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GOOD NEWS FROM THE REDEEMER
June 16, 2001 RADIO MESSAGE #376
Christ in Exodus #69
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The tent pitched by Moses in the present text typified the church of Christ in the following regards.
"Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp ...." This tent was not that which God had ordained for His own dwelling place (25:9f), because that one had not yet been erected (40:1-2ff). Rather, this tent was either Moses' own dwelling place or a special tent he had constructed for this special occasion and use. (He evidently had another tent in the camp [v.11].). It was erected "outside the camp, far from the camp." This was the place normally associated with that which was profane and unclean (as in Leviticus 10:1-5; 24:14, 23; Numbers 12:14f; also Leviticus 16:20-22). But in this case, it was the camp itself that was profane and unclean, because it was populated by "a stiff-necked people" whom God threatened to consume (vv.3, 5). Moses therefore erected this tent "outside the camp" – "far from the camp" – in order to separate it from the profane and unclean.
Likewise, Christ has placed His church outside the world, far from the world. The church of Christ is, by its very definition and nature, separated from the world. Our English word church is translated from the Greek ekklesia, "a called-out assembly." It is comprised of all those who have been redeemed and called out from the nations of the world (Revelation 5:9; 7:9) and gathered unto Christ as His body (Ephesians 1:10, 22f). All the called are therefore even now, whether on earth as the Church Militant or in heaven as the Church Triumphant, "made [to] sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6; cp. Hebrews 12:22-24). Christ's church is therefore separated from the profane and unclean – from fellowship with "unbelievers," "lawlessness," "darkness," "Belial," and "idols" – and therefore commanded by Him to "Come out from among them and be separate .... Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you" (2 Corinthians 6:14-17).
"Moses called [his tent] the tabernacle of meeting. ..." It was there that he met with God (v.9), Who "spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend" (v.11) - "even plainly, and not in dark sayings" (Numbers 12:8).
Likewise, Christ appoints His church to be a tabernacle of meeting. As Christ descended to Moses' tent (v.9a), even so did Christ in the person of His Holy Spirit descend upon His church at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4; John 14:16-18). As Christ met with Moses at the tabernacle of meeting (v.9b), even so does Christ meet with the occupants of His church (Matthew 18:23). As Christ at Moses' tabernacle "spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend" (v.11), even so does Christ now speak to the occupants of His church. He does so because they are indeed His friends (John 15:15). He therefore speaks to them in a manner unlike that in which He will speak to His enemies - plainly, cordially, familiarly, openly, edifyingly. And since Christ's churches are indeed tabernacles for meeting with Him, their members are exhorted to be "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25).
"... And it came to pass that everyone who sought the LORD went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp." These were those who desired pardon for their sins against God, peace and reconciliation with Him, instructions and directions from Him. All such persons had to depart the camp of the profane and unclean and resort to Moses' tent "outside the camp." No other place would suffice.
Likewise, all who seek the Lord today must do the same. The church of Christ is the only institution ordained by God to be His dwelling place on the earth (1 Timothy 3:15). It is therefore the only place He has ordained to declare the good news of pardon for sins against Him, peace and reconciliation with Him, and instructions and directions from Him (Matthew 16:18f; 1 Corinthians 12:28). He has erected His tabernacle of meeting outside the camp of the stiff-necked profane and unclean who reproach Him. He will therefore meet with and bless only those who resort to Him there. "Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach" (Hebrews 13:13).