Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord. (Exodus 28:30b)
As the high priest, Aaron had a great responsibility to the nation of Israel. He was to offer sacrifices on their behalf to God, but he was also to aid in the making of decisions. It’s interesting that such an emphasis is placed on the means of decision-making being kept near to the priest’s heart.
While it’s true that the heart wasn’t necessarily used as the center of emotion in Biblical writing, the concept was still present in Ancient Near Eastern cultures, and the idea of the decision-making means being kept near to the heart would have left an impression on the readers.
God wanted His people to be caring – not heartless. This is confirmed by His instructions to look out for the needs of widows and orphans, among others. A purely profit-driven decision doesn’t take into account the needs of those who are less fortunate. In God’s economy, however, profit or self-centered decision-making doesn’t have any place.
When you’re making a decision, keep it near to the heart. That doesn’t mean you should rely solely on how you feel about something. God gave us brains so we could think. But remember that not every decision comes down to the facts; we have to include the heart, too. Keep your decisions near to your heart, and you will make better decisions.
Father, it’s so easy to look at decisions through a cerebral lens without consideration of the selfishness involved in the process. Instead, let me keep decisions close to my hearts so that, in making a choice, I look to the needs of others and I seek to please You.
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