Scripture Reading: Exodus 4:13-17, Exodus 4:27-31, Exodus 7:8-13, Exodus 32:1-6, Exodus 32:21-24, Leviticus 8:1-5, Leviticus 9:1-7, Leviticus 10:8-11
Growing up, I thought people like Moses, Aaron, David, Samson, and Elijah were the heroes of the Bible. They are not. The Bible has one hero—Christ. All the other key characters God uses—and uses mightily to change the world, by the way—are filled with complex sin, moral collapse, and obtuse immaturity.
Aaron, the nation of Israel’s first high priest, is no exception. We meet him as he stood in as stammering Moses’s mouthpiece, speaking hard words to a hardened Pharaoh. He served alongside Moses throughout the Exodus from Egypt, holding up Moses’s arms both literally and figuratively.
Aaron saw the power of God firsthand in ways few others in Scripture ever witnessed. God set Aaron and his family apart to serve as the foundation of Israel’s priesthood—those who stood in as mediators between God and people. They were imperfect versions of what Christ would do perfectly.
Aaron’s failures were epic. He led the people in crafting a golden calf to worship when it seemed Moses would not be coming down from Mount Sinai any time soon. Then he denied personal responsibility with one of the greatest lines of obfuscation in Scripture, “When I threw [the gold] into the fire, out came this calf” (Exodus 32:24).
And yet, God continued to work through Aaron and his family. They continued to serve as priests for the people of God, offering sacrifices on Israel’s behalf, teaching them God’s law, and maintaining a culture of worship.
But there was only so much an imperfect priest could do. Priests could warn Israel of their sin. They could remind them of their past histories with idolatry. They could take them through the stories of the generations before who had, without exception, all at one point or another embraced the gods of their neighboring countries. They could implore, threaten, pray, and appeal. They could pound their fists on their pulpit. They could plead from their knees. They could sing in the sweetest whisper of a lullaby.
But one thing they could not do. They could not make Israel holy. They could warn them of their proclivity to sin, but they could not take it from them. A priest could vividly predict their certain coming guilt, but he could not take it away. Priests could lead many of the people of Israel to think, but no priest could lead a single person to glory (Hebrews 2:9–10). Only Christ could do that—our truer and better High Priest, the hero of Scripture. And this is exactly what He does.
Written by Russ Ramsey
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25 thoughts on "Aaron"
Aaron’s mistakes highlight just how perfect and true our High Priest Jesus is.
Thank You, Lord, for sending Your Son to be the perfect sacrifice for all our sins, mistakes, and plethora of shortcomings.
One thing I’m loving about this devotional series is the reminder that all of these people were human. I think we can sometimes glorify these people from biblical times and look to them for guidance; however, they were simply people after God’s heart just as deeply flawed as we are today. I’m grateful for our Savior Jesus who is the one & only hero for us to look up to!
Something that should out to me that I’ve never thought about before was how the Israelites worshipped the calf in response to being saved from slavery. Sometimes my first response after answered prayers is to go to worldly things and not give the glory and praise to my heavenly father. I was convicted today, my first response needs to be thanks to him.
Well said Russ! You put it best when you said there are only one here in the Bible and that is Christ. It was good to hear again.
I’m so glad the scripture shows us that the High Priest is only human and very imperfect! We have only ONE High Priest…Jesus Christ- came to be the only perfect sacrifice that cleanses us in our redemption through him!
We also received the Holy Spirit once we claim the gift of Jesus Christ! We know through Him, our ways should be more convicting and corrected, and consistent. We have the power, the same power that rose Jesus from the grave. Same power that demands the enemy to flee and save! The same power that emboldened Peter to preach after Pentecost, and Paul to do all the work and travels God called him to do. Let me use that power to step out of my comfort zone, and do what God calls me to do–minister, love, give, lead, and worship, and praise! We all have mighty works to do! He will convict us when we make mistakes, no matter how great, and put us back on track! Thank you God.
Happy Monday sweet She’s hit the wrong key and erased my comments. Our ONE and ONLY high priest, OUR JESUS! Love you all~
God uses us, still, imperfect as we are…we are set apart for His good purpose! Thank You Jesus!!
It is freeing to know God uses sinful p, not because I want to continue to sin, but have sinned so times. Lord thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for using the sinful to further kingdom. Even more thank you for the hero of the scriptures, Jesus and His ultimate sacrifice!
Such good comments and questions here this morning. Thank you, God, for using imperfect people for Your glory. I am in awe of this! Your goodness never stops; Your love is always present, and Your faithfulness has no limits. Praise Your wonderful name!
So thankful that God never gives up on His people, and that He never gives up on me!
