We know that God has wanted a relationship with His people from the beginning of time. That is why He created us. According to Scripture we see the Children of Israel we being held captive as slaves in the land of Egypt. Out of Egypt God had raised a leader by the name of Moses who’s life in and of itself is a testimony of how God has a plan for us. We see Moses was born and raised in the care of the Egyptians in Exodus 2.
We see that when Moses was born the Pharaoh had issued a command to kill all the baby boys as soon as they were born. But God had a plan just as He always does. Moses mother hid baby Moses until she wasn’t able to hide him no more (Exodus 2:2). So she made a basket and placed him into the Nile River and placed him into God’s hands. Now the God we serve always looks out for his children. The Pharaoh’s own daughter seen the child and took him in and wanted to raise him. What is interesting here is that Moses’ sister seen Pharaoh’s daughter take her brother and look what she did:
EXODUS 2:7-9
“7 Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked. 8 “Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl rushed home and called the baby’s mother. 9 “Take this child home and nurse him for me,” the princess told her. “I will pay you for your help.” So the baby’s mother took her baby home and nursed him.” - NLT
Not only did Moses’ mother was able to raise her own child, but she received a paycheck in order to do so. That is a God thing!
We know that if you keep reading about Moses that he spent about 40 years in Egypt before he left for Midian after he murdered and Egyptian slave driver. Midian wasn’t a very nice place to live. It was just outside the desert and Moses spent about 40 years there before God called him in Exodus 3.
His whole life was planned by God. You see God was preparing him to lead thousands upon thousands of people out of Egypt. Being raised under the Egyptians Moses received the best education. He had access to the best libraries and was able to obtain knowledge about God. While in Midian it was rough terrain where Moses was learning how to survive so when he did lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt he had the know how to survive in the wilderness. God had prepared Moses since his birth and used him in a mighty way. He had a plan for his life and God has a plan for our life as well.
JEREMIAH 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – NLT
Holy God
In Exodus 3 God had called Moses to a task that seems overwhelming. God had come to Moses through a burning bush and once Moses recognized that it was God that was with Him the very ground he stood on became Holy and God “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.”
Last week we were looking at the outer layers of the Tabernacle that were to cover the roof so the weather outside would not destroy the inside. The outermost layer was from “the hide of sea cows” which we have learned that the very sandals that the Children of Israel were wearing were made from the “hide of sea cows” as we have seen in Ezekiel 16:10. This means they would have to take off their sandals. I believe that God was preparing them for an encounter with Himself. Anytime God makes His presence known the ground becomes Holy Ground.
To be Holy is to be set apart it is a sacred place. The Tabernacle that was to be built was to be Holy. Sacred for the use of God, so God can dwell among them.
EXODUS 25:8
“I want the people of Israel to build me a sacred residence where I can live among them.”
This top layer of the Tabernacle wasn’t very pretty. If anyone was able to see this top layer it didn’t look very appealing, but once you enter in then you see God’s glory. Same with the Cross of Christ, it doesn’t look very appealing to the eye, but it is the only way to see God’s glory.
Before we move on into the Tabernacle we must first look at the outside.
Fence of the Outer Court
If you had suddenly come across the children of Israel in the desert-like wilderness of Sinai, you would have witnessed a sprawling camp of over two million people, probably not unlike a refugee camp, although perhaps a little more orderly in appearance. The tents belonging to the common man were probably a dreary black and brownish color, set in contrast with the sandy / rocky desert-like wilderness around them.
In the center of the camp, you would have seen the Fence of the Tabernacle's Outer Court, measuring 200 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 10 feet high; it was truly an awesome spectacle! The hot desert sun, shining ever so brightly against the white linen fence, would have been so incredibly noticeable against the drab black and brownish color scheme of the main camp, and surrounding wilderness. Of course, it would have been absolutely impossible for the common man to see inside the Tabernacle's Outer Court from the outside camp. Why is that? The white linen fence surrounding the Tabernacle created a separation (or 'barrier') between the outside world and the holy objects inside the Tabernacle.
