The altar of burnt offering
You cannot miss the entrance of the tabernacle. In the surrounding dull colors of the desert, the entrance of the tabernacle sticks out because of its vibrant colors.
(Exo 38:18 NIV) The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen–the work of an embroiderer. It was twenty cubits long and, like the curtains of the courtyard, five cubits high,
You cannot miss finding the way to God! No one can say that God cannot be found.
The Bible says that you can find the evidence of God even by looking at what has been created.
(Rom 1:20 NIV) For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
The Bible also says that those who seek God will find Him if they are sincere in seeking Him.
(2 Chr 15:2 NIV) The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, He will be found by you…
Do you feel that God has been distant and that you cannot find Him? The symbolism of the entrance of the tabernacle demonstrates that God wants Himself to be found by us. He is not hiding in obscure places. He wants us to find Him. We will find Him if we seek Him.
Bronze basin
(Exo 30:17-20 NIV) Then the LORD said to Moses, {18} “Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it. {19} Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. {20} Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made to the LORD by fire,
The first two pieces of furniture had to do with cleansing. The altar of burnt offering makes us clean through the sacrifice of Jesus. That is the basis of our relationship with God. The bronze basin contains water for spiritual cleansing. There are two aspects to spiritual cleansing.
Even though Jesus had redeemed us of our sin, there is still a need to come to God regularly through confession of sins so that we can approach God.
Jesus’ death on the cross affects our position in God. With His sacrifice, God accepts us on the basis of the righteousness of Jesus. That does not mean that in our daily lives we stop sinning totally. We continue to struggle with sin as long as we are on earth. That sin affects our fellowship (not relationship) with God.
We need to come to God with a clean heart that comes through regular confession of sins. God is a holy God. He will not allow people who hold on to known sin to approach Him.
(Psa 15:1-2 NIV) A psalm of David. LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? {2} He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart
Isaiah 59:1-2 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. {2} But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
Do you make it a regular affair to ask God to search your heart and to confess your sins before Him?