Without the Camp

The Sapphire Review Vol. 1 | No. 18 • September 20, 2024

And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

Exodus 33:7

MOSES

This verse picks up shortly after the events involving the golden calf. Moses, who had just spent 40 days on Mount Sinai with the LORD, came down to find the Israelites engaged in idolatrous worship, partying, and all out debauchery. As Moses came down from the mountain, his eyes fell upon the licentious scene below. In his anger he broke the tables of stone that God had just given him.

Though done in anger, this act was somewhat fitting for what was unfolding in the camp below. The Israelites had cast off all moral restraint and were engaging themselves in behaviors that were in violation to many of the commandments on those stone tables. Thus, they showed their complete disregard and lack of care for God’s holy commandments.

To make matters worse, it was only a short time prior to this when the Israelites had heard, with their own ears, God Himself speak the ten commandments to them. As they trembled,¹ there could be little doubt in their minds that God was real and far more powerful and majestic than any lifeless statue, shaped by the hands of a man, could ever be.

Following the consequences of their sins, the death of about three thousand men,² and Moses’ interceding on their behalf,³ Moses moved the temporary tabernacle (for the official tabernacle had not yet been built) far outside of the camp of the Israelites. This symbolized how God will not dwell in the midst of sin.

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DAVID

Moving forward into the life of David, we see his earnest plea in Psalm 51 when reality set in and he realized what his adultery and murder had really cost him. He had sinned greatly, fallen out of fellowship with the Creator whom he loved and praised, and well knew that God’s spirit could not dwell in the midst of sin. In his humble confession of repentance, with tears (no doubt), he cries out to God that he might not lose the precious presence of God’s spirit.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:10–11)

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JESUS

Moving again down the timeline of history, we see great agony pouring fourth from the heart of another man over the loss of God’s presence. This man’s agony was far greater than David’s, for this man had greater fellowship with our Father in heaven than any other person that has walked upon this earth. As Jesus hung upon the cross and darkness blotted out the rays of the afternoon sun, the sins of all humanity were placed upon Him. As God cannot dwell in the midst of sin, it was in these hours that He turned His face away and His presence was removed from His beloved Son as Jesus bore the weight of fallen humanity’s sins. In His anguish of being left desolate of His Father’s presence for the first time, He cried out “My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me?”⁴

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TODAY

Moving forward yet one more time to our modern day, we find this principle with God still the same. God cannot and will not dwell in the midst of sin. For anyone that has truly tasted of the goodness of God⁵ and has known of the wonderful blessings and experiences that come from being near to Him,⁶ one of the most agonizing things that can happen in that person’s life is for them to lose even a portion of their connection with Him through some foolish stumbling into sin. How precious beyond words is the communion that we share with God the Father and Jesus Christ, through their spirit dwelling within us.⁷

Even the smallest of sins should have no place in our hearts. Everything sinful, through humility and full surrender to Jesus, should be driven out of our hearts and out of our lives. Why should these things deserve even an inch of space in our lives or occupy even a second of time in our minds? This work is indeed possible, and we can live a righteous life in full obedience to God’s commands. However, achieving this righteousness is not of our own works, for that would be an utter failure. Thanks be to God for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who gave Himself for us, and now makes the manifestation⁸ of His righteous life available to be lived out in those who are fully and wholly surrendered to Him, and who receive it in faith.⁹

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CLOSING

Nothing on this earth can compare to being near to God. Nothing on this earth is worth losing our fellowship with Him, even for a moment.¹⁰ May God help us to abide in Christ, that He may abide in us,¹¹ and help  us to bear much fruit unto the glory of God.¹²

Dear brothers and sisters, let us keep the commandments of God, and abide in the love of Jesus.¹³ No sin, no matter how small, nor any passing pleasure, grudge, or bitterness is worth the cost of keeping us from the high calling to which we are called and from the closeness that our loving Father desires to share with us through Christ.

God Bless,

Charles

Scripture Index/References

1. Exo 20:18-20

2. Exo 32:28

3. Exo 32:30-33

4. Matt 27:46

5. Psa 34:8, 1 Pet 2:3, Psa 100:5

6. Psa 145:18, Jer 29:13, James 4:8

7. John 14:23, 2 Cor 13:14

8. John 14:21

9. Rom 1:17, 3:22, Gal 2:20, Phil 3:8-9

10. Psa 73:25-26

11. John 15:5

12. John 15:8

13. John 15:10