Why God Chose Aaron

[0:00] Last week we finished 27, looked at the dimensions of the court that surrounded the tabernacle,! and learned some important lessons about boundaries, specifically for the Christian life.

[0:12] ! God established boundaries, the boundaries don't change, and they're complete. And now we move into chapter 28, where the entire chapter is instructions about the priest's apparel. There are several unique items that need to be made and eventually worn by the priest as they minister before the Lord in the priest's office. And the priesthood is not even fully realized yet. This is Moses in the mount with God, and God teaching them, this is how I want you to make me a sanctuary, I'm going to dwell there, and this is how you're going to approach to me, and it's going to be through a priesthood. And this is all new information, it's not realized down below, it's just up in the mount still with Moses and God.

[1:01] They're the only ones privy to this information and knowledge. And before God gives the information about the garments and the additional items to be worn by this man that's going to approach the holy place, God first selects a man, a man that's going to fulfill this special office, and it's found right away in the first verse of chapter 28. And so take a read with me in verse number one, thou and take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother and his sons with him from among the children of Israel that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eliezer and Ithamar, Aaron's sons. God sought a man to minister to him. That's what he said, among the children of Israel that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. He sought a man to minister not to the people, but to minister to him. And he sought a man that's named Aaron. He chose Aaron. There's no discussion about this. There's no selection committee or process. There's no other names that are even mentioned as possible candidates for this position. The people did not select Aaron. God chose Aaron.

[2:25] And Aaron and his sons now going forward for years to come and generations to come are going to have a unique, a very special, a very fearful privilege of ministering unto the Lord in the priest's office.

[2:41] They enter through the door of the tabernacle and they come in with those holy garments on and they tend to the items that God commanded to be kept before him at all times. This ministry is not for Moses.

[2:56] It's for his brother Aaron. So why Aaron? What's so special about Aaron? Why did he make the cut? I want to take a look at a few things that I think might be reasons why God may have chosen Aaron to minister before him in this exclusive office. It's a prestigious office in a way, but it's also, I said, a fearful one. It cost him a lot. It's not too long down the road that two of his sons are dead because they did not minister in this office the way God said. So this isn't just like, yay, we were picked.

[3:30] There comes a great responsibility and weight with the office. So God chose one man and it's Aaron's or Moses's older brother Aaron. Let's consider some reasons why and before we do that, let's talk to the Lord a little bit and ask for his help as surely we need it. Our Father, we ask for your blessing and your moving and your spirit to be amongst us and to stable our minds and hearts upon thy words and may the truth of God be pronounced. May we take application and may you find suitable those reasons that you found in Aaron. May you find them in our lives and may you see us as holy people that are willing to serve you and ready to go at anything. And God do a work in us where we fall short and where we're weak, strengthen us, and where we're not faithful, convict us, and just move in our hearts and show us what we are and what we ought to be and help us to be obedient to that. We ask these things in Jesus' name and for his sake alone and amen. Amen. All right, Aaron. There's a few thoughts I want to bring out about Aaron. And the first thing I think that makes him a quality candidate for this priest's office is that Aaron was relatable. Aaron was relatable. You think, well, what do you mean Aaron was relatable? Let me show you what I mean. Flip back to Exodus chapter 2.

[4:56] Aaron could relate to the experience of the people of Israel. Aaron grew up in Egypt. And if we could put some timing on this, let's notice that if we backed up into chapter 1, that's the chapter where a new king arose and he decided that he's going to do some damage to this nation that's just growing and it's out of control. And he's deciding, I'm going to kill the baby boys.

[5:23] And so he commanded the midwives to kill the baby boys and they didn't do it. So then he charged, cast them into the river. And Jochebed and Amram come together and have a child named Moses in chapter 2.

[5:38] But Aaron is already alive. Aaron is the firstborn. And after Aaron, there's a sister. Likely, it's Miriam. She's not mentioned by name in chapter 2, but likely this is her. And in chapter 2, when Moses is in the river, by the river's brink in that ark that his mother made for him, verse 4 says, his sister stood afar off, to what will be done unto him. So the daughter of Pharaoh comes, you remember this story. She tells her maid to fetch the ark. And she sees it's one of the Hebrew children. And verse 7, I'm just showing you this to show you that Miriam is of a certain age at this time when this baby boy, Moses, is three months old. Miriam speaks. She's not a three-year-old or a five-year-old. Listen to what she says in verse 7.