I finished both my church journal and devotional journal recently. It feels like a bookend to start new journals and to see my journey with God over the years. My devotional journal spans from 2/14/2022 through last Mondays devotional 5/13/2025. My church journal stretches from 9/30/2018 through yesterday 5/18/2025. How amazing to see God’s messages to me over the years. I’m so excited to fill up my new journals with His beauty, goodness, and truth!
Praying everyone has a blessed start to their week ❤️
As we look at Aaron’s life, we see so much more clearly the need for a Savior. For the One and only One that can take away the sins of the world – Jesus. Aaron was chosen to be the high priest, one that you would think would lead the people spiritually. But instead, he listens to the people and takes the path of least resistance.
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But, before I put all the blame on Aaron, I must look at my own heart and ask – “do I do the very same thing?” I must remember that I too am simply a sinner – saved by grace, yet capable of all the same sins that we read of in scripture.
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But God – it is because of the blood of Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God and His grace that we are accepted in His sight and able to stand before Him blameless.
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Praise God that we have a truer and better High Priest.
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Happy Monday She’s!
How can I connect to Aaron’s story?
Thinking of times when…
I’ve stepped in to support others when they were weak
Been used by God even when unsure or imperfect
Made mistakes but found grace
Grown into a leadership role and felt the challenge of it
Aaron’s life reminds me that God calls, forgives, restores, and instructs—He walks with me even in my imperfection.
Thanks for sharing your thought process with us. I’ll ask myself these questions throughout the day.
As I read about the golden calf, it really struck me how I have my own golden calf moments. When God doesn’t answer immediately or on my timeline, I take matters into my own hands. I think He is distant and not working on the situation at hand any longer. He lost interest or has ‘bigger’ things to deal with than my problem. So I tell Him I’ve got this by letting my heart wander elsewhere. Usually to self. I pray that this story reminds me every time from now on to wait. Praise and worship in the waiting.
“Praise and worship in the waiting” amen!❤️
Amen me too!!
This morning’s post of just prayer notes from Saturday – gone to moderation.
I’ve read through them many times since Saturday’s whole post fell into the moderation abyss – puzzling.
What if all we read about Aaron was about him standing with and speaking for Moses through God’s provision, and then he and his sons being consecrated as priests? Great guy, right?
But in the middle there’s that time of impatience, succumbing to (agreeing with?) the crowd pressure, idol creation, passing the blame, refusing to take responsibility and the lies (one them being utterly ridiculous).
Wait … am I talking about Aaron, or myself? Both?
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Thank You, Lord, for sending Your Son to save me!
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My Saturday comment is still missing :/
Including sister-related from there in a separate post – just in case ….
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RHONDA J – praying back pain is much better today
KELLY (NEO) – thank you for reminding that we were made personally with God’s hands ❤️
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MARGARET W – looking forward to your praise report ❤️
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Praying for all affected by tornadoes.
Great reflection point, SEARCHING! It prompted me to do the same- not just with my life, but with Christ’s. What if all we read about Him was His birth and crucifixion? But wait – in between were miracle after miracle, teaching and more teaching, mercy upon mercy, grace upon grace, forgiveness and more forgiveness! Thank You, Jesus, thank You! Thank you, Searching for prompting that exercise! ❤
A couple ponderings today
1. Was Moses in regular contact with his family so that Aaron knew where to find him?
2. If Aaron was enslaved, why was he able to travel to Midan?
3. How did a slave have access to the king of Egypt?
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Thankful for the example of Aaron’s faith journey in the Bible. God is faithful to Aaron and His promises to him.
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Have a blessed day.
Hmmm …. good questions. ❤️
Ex 5:27 Now the Lord had said to Aaron, “go out into the wilderness to meet Moses at the Mountain of God.”28 So Aaron went out to meet Moises at the Mountain of God, and he embraced him.”
Only 1 of the 3 questions I can answer:)
Found this in answer to 1. & 2….
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“Aaron, a prophet in his own right, received a revelation from God to go out and meet Moses in the wilderness. The question is, did he escape. Technically perhaps, but Hebrew slaves in Egypt were not as tightly controlled as American slaves were in the 19th c. Also, being an old man (about 83 years old) at the time, Aaron would not have been required to do daily labor and could more easily travel than an able-bodied younger man could. He may even have received permission to make a pilgrimage to the Mountain of God.
3. Moses gave access to Pharaoh because he was raised a son of Pharaoh. He’s a grey area because he’s biologically Hebrew but culturally Egyptian.
2. Slavery in the Bible has some different meanings than what we associate it with today- he may have been able to have others cover for him or fake sick a day without being beaten for the action.
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