The separation (or 'barrier') caused by the Fence of the Outer Court was absolutely necessary for it shed some much needed light on an important spiritual truth from the Bible. What truth? Without the person of Jesus Christ, there exists an even greater separation (or 'barrier') between mankind (dwelling in the world outside the Tabernacle) and God (dwelling in the Sanctuary inside the Tabernacle). We're talking about the 'sin barrier' that works to eternally separate mankind from God's presence! This eternal separation from God's presence is the predominant theme behind the Fence of the Outer Court. The fence was specifically designed with one purpose in mind, to keep out anything offensive to God.
Let me further explain! It is absolutely impossible for sin to exist in the presence of God, in the same way that it's impossible for light and darkness to co-exist in the same space. What would result? The light would immediately eliminate the darkness; the same is true concerning the righteousness of God. It would immediately eliminate anything having to do with sin.
1 JOHN 1:5, 6
“God is light and there is no darkness in him at all. 6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness. We are not living in the truth.” - NLT
What then can we say about the Fence of the Outer Court? It's main purpose was essentially to protect mankind from inadvertently entering into God's presence, which could only result in man's ultimate destruction. With all of this in mind... let's examine the Fence of the Outer Court in a little more detail starting with the 'White Linen' curtains. What does 'White Linen' come to symbolize in the Bible?
'White Linen' (in the Bible) always signifies 'Righteousness' (Revelation 19:8). It also denotes holiness, purity, innocence, cleanliness, godliness, and all things pertaining to Heaven. The Lord is a righteous God, and thus He calls upon us, His chosen people, to live in a righteous manner.
MATTHEW 5:48
“But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” – NLT
1 PETER 1:15, 15
“15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God—who chose you to be his children—is holy. 16 For he himself has said, “You must be holy because I am holy.” – NLT
PSALM 92:15
“15To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” - NKJV
Due to the fact that the Lord is a righteous God, it should come to no surprise to learn that the priests, those set aside for His service in the Tabernacle, were instructed to wear white linen garments indicative of God's righteousness (Exodus 28:39-43).
Likewise, in the New Testament, the book of Revelation speaks of the Bride of Christ, who is seen by all dressed in white linen garments. This is a corporate bride, composed of individuals who have truly accepted God's saving invitation to be joined unto the one true Husband, Jesus Christ, during the marriage supper of the Lamb:
REVELATION 19:9
“Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” - NLT
and thus, have adequately prepared themselves with a repentant heart (as seen by their clean garments): they are all seen as dressed in white linen garments, as were the priests of the Tabernacle before them. Revelation 19:8 even goes so far as to indicate that the white linen garments worn by the individual members of the Bride of Christ consist wholly of their righteous acts on earth. What can we say then? No righteous acts on earth is the direct equivalent of NO white linen garments in Heaven!
By way of contrast, in
ISAIAH 64:6
“6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousness are like filthy rags;” - NKJ
As Christians, our inner man is now directly connected to the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. We of our own selves (outside of Jesus Christ) have no righteousness to offer to the equation. Jesus Christ is now our only source of righteousness, and we dwell (or 'tabernacle') continually in Him; thereby making us righteous with His righteousness.
Why do we need Jesus Christ in order to be righteous in the eyes of God? The simple answer to this question is 'Sin'. Our sin works to separate us from God in every way.
ISAIAH 59:2
“But there is a problem—your sins have cut you off from God. Because of your sin, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.” - NLT
In the same manner that Adam's sin caused him to be separated from God in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23-24). The cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, our true sacrifice for sin, is the only means by which a person can truly receive atonement (or 'true forgiveness') for sin. Sin is the exact opposite of righteousness! For this very reason, the Fence of the Outer Court reminds us of a single truth: Those dwelling on the outside of the Tabernacle, like those dwelling on the outside of the Body of Christ, are truly separated from God's presence due to their own sin (a type of 'barrier'). Why is that? Because He alone, who dwells inside the Tabernacle, is righteous; while those living outside the Tabernacle, in the world, are unrighteous.
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