[6:23] And then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for thee? I don't know how old Miriam is here, but I don't think she's five or six. I'm going to put her a little bit older than that. And that makes me put Aaron a little bit older than that. I can't give you a date. I'm going to say he's at least 10 to 12 years. At the least, he's 10 to 12 years older than Moses. Moses was raised for 40 years in Pharaoh's daughter's house. And when he came out of that house and he made the decision to go be with his people, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than enjoy the... He decided, I'm going to go. Aaron is at least 50 to 55 years old already at this time. Moses then goes to Midian for 40 more years. And then Aaron goes to meet him. And that puts Aaron at 90, 95 years old.

[7:20] And the entirety of his life was spent in Egypt under these circumstances. When the Pharaoh was seeking to murder the babies, Aaron was present. He was around when his mom hid the baby brother from the Egyptians. He saw Moses disappear into Pharaoh's house, his daughter's house to be gone for 40 years.

[7:41] He lived a life of hard bondage and bitterness as described in this book. That was his life. When Moses reappeared and then took off for 40 more years, it was still crying and affliction and bondage for Aaron and the people of God in Egypt. That's the life that Aaron knew. Not the life that Moses knew. Moses was exempt from bearing the burdens. Moses lived in the lap of luxury. Moses didn't get the beatings. He was absent the entire time. But not Aaron. Aaron knew that life. Aaron knew the bitterness of that life. He spent time in Egypt. He spent time being in bondage to the Egyptians and a slave.

[8:28] And although Moses was God's chosen leader to bring out the people to deliver the words of God and the laws of God to them, this ministry was not for Moses. This ministry was for a man that could relate to what the people go through. Now look at Hebrews chapter 5. And this is, look at the writer here put this very statement on it. Hebrews chapter 5. It describes the priesthood. And it describes Aaron by name.

[9:00] And the first reason I believe God chose Aaron is because Aaron was relatable. He didn't grow up with gold and with a silver spoon as they say. He grew up in the trenches. He grew up and he had it rough.

[9:16] In Hebrews chapter 5 and verse 1, the Bible says, For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins, who can have compassion on the ignorant and on them that are out of the way. Why? For that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

[9:42] And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. And there's Aaron being called of God. But Aaron's a man that understands, in this case, how he can offer for the sins of the people because he had to offer for his own sins first. Aaron wasn't set apart from the people as much as until the priesthood came about. Aaron was just a relatable guy. He's been through what they've been through. He has the scars to prove it. And this was becoming of the office of a priest.

[10:26] You don't want somebody that's going to look down upon everybody else, that's going to imagine themselves to be holier or higher than they really are. But Aaron's story is relatable to the rest of Israel. They've been through it and so has he. And it brings me to consider that in this life, some people just, they have it harder than others. They have a harder road than some have. Some grow up in messed up homes and messed up situations and broken homes and poverty. Some struggle in their childhood, in their teenage years and even in their adult lives to survive. Some just nothing seems to come easy.

[11:08] And it's not necessarily their fault or their doing or their choices that have affected them. But some of them take that bitter life and they hold on to that bitter life and they use it as an excuse to act out and to be a misfit in this world and in school and in society.

[11:28] And they use that as an excuse to resist the Lord. If God were good, if God loved me, then why is my life like this? Why is everything a wreck? Why am I hurting so badly? Well, the truth is God is good and God is holy and God is just and God is right. But sin is ugly and sin is destructive. And if anybody's had a hard life, that's all the more reason to run to a holy God that will receive you, to run to his arms and say, you'll never leave me and I'm never going to leave you. I'm going to stay where it's good and where I'm loved. When you have a hard life and a hard story to tell, all the more reason to find peace and comfort and love in the Lord Jesus Christ and to stay there rather than using that as an excuse to say, who is God? I can't trust him. I can't walk with him. It's too, my life's too hard. And yet people do that.

[12:30] Rather than getting bitter, you could find that life is better with the Lord. And if you've had a hard life and tasted bitter days, then I want to recommend you get to God and let him heal those wounds and let him mend your heart.

[12:47] And then you know what God will do? The Lord will seek to use those experiences that you've felt and tasted and known and allow you to minister. Look at 2 Corinthians chapter 1. This is the verse that you need to know about this thought. If you've had a hard time in life, watch what God seeks to do with that hard time and that hard experience.

[13:14] You first turn to him. You run to him for comfort, for grace, for mercy and grace to help in time of need.

