I can’t imagine how terrified Aaron must have been on that first Day of Atonement. Having witness the fire of the LORD consume two sons did he begin the custom of tying a rope to his ankle so that his body could be removed from the Holy place if God struck him down? I wonder if the smoke from the incense formed the cloud over the mercy seat on the Day of Atonement?(Leviticus 16:2) It must have been a double relief after Aaron had completed his tasks; not only was he still alive, but all of the sin burdens of Israel had been rolled away. The penalty was gone and there was a freshness to life again. Aaron was privileged to go behind the veil 40 more times during his life and I wonder at the amazement he experienced each time. Standing in the physical place that made the first perpetual connection between God and man since the fall in the garden what did Aaron ponder? How long did he linger there? I wonder if he caught a glimpse of God in the way Adam may have seen him? I wonder if he could hear the angels shouting “Holy, holy, holy. The whole earth if full of His glory.”? (Isaiah 6:3) I wonder if a mixture of the tears of sorrow and joy rolled down his cheeks each time he came out from behind the veil? I wonder how different Aaron walked over the next few days and weeks as he relived the time of atonement?
It took me about 16 minutes to read this passage.
Stuart
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