“Aharon is about to be gathered to his kin, because he is not to enter the land I have given to the people of Israel, in as much as you rebelled against what I said at the M’rivah Spring. Take Aharon and El‘azar his son, bring them up to Mount Hor, remove the garments from Aharon and put them on El‘azar his son. Aharon will be gathered to his people — he will die there.”-Numbers 20:24-26
Numbers Chapter 20 comes to an end with the close of Aaron’s life.
We’re told that Aaron is to finish his last days at Mount Hor and the customary phrase of that era “he will be gathered to his kin“ is used.
Now I know I’ve said this before (many times actually), but just to make sure you get it, let’s not forget that the words “gathered to his kin” was a phrase connected to ancestor worship.
Although today we will say “he died and went to be with the Lord“, such an idea didn’t even exist in the Hebrew mind during the time of the Exodus.
The only afterlife hope the ancient Hebrew held on to was the idea that his life essence would in some mysterious way continue on through his children and his children’s children.
That’s why child-bearing was so important to the ancient Israelites.
Again, remember, just because Israel had left Egypt, didn’t mean the Egypt inside of them had left.
In many ways, the many centuries of pagan beliefs they had absorbed during their more than 400 year stay in Egypt still held great sway over their thoughts and belief system.
It would take a great deal of time for the Israelites to internalize the laws and commands they had received from Moses at Sinai to the point where they became a people clearly distinct from their Egyptian upbringing.
Before closing, I wanted to point out an interesting spiritual takeaway that popped into my mind while writing this post.
Notice that God says the reason Aaron is going to die is “because he is not to enter the land I have given to the people of Israel”.
This leads me to believe if Aaron had not sinned with Moses by making himself out to be a sorcerer before the people, God would not have barred him from entering the Promised Land and thus his life would have been extended.
In other words, Aaron’s very life (and Moses’ life as well) was inextricably linked to entering the Promised Land.
My point is that Aaron’s PURPOSE in life, the very reason for his existence, was to enter the Promised Land.
Therefore, once the possibility of entering the Promised Land disappeared due to divine decree, so did Aaron’s very purpose for living.
And thus God pronounced that his life should end.
So what’s the lesson to be learned here for us?
Well, the lesson is the same.
The very purpose of our life and the very reason for our existence is to fulfill the plans God has for our lives.
Once the possibility of fulfilling God’s purpose for our life ends, so does our life.
I’ve been on this planet for a good amount of time now and have lived in many different countries.
And one thing I’ve always found fascinating is to every once in a while just sit back and observe the lives of those around me.
It’s interesting to see people absolutely obsessed with making as much money as they can or single people stressed out as all hell because they feel they should be married or have kids by a certain period of time.
Whether it’s a teenager falling into a depression because he didn’t get in to the Ivy League college of his choice or a man committing suicide because his stock portfolio tanked, in the light of eternity and what really matters, the things people hold on to so tightly in this life seem so ridiculous.
That’s why Torah study and keeping God’s commandments are so important.
They are a reminder of what’s REALLY IMPORTANT.
It’s all about keeping things in proper perspective.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“From one man he made every nation living
on the entire surface of the earth,
and he fixed the limits of their territories
and the periods when they would flourish.
God did this so that people would look for him
and perhaps reach out and find him
although in fact, he is not far from each one of us,
‘for in him we live and move and exist.’
Indeed, as some of the poets among you have said,
‘We are actually his children.’
So, since we are children of God,
we shouldn’t suppose that God’s essence
resembles gold, silver or stone shaped
by human technique and imagination.”
-Acts 17:26-29
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