[13:28] And he'll comfort you. And verse number five, I'll start in three, three and four. 2 Corinthians 1, verse 3. Be blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation for a reason that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

[14:01] If you've never been through anything, it's going to be hard for you to comfort and to minister to somebody who has or is. But when God allows something to come through your life and you respond to it the right way and hold on to him, he wants to then use you because there's an awful lot of hurt in this world.

[14:25] There's an awful lot of sorrow and pain and messed up lives. And God wants to use his children that know him and have access to him to be a lifeline of comfort and grace to help them.

[14:38] So when you get bitter, you're useless to God. But when your heart is open to him and receive his comfort and grace, you can pour that out and pull somebody else in and show them the comfort that God has for them too.

[14:54] And this is showing me that Aaron was fit for this office because Aaron was relatable to the people. He was relatable.

[15:05] His story was their story. Now something else, look back in Exodus again and we'll go back to chapter 4 this time. Back to chapter 4.

[15:16] When God reveals himself to Moses in the burning bush in chapter 3 and he informs him what he wants him to do. Moses is very resistant to the Lord's will and he's reluctant to give in and submit.

[15:32] And so God sends him his brother Aaron. In chapter 4, notice verse 27. And the Lord said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.

[15:46] And he went and met him in the mount of God and kissed him. You ever realize how instrumental Aaron was in the entire process?

[15:57] The whole thing from the beginning to the mount. Of getting those people out of Egypt to the mountain. Where Moses is right now, listening to God.

[16:08] Do you ever consider how much of a role he played? His availability to be used of God in any way shows up in many ways. And that's the second thing I want to say is that Aaron was available.

[16:21] He was relatable. He was also available. The Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Before any of the plagues. Before any of this was even on their radar.

[16:31] They're just getting beat by the taskmasters. They're being driven to work every day and every night. God shows up and talks to Aaron. The Lord said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness and meet Moses.

[16:48] And you know what Aaron didn't do? He didn't do what Moses did. He didn't make any excuses. He didn't give any reasons why he can't leave.

[17:00] They're going to find out I'm gone. They're going to take care. They're going to come after my kids, my wife, my four sons. And Aaron went and met him in the mount. Aaron's never traveled to Mount Sinai before.

[17:14] I don't know the direct route he took. I don't think he went down and crossed the Red Sea like the Israelites did. But more direct route likely, but hundreds of miles. A long, long journey.

[17:25] Not one that he was apt to take. And yet he took a wilderness journey. And then later on, look at something else he did. Look in chapter number four. Earlier in the chapter.

[17:40] When Aaron, or sorry, when Moses was so reluctant. And he feared what he was going to face back in Egypt. And he was full of excuses why he's not the guy.

[17:50] God just gets fed up with him. In verse 14, the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses. And he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well.

[18:01] And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee. And when he seeth thee, he'll be glad in his heart. And thou shalt speak unto him and put words in his mouth. And I will be with thy mouth and with his mouth.

[18:15] And will teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people. And he shall be even... Oh man. And he shall be even... He shall be to thee instead of a mouth.

[18:28] And thou shalt be to him instead of God. And so God has already commissioned and sent Aaron and got him on his way to go out to meet his brother. Knowing Moses' reluctance and his reservations and his rebellion.

[18:43] And God has already got a solution. Aaron's coming. Aaron's a familiar face. Aaron's a comforting face. Aaron's a relatable face to this man Moses.

[18:54] He didn't send the elders. He didn't send the princes of all the tribes to come and find Moses. He sent his brother. And he kissed him. And they rejoiced to see each other.

[19:07] And I want you to consider that Aaron was available to go. And Aaron was available to speak. Moses said, I can't speak. Well, Aaron can speak.

[19:18] I'll let him do it. Where's Aaron's excuses? I can't go in front of Pharaoh, in front of the king. I've never been in that palace or in front of his throne. I can't do this.

[19:28] Who are you? No, Aaron went. Look at verse 29. Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. And Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses.

[19:41] And did the signs. In verse number 1 of the next chapter, Afterward, Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh. And here comes Aaron. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

[19:59] Aaron was available to go. Aaron was available to speak. Aaron was available to do whatever God told him to do. You don't see the reluctance. You don't see the reservations or the arguments.

[20:11] You just see a man that's available. And I think that's a great point and a reason why God chose him to be in the priesthood. It's a great point to put on our lives this morning. Because some Christians, And you read this in your own heart and life.

