Exodus 30:17-21: a reflection

17The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 18“You shall also make a basin of bronze, and its base of bronze, in which to wash. You shall put it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it. 19Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in it. 20When they go into the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water, that they don’t die; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the LORD. 21So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they not die. This shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his descendants throughout their generations.”

Among the furnishings of the tabernacle, God commands a bronze basin, filled with water, to stand between the tent of meeting and the altar. Its purpose was cleansing: Aaron and his sons were to wash their hands and feet in it before they entered the tent or approached the altar to minister. They were not to come into God's presence or serve at the altar unwashed; they were to be cleansed before drawing near.

Notice what the basin required before service: washing, cleansing, before drawing near to God. The priests could not simply approach God's presence as they were; they had first to be washed. It was a tangible reminder that to come near the holy God calls for cleansing, that we do not approach him casually and unclean, but washed, made ready to draw near.

That points to a deeper cleansing we need, and that God provides. We, too, cannot come into God's presence on the strength of our own uncleanness; we need to be washed. But the washing we need is not of the hands and feet only, but of the heart, the cleansing from sin that we cannot accomplish ourselves. And this cleansing God gives in Christ, who washes us clean, so that we may draw near. Do not presume to approach God trusting in your own uncleanness, as though it did not matter; but do not despair, either, as though you could never be clean enough. Come to God through Christ, who washes you clean, and draw near as one cleansed by him. The basin reminded the priests that cleansing comes before drawing near; in Christ you are washed, and so may come near to God with a cleansed heart.

Lord, you set the bronze basin in the tabernacle so that the priests would wash before entering your presence or serving at the altar; they were not to draw near unwashed, but cleansed. Thank you that this points to a deeper cleansing I need, and that you provide. I cannot come into your presence on the strength of my own uncleanness; I need to be washed, not of the hands only, but of the heart, cleansed from a sin I cannot wash away myself. And thank you that this cleansing you give in Christ, who washes me clean, so that I may draw near. Keep me from presuming to approach you trusting in my own uncleanness, as though it did not matter; but keep me, too, from despairing, as though I could never be clean enough. Help me come to you through Christ, who washes me clean, and draw near as one cleansed by him. Thank you that in Christ I am washed, and may come near to you with a cleansed heart.