Lev. 8-10
At the end of chapter 10, Aaron does not do as he was commanded. He and his remaining sons refused their portion of the sin offering for the people and they did not eat it. So many other times – as with Aaron’s two sons and the incense – we see people straying on the details and getting smoked for it (quite literally in that particular case). What’s the difference with this instance? Ps 51:17 says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” I’m thinking this has a lot to do with why Aaron’s “breaking the rules” was accepted in this case. The all-important attitudes and motives – again, not at all the same as ‘the end justifies the means’.
I don’t fully understand Aaron’s thinking here, if he felt unworthy of making atonement for the people by eating the sin offering because of his grief, or if he was offering his portion back to God because he was not permitted to grieve in the usual way, or I am way off on both and it was something else entirely. But I do know Aaron lost two of his sons and that he was not permitted to show his grief over it and that he quietly accepted God’s judgment (it says that he “held his peace”). Thus, I know that his heart was both broken over the loss of his sons and contrite, in that he accepted God’s judgment and, for whatever reason, that led him to give the entire sin offering to the LORD and that was accepted.
Mark 6:30-56
Jesus fed the 5000 (which was really probably at least twice that, counting the women and children). It’s a familiar story; one that shows us that God is more than capable of providing for us. I see two things to note about God’s provision, which can been seen in other instances as well. Though capable, Jesus did not make something out of nothing, but took and used what was offered to Him. And Jesus did not just meet the need but provided in abundance.
I also note a few verses later that the disciples, “did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.” I think far too often we harden our hearts as well and fail to understand and trust in God’s provision. God says in Ezekiel that He will replace our heart of stone with a heart of flesh – hard hearts for soft ones. Even so, Lord, soften my heart that I might trust You fully.