Exodus chapter 29 gives us God’s process of consecrating (set apart for His purposes) the priests to equip them for service to God. “Take a young bull and two rams without defect. And from fine wheat flour without yeast make bread“. Interestingly, the animals need to be without blemish, the bread without yeast, but all that is said of the men is, “bring them to the entrance of the tent of meeting“. It appears that God can set apart anyone for His service as long as they will submit to Him! “Wash them with water… take the garments and dress them…anoint them (with oil)… bring the bull, Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on it’s head. Slaughter it in the Lord’s presence…take the ram…Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on it’s head. Slaughter it…Take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on it’s head. Slaughter it… take some of the blood and put it on the right ear of Aaron and his sons… on the thumb of their right hand… on the big toe of their right feet…sprinkle it on them and their garments“. God does not choose righteous men, He makes ordinary men righteous through the blood of the sacrifice. Don’t miss the importance of the three places the blood is put on the priests; the ear, that they may listen to the voice of God, the hand that they may do God’s work, and the toe, that they may walk as God leads them. An notice with each sacrifice, they first lay their hands on it’s head to symbolically allow it to take on their sins- the debt of their sin MUST be paid and only by shedding innocent blood.
There was a seven day period of consecration, “Sacrifice a bull each day as a sin offering…each day two lambs… one in the morning and one in the evening“. Then we are told, “for generations to come, this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting… I will consecrate the Tent of Meeting… there I will meet with you and speak to you“. “Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.” God makes it very clear, while the priests have a responsibility, IT IS GOD THAT DOES THE CONSECRATING! Three times God repeats the purpose, “So they will know that I am their God“. How did God get your attention? How did He prove to you that He is your God?
Each of us are His priests, and each of us must go through a consecration process. Like these priests who were stripped before washing, we must first be humbled. Then as Ephesians 5:25 says, we must be “washed in the Word“. We are then anointed by His Holy Spirit, “He saves us not by the basis of our deeds… but according to His mercy; by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). And finally, we are “released from our sins by His blood” (Revelation 1:5). By the indwelling of His Holy Spirit WE are God’s Tent of Meeting and He uses us to reach out to others so THEY can know that He is their God. God has set you apart for His purposes, listen to His leading, allow Him to work through your life and let Him direct your way and people cannot help but notice you are “clothed in His righteousness” (Psalm 132:9).