Bible Reading: Numbers 11; Psalm 48; Isaiah 1; Hebrews 9
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: (Hebrews 9:8)
The Tabernacle of Israel was a replica of the true tabernacle in heaven (Hebrews 9:24). This replica had the most holy place sectioned off from everyone except the high priest who could only enter there once a year alone. He had to take the blood of two sacrifices with him; one for himself and the other for the sins of the people. This curtain that separated the holiest of all from even the priests was a teaching tool of the Holy Ghost to show us that access to God was not yet made manifest.
The desire of a true worshipper is to enter into the presence of God. But the Israelite could not do that! He had to have a mediator in the high priest. He had to offer the blood of bulls and goats in his place. However, these sacrifices could never take away sin! As a matter of fact God said he was not pleased with these sacrifices about seven hundred years before Christ was born!
To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. (Isaiah 1:11-14)
These sacrifices were a type and a shadow of the reality of Jesus Christ.
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12)
Jesus Christ IS the sacrifice for sins. He has already obtained eternal redemption for us. He did this on the cross and it is finished! The Bible tells us that something amazing happened in the temple when Jesus Christ died on the cross:
And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. (Luke 23:45)
The way into the holiest was now made manifest to all men!
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (Hebrews 10:19-20)
Now we can draw near to God! Praise the Lord for the eternal redemption we have in Jesus!
In Christ,
Rody
