"CHRIST'S MINISTERS TYPIFIED BY AARON (1)"
Exodus 4:14-16

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Moses protested to the Lord that his lack of eloquence necessitated the sending of someone else to present Israel's case to Pharaoh (Exodus 4:10-13). His protest kindled the displeasure of the Lord (v.14a), who appointed Moses' brother Aaron to assist him (vv.14b-16). What is here written of Aaron regarding his relationship to Moses and the ministry to which he was appointed typifies Christ's ministers of the gospel.

I. "Is not Aaron the Levite …?" Indeed, he was! He was descended from Levi through Kohath and Amram (Exodus 6:16, 18, 20). He therefore was of the tribe separated and devoted to the ministry of God's Old Covenant people (Numbers 1:47-53). And he was eventually appointed to the foremost position in that ministry, that of the high priesthood (Exodus 28:1), which was assisted by the other ministers of the nation (Numbers 3:5-10).

Likewise, gospel ministers are, as Levites were, separated and devoted to the ministry of God's people. They are of the office entrusted with the oversight of the church of God (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:1, 4f; 1 Peter 5:2f).

And their ministerial position is the foremost in the church, being assisted by the other ministers (Philippians 1:1; Acts 6:1-4ff).

II. "Is not Aaron … your brother?" Indeed, he was! The same afore-mentioned genealogy cited in Exodus 6 identifies Aaron and Moses as brothers, and emphatically declares "These are the same Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, 'Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt'" (vv.26, 27).

Likewise, gospel ministers are brothers of Christ. They are, like all the elect, "sons of God" (1 John 3:1a, 2a; John 1:12), of whom it is written "[Christ] is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Hebrews 2:11; cp. v.17).

III. "I know that Aaron can speak well." Aaron was a gifted speaker, fitted by God with speaking abilities.

1. Their reading of God's Word is distinct, explanatory, and understood (as in Nehemiah 8:8). They are not ranters and ravers mouthing nonsense.

2. Their preaching is "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" –even if they themselves lack oratorical skills (1 Corinthians 2:1-4).

3. Their ministry is a "manifestation of the truth" (2 Corinthians 4:2-6). It is therefore devoid of deceit or adulteration. The truth it manifests is "not … ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord." Their truth is manifested through "the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ." They therefore speak well because through their ministry "the God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness … has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

IV. "Aaron is coming out to meet you." We must conclude that Aaron had been called by God, apart from any human agency, to depart Egypt and come to Moses.

Likewise, gospel ministers are coming out to meet Christ. In an especial sense with regard to the ministry, and totally apart from any human instrumentality, they are separated from their mother's womb and called by God out of sin to come to Christ and preach Him (Galatians 1:1, 15-17; Jeremiah 1:4f).

V. "When Aaron sees you, he will be glad in his heart." So gladdened was Aaron upon meeting Moses that he immediately kissed him and began to minister for him, which was evidence that he acknowledged Moses' lordship over himself (Exodus 4:27-30).

1. They with gladness "kiss the Son" (Psalm 2:12).

2. They with gladness acknowledge His Lordship. Like Saul of Tarsus when he first met Christ, they say, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" (Acts 9:1-6).

3. They with gladness begin to minister for Him. Like the apostles, they place His interests above their own earthly pursuits (Matthew 4:18-22; 9:9). And they immediately begin to seek others to whom they say, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote – Jesus" (John 1:43-45).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~