“'You must remain at the entrance to the tent of meeting day and night for seven days and keep the Lord’s charge so that you will not die...'”
(Moses speaking to Aaron) "'You must remain at the entrance to the tent of meeting day and night for seven days and keep the Lord's charge so that you will not die, for this is what I have commanded.' So Aaron and his sons did everything the Lord commanded through Moses." Leviticus 8: 35-36 (HCSB)
After all the pomp and pageantry, the blood and sacrifice, what did the Lord tell Aaron and his sons? "Wait for seven days." Obviously, there was something big coming on the 8th. We have the benefit of reading ahead and knowing God's presence would fill the Tabernacle, but Aaron knew only to obey and to wait.
This is precisely the directive that Jesus gave His disciples before His ascension: "Wait for seven days." You won't find it written directly, but the seven-day wait is abundantly clear if you understand the Jewish calendar.
Jesus was placed in the tomb in the final hours of Passover. He rose three days later.
"After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God." Acts 1:3 (HCSB)
After 3 days in the tomb, Jesus spent 40 days appearing to many of His followers. 3 days in the tomb, plus 40 days with His disciples = 43 days.
The festival of Shavuot (Pentecost) is 50 days after Passover. Because Jesus was entombed in the final Passover hours, the tomb's first day does not count towards the 50-day lead-up to Pentecost.
Now, take 3 days in the tomb, add 40 days with His disciples, subtract 1 day because Jesus was entombed on Passover (Pentecost was 50 days AFTER Passover), and you end up with 8 DAYS between Jesus' ascension and the day of Pentecost…whew!!
Jesus told His disciples to wait 7 days. On the 8th day, He filled them with His Holy Spirit, just as on the 8th day, God's presence filled the Tabernacle.
The account of Moses' ordaining of Aaron and his sons as priests foreshadows Jesus' ordaining of the Apostles as "priests" to be sent to the nations. Furthermore, Messiah has ordained ALL believers as "priests" of His gospel, per se. (1 Peter 2: 4-9, Revelation 1: 4-6, 5: 6-10) That includes you & me as well!
Elevating your Faith with daily Bible reading and devotionals written by Steve Wiggins.
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