[20:26] And you determine with you and God if this is true of you. Some Christians put a limit upon what they'll do for God. And how much they'll sacrifice. And how available they'll be for the work of God.

[20:40] I'll help with this preacher, but I can't do that. I'll show up to eat, but I won't show up to serve. And I won't show up to work.

[20:52] And what they do is put limits upon their availability. Why would a Christian put limits upon their availability to God? I didn't say that your job is constraining you.

[21:03] I didn't say that your sickness or your household. I said, when Christians put this limit upon their own availability, Why would you do that? Why would any of us say no to God over anything?

[21:16] Is it because it would make you feel uncomfortable? I can't speak in front of Pharaoh. I'm nervous. I'm not a good speaker. Is that why you would do that? Because it might make you feel uncomfortable?

[21:28] Is it because you'd say, I don't have any experience doing that and it's just not for me. Let someone else do it. That's what Moses tried to do. But not Aaron.

[21:39] Aaron didn't put a limit on his availability. And God chose him. There's a song that I like a lot. A family sings this song. And the words of it, of the chorus and ending, it says, I'm ready to serve.

[21:54] I'm ready to work. I'm ready to give. Lord, I'm willing to hurt. Take this broken piece of clay and begin to mold. Here's my heart and my mind, my body and soul.

[22:08] I'm coming out of my comfort zone with my everything, O Lord. And I'll hold nothing back anymore. And I'm yours forever and ever, Lord. I'm ready to serve.

[22:22] Is that you? Just available. Available, God. What do you need? I'm not going to make excuses. Give me something to do for you.

[22:34] I'm available. When God chose his high priest, he chose the man that's shown already that he's available for whatever God desires. The excuses aren't quicker than the yes, Lord.

[22:46] But think about it now. Tell the truth. I know how this is in my life. I know how it is in talking to some other Christians. Sometimes, oh, before the yes and the surrender is your mind is racing for a reason why you can't.

[23:03] Will you help with this? Oh, you're just trying to stall for a reason why you can't. Instead of, yes, let me check my schedule.

[23:14] But yes, it's, let me check my schedule. Because I just want to make sure I might have a reason not to. Not Aaron. The Lord speaks.

[23:26] He's willing and available. The Lord directs him into something he's never done before. He's available. His own brother wouldn't do it. But the man that God had chosen and fitted for this wouldn't do it. He was reluctant.

[23:37] Not Aaron. He was available. He was relatable. He was available. And there's one more thing I want to point out is that Aaron was dependable. Look at chapter 17. Here's another case in this man's life where he shows up and you can count on Aaron.

[23:51] In chapter 17, a horrible situation surprised this nation. This young, naive, adolescent nation that is making their way through the wilderness.

[24:07] And they get a surprise ambush attack from the rear. This is Amalek coming out and fighting against Israel. And the drama is literal.

[24:20] It's very present. The people are getting attacked. The nation is facing probably their first actual live threat like this. And Moses says in verse 9 to Joshua, Choose us out, men.

[24:34] Go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I'll stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God and by hand. And so Moses does. He goes up on that mount and there's two men that go with him in verse 10, Aaron and Hur.

[24:47] In verse 11, it came to pass when Moses held up his hand that Israel prevailed. And when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy.

[24:59] And they took a stone and put it under him. And he sat there on. And Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands. The one on the one side and the other on the other side. And his hands were steady.

[25:11] Until the going down of the sun. And you see the ending of the battle in the next verse. Joshua gets the victory. In this case, Israel had to engage the enemy.

[25:24] And they weren't prepared for this. They were completely surprised and unprepared. They had to defend themselves. Moses says, I'm going up to the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.

[25:35] I'm going to intercede with God. As Joshua, you go out and fight. He doesn't show him saying, I need two men to come with me. But nevertheless, there they are. Aaron and Hur go up to Moses with him.

[25:46] And they're present. That's a big word there. They're present with him. And Moses intercedes with God. And throughout the course of the battle, his arms get heavy.

[25:56] His hands were heavy. He let them down. His strength is failing. And Joshua and those men are losing. Can you imagine the people of God, Israel, losing a battle?

[26:11] Moses needs help. Joshua needs help. Somebody help. My hands are heavy. Aaron. Where are you, Aaron? I could use you right now.

[26:22] Know where Aaron is? I'm right here, Moses. I'm right beside you. Here. Have a seat over here. Let's change this thing.

