The story of the burning bush is famous in the Bible.

It's where Moses meets the God of Abraham.

He learns God's name, Yahweh, and then he's commissioned to rescue the family of Abraham

from slavery in Egypt.

This story has another contribution to the biblical narrative that's often overlooked,

and that is the introduction of Aaron, the brother of Moses, the first priest.

Of Israel.

And his introduction is really a concession.

So as you work through the story, God essentially makes this commission, tells him to go confront

Pharaoh and lead Israel out of Egypt, and Moses objects five times.

Moses doesn't want to go, and he keeps telling God that he doesn't want to do it with all

these excuses, and finally, God's had enough and he introduces a solution.

Let's give Moses a sidekick, his brother Aaron the Levite.

Why is he called a Levite?

This is the first time Aaron is mentioned right here.

This is Moses' brother.

So certainly what's happening here, we're naming his tribe because this is the tribe that

will play the role of the priesthood.

So God tells Moses and Aaron to go get the elders of Israel and for all of them together

to go before Pharaoh.

But as we read on, that's not what happens.

Instead they go on their own, not obeying God's command.

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