Jesus In All Of ExodusSample

What’s Happening?

These two chapters tie up the last bit of detail concerning the tabernacle and the priests.

ALTAR OF INCENSE

First, there is the altar of incense, which stands right outside the Holy of Holies. The incense burns around the clock, all day every day. Smoke is commonly associated with three things in the Bible: God’s presence, people’s prayers, and repentance as a result of burnt offerings. This incense is to be a constant reminder of all three. God is constantly present in the temple. The prayers of the people are continually being brought before God. And the cleansing effect of the offerings brought ceaselessly clean the tabernacle from all impurity.

CENSUS FOR ATONEMENT

Next, all the people are counted. Each person is required to pay a price to atone for their sins. This money funds the priests and their work because it is the priests who make atonement for the people.

THE WASHING STATION

After the census, plans are given for a bronze basin. In the outer court, before making sacrifices at the altar, the priests would have to wash in this basin in order to be made ritually clean.

THE TABERNACLE’S PERFUME

Finally, details are given for a special anointing oil, or perfume. This oil was to be spread on all the different parts and instruments of the tabernacle to make them holy.

Where is Jesus?

It truly is amazing how God set up this whole system to show us more about himself, and ultimate to show us more about Jesus.

JESUS AS INCENSE

We can see Jesus in the altar of incense. Ephesians 5:2 tells us that the true and final pleasing aroma before the Lord is Jesus’ sacrificial death. Unlike this smoke, he is not the symbol of God’s presence, but God’s presence itself. Only by entering through the fragrant aroma of Christ’s work for us on the cross can we be allowed into the presence of God.

Furthermore, where our prayers often cease and we fail to make intercession, Hebrews 7:25 tells us that Jesus is constantly making intercession for us. He is the continually burning incense before the Father.

Lastly, 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 tells us that we as Christians carry the aroma of Christ with us everywhere we go. We take God’s presence out of the tabernacle and fill the world with it.

JESUS ATONES FOR ALL PEOPLE

We can also see Jesus in the atonement price paid for each member of the Israelite congregation. This time, if we took a census of everyone in the world who needed their sins paid for it would total the earth’s entire population.

But, for those of us who have Jesus as our high priest, Revelation 21:6 tells us that we can come to Christ without the price. Jesus’ work isn’t started, supported, or sustained by our contributions. He pays it all and gives it freely to us out of his grace.

JESUS WASHES US

Jesus also fulfills the bronze washing basin. He is the living water in which we wash and are made white as snow. We don’t wash ourselves and then come and make a sacrifice at the altar. He puts himself on the altar and meets us at the basin to cleanse us.

JESUS AS PERFUME

Jesus is also like the tabernacle’s perfume. 1 Corinthians tells us that we are God’s temple. Like the anointing oil, the Holy Spirit enters the people of God, making each part of us holy.

See For Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit would give you eyes to see the God who goes to such great lengths to provide a way for his people to dwell with him, and Jesus as the one who accomplishes every little detail to make that possible.