Exodus 28-29When I read the requirements God placed upon the ministers who delivered His word to the Israelites it leaves me breathless! The preparation involved, along with the process, seems outlandish and bizarre. I don't really pretend to understand, but I do believe that it reveals an aspect of God's will for ministers of the Word.
There are many who profess to be qualified ministers in the modern church who have little or no training. One can receive an ordination without any schooling or credentials. Justification for this lack of process comes from a misapplication of the scripture that proclaims all believers to be priests. While it is true that we should all be ready to give an answer for the faith we possess, it is also true that God sets aside certain ones for ministry roles. This is not to be taken lightly. Delivering God's word to His people is serious business. In fact, we are told that preachers will receive a more stringent judgment! Knowing this, and seeing the emphasis God placed on the preparation of His ministers in the Old Testament, it would behoove us to put a lot of preparation and training into preaching. I applaud those who devote themselves to formal training an education in preparation for their work in the ministry. These are helping the church to overcome the divisiveness that has devastated our witness to the lost.
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