The full consecration of the High Priest and his sons involved
four aspects, and in all of them Christ is prefigured:
(1) Firstly, the right ear, which of course includes the head,
was sprinkled or purified with the blood of the sacrifice. This purifying
plainly touches hearing, and thus the intellect -- and stresses that the
cleansing of the great priest who would represent all the people was a mental
one, in which he knowingly and willingly participated.
In like manner, Christ himself, the greater High Priest of a
more perfect Law, voluntarily participated in the shedding of his own blood, and
was consecrated a High Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek, not Aaron
(Heb 7). This aspect of his cleansing -- for his obedience in sacrifice was
surely for himself as well as others -- found its fulfillment when the crown of
thorns was brutally crushed down upon his head and his ears.
(2) Secondly, Aaron and his sons were cleansed when the blood
of the sacrifice was placed on the thumbs of their right hands. This would
signify that their hands, and the works of those hands, would be consecrated, or
dedicated, to Yahweh.
Likewise, Christ's hands, being pierced with the Roman spikes,
were consecrated to the work of his Father. And those hands had always done the
work that his Father called him to do; this work was finalized on the cross at
Golgotha.
(3) Thirdly, Aaron and his sons received the blood of the big
toes of their right feet; the feet would signify their "walk", or general
conduct.
This portion of the picture as regarding Christ was completed
when the nails pierced his feet also. As his walk, his life, all his conduct,
had glorified God... so did his final steps which brought him to the cross, to
lay down his life, his perfect life, for others.
(4) Finally, the remaining blood was sprinkled against the
altar on all sides: thus signifying that all who stood with Aaron and his sons
around the altar on which they would offer sacrifice -- that is, all the nation
of Israel -- were participants in this consecration.
This final aspect of the High Priest's consecration has great
meaning for all of us; we stand round about the "altar" (which is Christ: Heb
13:10), and thus we are touched, indirectly, by the blood of Christ, in our
belief and baptism into his death (Rom 6). Figuratively speaking, when his side
was pierced and the blood flowed forth to stain the soil round about the cross,
we were there, and we were touched by that sprinkled blood, and our sins were
forgiven.
Let us stand, or rather kneel, with awe and reverence and the
deepest gratitude, at the foot of the cross. "I have been crucified with Christ
and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I
live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal
2:20).
Exo 29:22
THE FAT TAIL: Eastern sheep have a very large appendage
of fat on tail (LB 97).
Exo 29:45
THEN I WILL DWELL AMONG THE ISRAELITES AND BE THEIR
GOD: "Why would God want to dwell among this people? They were an uncouth
lot, always murmuring and complaining, wishing that they had stayed in Egypt.
Why would God want to dwell among them? Answer -- He called them out of Egypt to
be His Family on earth. He was their Father. And as a Father He wants to dwell
with His children, to experience their growth, watch their 'first steps', hear
their 'first words', attend to their education and schooling, provide for their
needs. Without saying so in so many words, God is telling Israel that He wants
to move in with them, just as any parent likes to be in touch with their
children and to experience the joys that raising a family can bring (2Co 6:17)"
(CY).