Exodus 28 Devotional

Names Carried Before God

“Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he shall bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of judgment, as a continual reminder before the LORD.”Exodus 28:29 (BSB)

Exodus 28 describes garments made to give Aaron glory and splendor (28:2), and through them one purpose keeps surfacing. Two onyx stones engraved with the names of Israel's sons sit on Aaron's shoulders, so that he carries their names as a memorial before the LORD (28:9-12). Twelve more stones are set in the breastpiece, so that whenever he enters the Holy Place he bears their names over his heart (28:21, 29). On his forehead a gold plate engraved with words of dedication to the LORD lets him bear the guilt attached to the people's holy gifts, so that they can be accepted (28:36-38).

The high priest never went before God alone; he carried the whole people with him, by name. But Aaron was a mortal man, warned that he could die if he came before God carelessly (28:35, 43). Hebrews says Jesus lives forever to plead for those who come to God through him, and so he can rescue them fully (Hebrews 7:25). Your name is carried by a priest who never stops interceding.

To think about: What difference does it make to your day that Jesus carries your name before the Father?