Other Things to Not Wear on the Red Carpet

Exodus 28: 15-30

So they are told how to construct the breastplate with the same attention to detail as the other items. They are to make it out of certain fabric, folded double with precious stones mounted on it- four rows of three stones each- distinct types of stones, each representing a tribe of Israel. These stones are to be mounted in a gold filigree setting. Each is to be engraved like a seal for the tribes.

Then comes detail for constructing the breastpiece. It's to be made from braided golden chains like rope. It's all to be attached with golden rings, securing the ephod.

Now comes the interesting part...there really is one. Aaron is to wear this whenever he enters the Holy Place- bearing the names of the sons of Israel over his heart.

This breastpiece is designed to be for making decisions. Really odd. And to make things even stranger, they are to have Urim and Thummim in the breastplate apparently to aid in the decision making.

I don't know what they are either.

The best I found was that they are mysterious substances probably lost at the destruction of the temple. But they seem to be a way to help decisions be made.

What intrigues me here is the idea of a breastplate of decision making. I think I just entered a timewarp back to 1987 and I'm playing a bad game of Dungeons and Dragons. A breastplate of decision making? What purpose could that serve?

It seems to me like a breastplate wouldn't really be a weapon- it would be more of a defensive tool- protection- a way of staying safe. Maybe this breastplate is a way of letting Aaron as the decision maker (at least in a sense) feel secure that he is safe making decisions- he doesn't have to worry about the repercussions of an unpopular decision.

This seems a little far-fetched to me though- he's making decisions with God, for God, from God- why the protection?

And what of this Urim and Thummim? Were they ancient dice that would determine an outcome? Was Aaron just the dungeon master and the children of Israel just really geeky?

Even if these mysterious items or substances (which were to be put on the breastplate) were tools of chance- here they seem to be more than that, items used by God to make His purposes clear.

So...?

I like the idea of taking decision-making this seriously- deciding with God and looking to the Urim and Thummim (I'm not mumbling) for the answer. I don't meant that we should roll dice and assume the outcome comes from God- but I think that often when I pray for direction- or about which alternative to choose- I pray with what I want the answer to be already in mind. Praying just lets me feel confirmed. I prayed about it, my answer must be right.

But maybe the idea is that Aaron isn't deciding- God is. Aaron's not to sell his plans to God- he's looking to these items to see what God wants done.

And as hard as it is to do (and often even to determine), maybe the point is to wait on God and His decisions.

Or maybe we should worship dressed like gladiators. I'm confident it's one or the other.