  Yes, that’s right.  Joshua goes up the mountain with Moses.  Joshua gets to accompany Moses into the presence of the Lord.

Also, notice who it is that gets to stay at home and manage the company.  Yes, that’s right.  Aaron gets to stay among the people and manage all of the disputes for the multitude.  The young Joshua gets to have the mountaintop experience while the older, yet just as faithful, Aaron gets to stay down the mountain among the people.

If you read my last sentence, it’s easy to hear the expected human emotion.  Why is it that Joshua gets to go up the mountain while Aaron has to stay at the bottom and work hard?  We often feel bad for Aaron, because he’s been so faithful all along.  If there is anyone who truly deserves to be Moses, it is Aaron.

However, I think that there are two things to remember.  First of all, remember God’s plan.  Don’t forget the bigger picture, here.  God is leading His people into the Promised Land.  God knows that it will be Joshua who carries on after Moses dies.  It is Joshua who will shoulder the burden of leadership.  Joshua needs this experience.  Joshua needs to know the presence of God.  Joshua needs to be mentored by Moses.  This experience isn’t about reward; this experience is about preparation for the future of the community.  God is preparing Joshua under the mentoring of Moses.

Second, remember that Aaron was commissioned to support Moses.  Aaron has been there to see it all.  He has the wisdom to lead the people in Moses’ absence.  He has the wisdom to oversee the people and judge over their disputes.  Aaron has far more maturity than Joshua does!  While Joshua steps into the role that God desired for him, Aaron is living out the role that God needs from him as well.

In the end, when we step back away from our emotions we can see the bigger picture.  These are people doing what God is asking of them.  These are people stepping into the roles where God needs them.  These are people making good use of their time to do the work of God’s kingdom.  It isn’t about reward and status.  It is about living obediently to God.

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