“The whole community of Israel left Kadesh and arrived at Mount Hor. There, on the border of the land of Edom, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “The time has come for Aaron to join his ancestors in death. He will not enter the land I am giving the people of Israel, because the two of you rebelled against my instructions concerning the water at Meribah. Now take Aaron and his son Eleazar up Mount Hor. There you will remove Aaron’s priestly garments and put them on Eleazar, his son. Aaron will die there and join his ancestors.” So Moses did as the Lord commanded. The three of them went up Mount Hor together as the whole community watched. At the summit, Moses removed the priestly garments from Aaron and put them on Eleazar, Aaron’s son. Then Aaron died there on top of the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar went back down. When the people realized that Aaron had died, all Israel mourned for him thirty days.”
‭‭

Numbers‬ ‭20‬:‭22‬-‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

No matter how acclaimed the person, our consequences catch up to us. It doesn’t matter if they are poor, rich, weak or powerful, there is a cost and a benefit for everything we do. Aaron had served God faithfully through his years since Sinai, but he most certainly did not do it perfectly. He was not even close to hitting his mark. It was through his spiritual leadership that many rebellions were grown. One would think that the rebellion at Sinai would’ve been enough to remove him from God’s graces, but it was not. Instead he plunged himself and family into the levitical priesthood and the constant atonement for the sins of the people. But here we see that the rebellion with the worst consequences for Aaron personally, was that at Meribah. Aaron, with Moses portrayed God innacurately, effectively participating in the rebellion, albeit, differently. Yet God still allows him to see that his legacy would remain intact before he died. To this death he went willingly. God hates rebellion, but he never hates people. God uses all kinds. He can even use the severely flawed and turn them into celebrated leaders. All Israel mourned him for a whole month, despite his faults.

Aaron’s Legacy: Despite flaws and rebellions, Aaron’s legacy remained intact, and he died a celebrated leader.

God’s View on Rebellion: God hates rebellion but never hates people, using even the flawed for leadership.

Aaron’s Role in Rebellions: Aaron, a spiritual leader, contributed to rebellions, including the one at Meribah, where he misrepresented God.