“Fashion a breastplate for making decisions – the work of skilled hands.” (Exodus 28:15 NIV)
“Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breast-piece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord.” (Exodus 28:29 NIV)
God designed the decision making process with everyone in His camp in mind. Aaron would don a specially-crafted ensemble where the name of each tribe was inscribed and represented by jewels on his chest and shoulders as he entered the sanctuary on their behalf. He literally bore the weight of the responsibility for his nation: every tribe equally reflected on his breastplate.
What a beautiful reminder of how God makes decisions for His people. He acts in the best interest of the Kingdom, not the elite or the demanding. One family or individual is not more favorited than another; all of His children are on His heart as treasured jewels.
This is challenging for Americans to understand. Our culture is individualistic, not corporate. We often value the one over the many. But ancient cultures are far more collective in their thinking; the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one.
When God makes a decision, He always considers the Kingdom impact. He moves in a direction that builds and strengthens the Kingdom, and sometimes that is temporarily uncomfortable for us as an individual. It’s challenging to lift our perspective from personal to corporate, from immediate to eternal. Yet somehow, God always sees the big picture; everyone and every when with equal weight. Believers are continually carried in His heart and mind.
“See, I have engraved You on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before me.” (Isaiah 49:16 NIV)
More than jewels on a breastplate, our names are written on His palms, tech in flesh and sacrifice. Our walls (the ruins of Jerusalem, the devastation of sin) are ever on His mind. He is continually making decisions toward redemption. Not for one. Not for a few. For all who call Him Lord.
Try to keep this mind the next time you carry a request to the throne room. He is wearing so much more than the weight of your individual story on His strong shoulders. He sees you, yet He also sees the tribes and nations and He makes choices the benefit the Kingdom in it’s entirety.
Lord, we are so blessed by the truth of our names being ever before You. You care for the individual and the community. You see it all; forwards and backwards and through and You choose the way that builds the Kingdom. It’s all for Your glory. Help us keep this in mind when things don’t go the way we hoped. Help us know that You are working all things out for the good of those who love You and who are called according to Your Kingdom. Set our sights far past today; set eternity in our hearts forever. Amen.