Outside the Camp

Have you noticed how many obstacles God must overcome to accomplish his purposes in the first few books of the Bible? Abraham is an old man and Sarah is barren. Jacob is a cheat and a liar. Joseph's brothers hate him and want him dead. A little later the nation of Israel is miles from the promised land and enslaved to a foreign power. Yet God, time and again, demonstrates his sovereignty by ordering events in such a way that his purposes are accomplished. Abraham and Sarah give birth to Isaac. Jacob finds out first hand what being cheated feels like and has a wrestling match that changes his life. Joseph, through adversity, ends up saving the family from starvation. And Israel is miraculously delivered from Egyptian slavery.

When we come to Exodus 25, however, we face a far greater challenge. In Ex 19:21-22 God instructs Moses saying, "Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them." The Lord's point is clear. He is holy and if we entered the presence of that holiness we would be consumed. This doesn't pose a problem until the Holy decides to take up residence among you! In chapter 25 of Exodus God reveals to Israel his intentions to "dwell among them." Now this is a problem. Gary Schnittjer articulates their dilemma well. "How could [Israel] avoid the fate of Pharaoh when they shared his foremost characteristic?" (Torah Story, 260)

In this context, God orders the tabernacle to be constructed which will separate him from the people. He also organizes the nation into what is called the camp, thus separating Israel from the rest of the world. In other words... he draws lines in the sand.

Now, look at Numbers 5:3. "The LORD said to Moses, Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone who has an infectious skin disease or a discharge of any kind, or who is ceremonially unclean because of a dead body. Send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so that they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them." The remains of a bull that was sacrificed were taken outside the camp as well, to be disposed of. When Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, were killed in the sanctuary by fire, Moses instructed two of Aaron's nephews to carry the bodies outside the camp. The picture painted of the world outside the camp, then, is one of disease, death, and refuse. As a Jew, outside the camp is the last place in the world you want to be.

Recently in chapel a guest speaker spoke about this idea of being "outside the camp" and I simply have not been able to shake it. His main text that morning was Hebrews 13:11-14. Bearing in mind what we have already established about the biblical description of "outside the camp" lets read the passage.

"For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. " Heb 13:11-14

This passage displays so powerfully what the redemptive work of Christ accomplished on our behalf. In Exodus 19 God's command is 'Come no further or I will break out against you.' This is followed by a plethora of regulations meant to protect the Jews from the wrath of God. Suddenly, in Hebrews we see the incarnate God walking, not among the tribes in the midst of the camp, which would have been miraculous enough. Rather, we find him outside the camp. He is with the lepers, the prostitutes, and the other socailly unwanted.

Christ's work outside the camp is a devotion by itself. However, I do not want to stop there. My focus is verses 13-14. "Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." The author of Hebrews was writing to encourage Jewish believers who were being tempted to forsake Christ and return to a sacerdotal form of worship. His heart cry to them is that they would turn their back on anything that was less than Christ. Gentlemen, is this not our calling? I do not speak of the office of pastor. Rather, I am speaking of the call placed on every single believer. God has asked us to reject this world and its promises, and to willingly take upon ourselves the reproach of joining Christ outside. This means rejecting the worlds view of success. We are not called to have a well balanced portfolio. We are not called to attain positions or status. We are called to RECKLESSLY abandon everything in the camp, take upon ourselves the shame and disgrace of being outside, and join Christ is doing the will of the Father.

That image hit me with such force that I have simply been unable to shake it. In my average day how often am I among those outside the camp? How willing am I to reject the approval and applause of man (O how attractive that is to me at times) and follow Christ into the dark places where I will be mocked, ridiculed, and abused? How willing am I to lead my family there? How willing am I to pour out my life there for God's glory?

The author of Hebrews follows this challenge by providing our motivation. "For here we have no lasting city..." Oh that I could find a way to let that seep into my soul!!! This is not it. We have not arrived. I get so frustrated sometimes with the things of this world. Alyssa and I have not been able to repair the walls in our living room so I sit here typing this in a room closely resembling a WWII bomb shelter. Our carpet is "sea foam green", my car's windshield wipers only work when it is not raining, and I have yet to acquire my Ducati dream. Yet I must daily reprimand this flesh of mine for its insatiable appetite. There is no city here for me. This is not my home, "but we seek the city that is to come." Father God, enable me to set my affections on the home that you have prepared for me. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."