Ex. 30:11-38.
IN this portion of scripture we have four remarkable actions of the Spirit of God clustered together— the ransom of souls, the laver for Aaron and his sons, the holy anointing oil, and the sweet incense.
Men, in self-sufficiency, having thought themselves competent to understand scripture without the teaching of the Spirit of God, have boldly given these things a literal application, and have therefore wildly fancied that money must be paid to certain officials for the soul to be fully ransomed, that divers washings and ordinances are necessary to enable them to enter into God's glory, that they must be anointed with oil, and that incense should still be burnt. All this is most dishonoring to Christ, because it denies His finished work.
Scripture, however, declares as to man, that "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. 2:14.) We need therefore the teaching of the Spirit in order to "know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
As to the books of Roses, our Lord plainly said, "Moses wrote of Me;" we should expect, therefore, to find Christ presented in the various types and ceremonies which Moses was commanded by Jehovah to set up.
A mind then subject to God's word, and dependent on the teaching of the Spirit, readily perceives that men have been so unduly taken up with the Mosaic shadows of Christ, as to forget and set aside Christ. Himself and His finished work, the gift of the Spirit, the true character of worship, service, and fellowship with the Father into which His marvelous grace has brought us.
1. As to the ransom money, it was no doubt typical of the price Christ has since paid in His shed blood to redeem us to God. The silver sockets of the tabernacle on which the boards rested being made of the ransom money, shows that atonement or redemption is the foundation of everything for us toward God. (Chapter 38:26, 27.) Peter evidently refers to this ransom money, when he says: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by Him do believe in God." (1 Peter 1:18-21.) This scripture then explains the ordinance of every man paying the half shekel a ransom for his soul (verses 12, 13), as shadowing forth Christ’s accomplished work of redemption for us. There is therefore now nothing to pay, because the ransom price has been fully paid—He gave "His life a ransom for many." There is nothing to be done for it, because Christ hath obtained eternal redemption for Us. He said, "It is finished," when He bowed His head in death upon the tree. Hence the apostle Paul says, "Ye are bought with a price," and again, "In whom we have redemption through His blood." (Eph. 1)
Observe that ransom stands first in the order of these four actions, because until the soul is brought consciously into God's presence on the ground of redemption, he is perfectly unable to enter into His mind as to what follows. It is therefore of the utmost importance that all believers should learn from the word of God that they are redeemed, and that not only from sin, and death, and hell, but to God.
2. But this is not all. Believers are also brought into relationship with God and Christ, "children of God," and "priests," as well as members of the body of Christ. Being thus on the ground of redemption and in new relationship with God, they are fitted both for service and worship. But, as a matter of fact, we find that every now and then the conscience becomes deified, and therefore shrinks from God's infinitely holy presence. As therefore the laver was provided for Aaron and his sons to wash their hands and feet when going into the sanctuary or attending to the altar, so our God has given us His word, that by the washing of water by the word" we might detect defilement, confess it, and know (from the word) not only that all has been judged on the cross, but that communion is always restored on confession. Thus we are maintained in the light. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." "Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: when they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord: so they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not; and it shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations." (Verses 18-21.)
3. Those who are redeemed to God, and His children, are also anointed, are partakers of the Holy Spirit—"Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." “Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."(Gal. 4:6.) Every child of God then receives the Holy Ghost." Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you?" (1 Cor. 6:19.) Again, "After ye believed ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance," &c. (Eph. 1:13, 14.)
“Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us is God." (2 Cor. 1:21.) This was shadowed forth by Aaron and his sons being anointed with the holy anointing oil (v. 30). It was made of principal spices (v. 23); its perfume therefore was very manifest. It was strictly forbidden to be imitated, for this only was of God; nor was it to be poured upon man's flesh, or a stranger, only on those who were redeemed and in relationship with God. This is simple enough. The oil being made of sweet spices, those who were anointed could not fail to give forth a fragrant odor, so by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, and takes of the things of Christ, and shows unto us, we should savor of Christ wherever we go, or whatever we are about. May all believers who read these pages solemnly lay this to heart!
4. Lastly, we have the "sweet incense," which is another precious shadowing forth of Jesus—His intrinsic virtues and worth, as estimated by God. This too was made of sweet spices, and it was "holy for the Lord." The former part of the chapter shews us that it was burnt night and morning on the golden altar for "a perpetual incense before the Lord." And is not Jesus now in the glory and continually the delight and joy and rest of God Himself? Is not the sweet savor of that blessed Savior continually before Him? What a precious perfumer No wonder it is said, "As for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof; it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord. Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people." (Verses 37, 38.) How jealously the type is guarded, and no wonder it should not be imitated, if it were to represent God's thoughts, and feelings, and delight in the personal worth and glories of his beloved Son. But, through grace, He has not only redeemed us, called us children, and given us His Spirit, but would have us enter into the Father's feelings, and joy, and rest in the perfections and glory of Jesus and His finished work. "Our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:3.) It is in Christ that God has found full rest, and pleasure, and satisfaction. And do not we too, beloved Christian reader? Are we not satisfied with Christ as He now appears before God? Is He not enough for our hearts? Surely, if He' satisfies the infinite boundless heart of God, He must be more than enough to satisfy us. What full rest, and joy, and sufficiency under all circumstances there is in Christ for us. Well may we sing—
“Yet sure, if in Thy presence
My soul still constant were,
Mine eye would more familiar
Its brighter glories bear.
“And thus Thy deep perfections
Much better should I know,
And with adoring fervor
In this Thy nature grow.”