[26:33] Let's figure this out. Let's make this better for you. Let's make this set up so that you can continue to hold that rod up to the Lord God that he'll fight for Israel. And so Aaron and Hur steady his hands until the battle was done.

[26:48] Until the day was done, they stood by the man of God and held up his hands. Aaron was dependable. That story might look a little different had Aaron and Hur not been there.

[27:02] Had Moses' hands been heavy? He had to figure it out on his own. So let me ask then to you, church, this morning. Do you consider yourself dependable? Like, is that a quality that you would say, yeah, that's in me.

[27:16] Give me five words about yourself. Would that be one? I'm dependable. I'm not talking about what your boss call you and say, can you come in early or stay late? I'm not asking if your boss is depending on you.

[27:26] I'm not talking about your neighbor saying, hey, can you do me a favor? Are you dependable? Church, the things of God, the word of God, the people of God, the work of God.

[27:39] Are you dependable to the spiritual things in this life? Aaron was present. He was present before he was needed.

[27:52] He went up on the top of that hill with Moses. He didn't know how this was going to go, but his dependability was evidenced by his presence. You know what Aaron did not say, but a lot of Christians say, Moses, I can come up for a little bit, but then I've got to go.

[28:09] I've got to leave early. I've got things to do. I've got stuff to do. But I can come and help you a little bit. Do you know that Aaron, it's said in verse 12, that Aaron and her stayed up his hands, and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

[28:28] They stayed in it until it was done, until it was finished. It wasn't about them and what they had to do. It was about what needs to be done.

[28:40] If there's something that needs to be done, are you dependable? Or are you that guy that says, I can come for a little bit? Not Aaron.

[28:54] They say that the greatest ability is dependability. It's an old phrase. It's pretty common. But I have to admit, it amazes me. I don't know if amazement is the right word.

[29:05] It's more disturbing or disappointing might be the better word. Over the years of being involved in God's work and active in different ways, it's, I guess it's disappointing and some might be the better word, of all the excuses that I've heard over the years for why someone can't be present, why someone can't engage or be active.

[29:30] And don't misunderstand when I say that. I'm a man. I have a life and a family. I get sick. I got COVID. I was out. I know how this stuff goes. I would never put more on you than I would put on me.

[29:43] And I don't expect you to, I don't expect much. But I have to admit, it amazes me. It disturbs me sometimes to consider how easy, how quick somebody can be with an excuse of why not to be present.

[30:02] Dependable. A dependable man is not looking for an excuse to be absent. A dependable man, a dependable woman desires to be present, desires to be engaged and active, and wants to serve, and wants to work, and wants to pray, and wants to stay until the work is done.

[30:24] And they find joy, and they find fulfillment in doing their part. Moses in this position, we're reading about the priesthood.

[30:35] God's introducing the priesthood. And Moses is not going to get the attention of this priesthood. And he's not going to get the responsibility of it either. It's going to fall on somebody else's shoulders.

[30:47] And God's going to choose a man. He chose Aaron. He chose Aaron to come before him to offer the sacrifices to God. To make atonement for the sins of the people of Israel.

[31:02] He chose Aaron to minister before him daily, being clothed in the holy garments. The chapter says those garments were for glory and for beauty. Aaron was adorned in these holy garments.

[31:15] It wasn't for Moses. And God sought a man to put this great responsibility of, the responsibility of his priesthood. It's so serious and it's so sobering.

[31:29] And when he sought a man, he sought a dependable man. A man that was not filled with excuses of why he's not the guy. A man he could count on.

[31:40] A man that was present and engaged already. He sought for a man that was not in it for the glory. Not in it for the spotlight. A man like Aaron who was willing and capable to take a back seat to somebody that was his younger brother.

[31:57] His younger brother. And I'm just going to let Moses lead this whole thing. And I'm content to stay in the back seat and to do whatever is given me to do. I'm available.

[32:08] That's a guy that God sought. And he sought a man, as I said, that's a relatable man. A man that had his own sins to atone for. Before he could atone for the peoples.

[32:20] A man that's no different than those people that he represented before the Lord. And so Moses is tarrying a long time in the mount here. Moses is up there with the Lord and he's been there six days of silence.

[32:35] Remember that? No speaking, nothing. And then the seventh, the Lord calls him. And now he starts to tell him all about the tabernacle and all of the things that made it at the court. And now he begins to teach him the priesthood.

