Imagine

Imagine

Sometime it is instructive to imagine certain situations in life. The conclusions we reach as we contemplate imaginary situations can be helpful in the real world. Consider the following imaginary situations:

What would have happened had Noah ignored God's instructions and built his ark 320 cubits long with two decks instead of three (Gen 6:15)?

What would have been the results if Joshua had decided that his people should march around Jericho only five days?

What if Moses can made the mercy seat of the most holy place of silver rather than of gold?

What would have been God's reaction had Moses attired the priests in skins rather than the prescribed vestments?

What if the priests had asked the stout warriors of Judah to carry the sacred ark of the covenant for them?

What if the sacrifices at the altar of God had been offered by the sons of Benjamin?

What if the people had brought to the altar, buzzards and dogs?

This lists of "what ifs" could be greatly expanded but these few points sufficiently illustrate the point we wish to make.

Noah was blessed and his family saved because, "Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him" (Gen. 6:22). Would you have wanted to risk your all on a boat that ignored God's design?

Joshua led the Hebrews in doing just as God directed. After six days of circling Jericho, on the seventh they compassed it seven times, blew the ram's horns and the people shouted and the walls crumbled (Jos.6:12-20). Who would say that they could have safely deleted one trip around the walls?

On the golden mercy-seat in the holy of holies the sacred blood of atonement was offered for the sins of the nation (Ex. 25:17). When Moses was entrusted with the preparation of the tabernacle and the various items of worship associated with it, he was charged, "And let them make me a sanctuary...According to all that I show thee, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the furniture thereof, even so shall ye make it" (Ex. 25:9). "And Moses saw all the work, and, behold, they had done it; as Jehovah had commanded,...and Moses blessed them" (Ex. 39:43). God gave the pattern, Moses saw that it was followed in every detail. The result was God's favor and blessing. What would the result have been had Aaron sprinkled the blood on a mercy seat made of silver or some other material? Would sins have been forgiven?

Every detail of the uniform of Aaron and his sons was given with the reminder, "according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do" (Ex. 31:10). When they appeared to lead the people in worship God expected them to be adorned as he directed. Had they come before him in "hunting clothes" they might have suffered the same kind of penalty as did Nadab and Abihu who offered strange fire unto God (Lev. 10:1-4).

God ordained Aaron and his sons to represent the people at his altar (Ex. 28:1). When Uzziah presumed to try his hand at burning incense, God smote him with leprosy (II Chron. 26:19-20).

God specified that the priests should carry the ark by staves on their shoulders (Deut. 10:8). When the ark was placed an a cart, disaster struck the attendants (II Sam. 6:3-7).

No Hebrew would have dared to bring anything save the clean birds and beats God had ordained for sacrifice. God accepted as offerings sheep, goats and cattle that were healthy and unblemished (Lev. 17:3). Those too poor to afford animals could offer doves. To offer an unclean animal would have been an insult to God. Rather than securing a blessing it would surely have brought punishment.

Although we Christians live under a new covenant, instituted by Jesus, the obligation to do all things according to the divinely given pattern remains (Heb. 8:5). We are to hold the pattern of sound words (II Tim. 1:13). To be saved from sin, we must obey from the heart that form (tupos or pattern) of teaching" (Rom. 6:18). In simple terms we are to obey all things whatsoever Christ commanded (Matt. 28:20). To do otherwise is to risk Heaven's displeasure, rejection and punishment. Let no man deceive you (II Thess. 2:3).

Sincerely,

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