The gate

DEVOTION

EXODUS

THE GATE

Ex 27:9-21

9 "Make a courtyard for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen, 10 with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. 11 The north side shall also be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. 12 "The west end of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits wide and have curtains, with ten posts and ten bases. 13 On the east end, toward the sunrise, the courtyard shall also be fifty cubits wide. 14 Curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases, 15 and curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on the other side, with three posts and three bases. 16 "For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain twenty cubits long, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen — the work of an embroiderer — with four posts and four bases. 17 All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands and hooks, and bronze bases. 18 The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits high, and with bronze bases. 19 All the other articles used in the service of the tabernacle, whatever their function, including all the tent pegs for it and those for the courtyard, are to be of bronze. 20 "Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. 21 In the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain that is in front of the Testimony, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.

NIV

There doesn’t seem to be any purpose for a wall around the tabernacle with only one gate to gain entrance to it. But wait that is the exact reason. How wonderful is God to reveal this truth just as we are typing the words. There is only one way to gain entrance to the presence of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus actually said he was the gate.

John 10:7-9

7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate ; whoever enters through me will be saved.

NIV

It is so interesting that the people had to enter through the only gate of the court to bring their sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin. Jesus says he is that gate and whoever enters through him will be saved, their sins will be forgiven forever. If there was no wall of linen around the tabernacle perhaps people would have multiply ways to enter the presence of God, or to bring their sacrifice. We hear that today from some people who refuse to acknowledge Jesus as the one and only way to heaven. Some unbelievers would insist there are other paths to God, citing other religions who have extremely devoted followers. There is only one gate, one way to gain entrance to the tabernacle. There is only one gate, one way to gain entrance to heaven. God was revealing this truth to the people of Israel and he has revealed it to us. In this teaching of Jesus he also brought out the truth about how there are thieves and robbers who would pose as the way to God. This is all those other paths those unbelievers would what to think are acceptable. But the sheep, those who belong to the flock of God only listen to the voice of Jesus, the bible, the word. He is the word who became flesh. We know the truth, we have the truth and we have already entered through the gate and are in fact not only in the courtyard, but we are the very tabernacle itself, for God dwells within us. All of this setup God had Moses do was to show them Jesus. All of this also revealed to them their sin, and their need for Jesus. This is our story. We may have tried other ways to gain eternal life, but once we found the gate, the only way in, Jesus, we were able to bring our sacrifice, ourselves and gain forgiveness of sin and eternal life. Praise God, he has always been about bringing us to himself through Jesus.