Often we read stories of great men of God in the Bible and wonder if we can ever be used of God in the way they were used. The truth is they were men, just like you and me. They faced the same battles that all men face. Moses and Aaron were both tremendous men of God. They had their weaknesses just like we have our weaknesses. That’s why it’s important that we learn these life lessons and apply them to our lives.
1. Time with God Will Give You Courage before Men
In Exodus 24:9–18, Jehovah God tells Moses to come up into Mt. Sinai to meet with Him, and Moses is gone for forty days. This was the second time that Moses got alone with God. The first time was when he met Him at the burning bush on Mt. Sinai.
Moses needed time alone with God so that he would have courage to face the opposition of men. The first time, he needed courage to face Pharaoh with God’s directive to allow the children of Israel to go free. This time he needed courage to confront Aaron, his co-laborer, because Aaron had misled the people of God. Moses also had to confront the people of God about the sin that they had permitted in this young nation.
When we are facing opposition from people, it is absolutely imperative that we spend time with God to receive the courage we need to do what God wants us to do.
2. Time with God Will Produce Holiness in Your Life
In Exodus 28, Moses is given the garments of priesthood. They are referred to as holy garments. The mitre that Aaron wore on his head, proclaimed the words HOLINESS TO THE LORD. The Bible tells us when Moses came down from spending time with Jehovah, in Exodus 34:29–30, that his face shone with the holiness of God.
Holiness comes into our lives as we daily confess our sin to Christ (1 John 1:9). Holiness is a product of the Holy Spirit working in my life. Time spent with God will produce holiness in the lives of believers.
3. Time with God Will Produce in You a Burden for the People of God
Again, in Exodus 28, when Aaron’s wardrobe was being prepared, God saw to it that Aaron had a breastplate that was prepared for him. On that breastplate were 12 stones and the names of the 12 tribes of the children of Israel. As the high priest, Aaron was to go before God to represent the people of God.
God wants His servants to have a burden and a love for the people of God. As a servant of God, you will develop a burden for the people of God when you spend time with God. Moses, probably more than any man in the Old Testament, spent time with God and plead with Him for mercy for the people of God even when they sinned against God (Exodus 32:11–12).
4. Time with God Will Produce God’s Blessing in Your Life
This truth is obvious in the lives of Moses and Aaron. Moses got to see the glory of God. Aaron had the privilege of serving in the tabernacle. Moses was privileged to see God’s miraculous provision. He watched the power of God move through him and through his rod in the parting of the Red Sea. He watched as God gave manna in the wilderness. For forty years, he saw God provide for the people of God. Moses also had the privilege of delivering the message of God and of God’s blessings upon the future generations of Israel. Even in Moses’ disobedience, God permitted him to look into the Promised Land and see what God had for the Israelites in the future.
Time spent with God will produce God’s blessing in your life.
5. Time Spent with God Does Not Guarantee Perpetual Sanctification
Personal time with God is a daily need. Aaron knew—after receiving the ten commandments in Exodus 20—that God did not want to be worshipped through idols. Aaron knew what God expected and yet he fell to peer pressure. Not only did he build a golden calf, but when Moses confronted him about the golden calf, he lied and said that he just threw in the gold pieces, and out came this calf.
The psalmist tells us in Psalm 5:3 that it is necessary that I go before God every morning. Jesus taught us to pray daily in Matthew 6:11, where He said to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” It is important that you spend time with God on a daily basis because time spent with God does not guarantee perpetual sanctification.
6. Time Spent with God Does Not Guarantee People’s Approval
When I spend time with God, He may lead me to do things that are contrary to popular culture. This was the case with Moses when he returned from the mountain. God had led Moses to go away for forty days and forty nights and the people were upset with his absence. Aaron, during this time, was misled by the people of God and—contrary to the Word of God—built a golden calf for people to worship. When Moses came back, he had to rebuke the people of God. I am sure that they disapproved of his message; three thousand of them were killed for their rebellion. Time spent with God does not guarantee that God’s people will approve of your action.
7. Time Spent with God Is Never Convenient
Moses had two million people that were dependent on him and following him. The fact is there will always be needs around you. Life is busy. That is why it is absolutely essential that Christian leaders live by Bible priorities. That means time spent alone with God takes top priority and then time alone with your spouse, and time alone with your children. Often times people will not understand how important this time is. Pastors are criticized for not walking with God and yet when they take time to be alone with God, they are criticized for wasting time. You can tell if God is the top priority in your life if you are taking time to spend with Him.
8. Time Spent with the Living God Will Keep you from False Worship, False Prophets, and False gods
Moses spent time with Jehovah. If we do not want to be led astray, we must spend time with God. We have the writings of Jehovah given to us in the Word of God. If we want to keep ourselves from being led astray, it is absolutely important that we stay in the Word of God. Aaron was swayed by the people of God while Moses got specific instruction from God about how He wanted to be worshipped.
