ORIGIN OF PRIESTHOOD - God, the First High Priest
In our introduction to this series of priesthood we learnt that priests are those who could stand before God on behalf of men and stand before men to proclaim the oracles of God or to give God's instruction. They intercede for man before God. This work of priests is shown across various religions and denominations. The big question is how did man get to understand the essence of priesthood and who was the first priest in the history of the universe?
From the biblical view we want to get down to the origin of this communication for without this communication the whole cosmos cannot come to harmony, hence we can't understand the priesthood because priesthood involves communication. There must be communication between the a people and God through the priest with a sacrifice. Without the priest there's no way the people can gain access to a Holy God.
In Genesis we see Adam having a good relationship with God in His innocence before the fall. Adam had no need for any blood sacrifice to God. He only had one sacrifice to offer to God - the sacrifice of obedience. When he missed this by eating the fruit forbidden he lost his innocence. He had the self condemnation that drove him to hide from God's presence. He became so ashamed about his nakedness that he sewed fig leaves together to cover himself and Eve but still went into hiding because nothing he could do was enough to take away his guilt. Whatever he could sacrifice to God could not take away the open reality that he disobeyed God. This still happensvin our lives today. Many times we fall and think that if we offer large sums of money or pray much then our sins are taken away. Unfortunately no sacrifice can please God except to obey Him.
When God visited Adam and called him out he couldn't come out because of shame. He could not even answer the question asked 'where are you?'. Instead Adam responded 'I am naked..' Gen 3:9-10. Every time man sins he loses all confidence and gets confused because of the battles in him with being right with God and the sins he has commited. This means that after Afam had sinnrd he need soneone to atone for his sins. He needed someone who could plead with God in his stead.
How was God the First Priest?
After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), several priestly actions took place — and all were initiated by God:
1. Covering Sin Through Sacrifice
Genesis 3:21 says: The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them." This implies that an animal was killed to provide skins — the first blood sacrifice in history. In priestly tradition, blood sacrifice is required for atonement (Hebrews 9:22), so here God performs the first act of atonement.
2. Providing a Covering (Priestly Garment)
God clothed Adam and Eve — a symbolic act that matches how priests later wore special garments before approaching God (Exodus 28). Spiritually, this is a foreshadowing of being "clothed in righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10).
3. Mediating Between Holiness and Sin
Adam and Eve could no longer remain in God’s presence because of sin, so God drove them out of Eden (Genesis 3:23–24). Like a High Priest controlling access to the Holy of Holies, God set cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way to the Tree of Life.
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