[32:46] And as Moses delayed in his long time in the mountain, the people get antsy. And they come to Aaron. And they say, Aaron. Now understand, Aaron's not the high priest.

[32:59] He doesn't even know anything about this yet. It's just happening right now in real time up on top of the mountain where the cloud and the thunderings. Aaron's down here with the people. And they come to him and say, Aaron, we don't know what happened to Moses.

[33:13] So up, make us gods that may go before us. And Aaron was being put into a position and into an office that wasn't his.

[33:24] Aaron was going to make decisions for the people. To be their leader and to do something that he was never called to. You know what he did? Oh, he messed up pretty good.

[33:38] His first time on the job and he made him a golden calf. Where in the world would you get that idea of Aaron? Egypt. Back there in Egypt, they worship those golden calves.

[33:52] And this is what they've seen. And let's make something. And this is thy God. And then he builds an altar and says, we're going to have a feast to the Lord. Aaron's just oblivious to this whole sanctuary.

[34:05] The golden bars and the golden inside the candles. He doesn't know anything about that yet. It's not been revealed to him. He doesn't know that he's called to be in that priesthood.

[34:18] And so when he gets involved in an office that doesn't belong to him, he messes it up. I mean, people died. And this was a serious blot.

[34:30] God's ready to wipe them all out and start over with Moses. It was serious. Because that's not the office that God had for him. His job, the Lord had told Moses, was to minister unto me in the priest's office.

[34:47] And God sought a man to do something different than what he sought Moses to be. He sought a man to fulfill a special role. And we'll read about this and learn more about this priesthood, how it was so holy and sanctified and consecrated.

[35:04] And the Lord Jesus Christ being the ultimate type and fulfillment of this. It's an amazing thing, a peculiar thing. And that's a great word to put on it from the Bible.

[35:16] But I want to consider when God sought the man. And again, he didn't go through a committee. He didn't seek men to choose. He said, I know who it is. It's Aaron.

[35:28] I wonder if those characteristics and traits are in your life this morning. Are you relatable? Like, you think you're better than everybody else? You think you've been saved longer and you know more and you just, you don't know how to deal with the sins of the people.

[35:45] But Aaron knew how to deal with the sins of the people because he was one. He knew what they'd been through. He knew what it was like. And he remembers being there. He didn't get higher than them. He was relatable.

[35:56] God said, I like that quality. You're going to need that one to minister to me. Aaron was available. And he was dependable.

[36:09] And as we close this morning, these thoughts come out. I hope they're relatable to you. That you hear them and you say, that's what I want to be. I want to be that man in this church.

[36:21] I want to be that woman in my family and with the people of God. I want those qualities to be known of me. The Bible says, if a man loved God, the same is known of him.

[36:33] I want to put this on you. If you're available to the Lord, the same is known of you. If you're dependable in the work of God, the same is known of you. If you're relatable to the people, the same is known of you.

[36:49] That's the kind of man God's looking for. That's the kind of man that he chose. Father, this is a little different message today, I feel like.

[36:59] And I pray that it's received by your people and understood. I pray, God, as you seek to choose men and women in places in this church and in offices and in whether it's in leadership or just to serve you and to minister before you in this place.

[37:20] Lord, forgive us for being selfish. Forgive us for being scared.

[37:35] And for holding back and putting limits upon our service and our obedience to you. Prick hearts this morning. Change us and renew our minds that we might surrender all to you and be available when you call.

[37:54] Studying this guy, Aaron, he was just doing what he was told to do. And little did he know that up on the mount, you were going to choose him. Lord, I pray that you'd choose some men in this church to minister before you and call them to something.

[38:12] Something that you see that none of us see. Something that you'll be glorified in. With your heads bowed this morning, would you consider this morning that God might be coming after your heart?

[38:27] And seeking you to be available to him? Amen. Do you think he accepts all the excuses that you give me?

[38:41] Do you think God accepts those excuses? There's a short Christian life to be lived.

[39:03] It'll soon be passed. And how available you were for work, it's not going to be mentioned.

[39:16] How much money you spent on your house and on your toys, not going to be mentioned. Were you dependable and available and relatable when it comes to the work of God?

[39:30] Let's get our attention on him this morning. If the Lord deals with your heart, would you come and pray and talk it over with him? We'll sing a hymn and give you an opportunity to respond.

[39:42] If the Lord's speaking to your heart, don't reject or resist him. Respond tonight, today, as he sees. I'll continue this morning. Thank you.