Exodus 30:17  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
18  Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.
19  For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:
20  When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD:
21  So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.

The internet can be helpful in knowing what people are thinking. There are many things that we can observe locally. There are things happening in the world right now that have gained much greater attention. In spite of the fact that much of the world hates Israel, or at least wants to ignore that little place, God has elevated Israel to a level that the world has to pay attention. The attack of the terrorists on Israel just over two years ago, brought the Middle East into focus in a greater way. Of course the central part of the Middle East is Israel. Israel is also the central part in the world. Just about every president of the U.S. has tried to find some way to interfere with the politics of Israel. Not one of the presidents has understood the significance of the land of Israel. The current president of the U.S. seems to be more aware of the significance of Israel than most. However, he is going around telling the world that he has brokered a peace deal between Israel and Hamas that has not been possible for three thousand years. That is a false statement. He also claims this peace will hold. The Bible says no to that. The Bible warns us that there is a time of the Gentiles and that Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until that time is over. The Gentile world has taken an unprecedented interest in Israel. Other nations govern themselves. However, the world thinks it needs to interfere in the government of Israel. The only exception to this in recent months is that the U.S. has recently been militarily active around Venezuela to try to stop the drug trade coming from there.
In the church world, there is a great falling away. We talked of this a couple of days ago. There has been a great deception taking place for some time now. Most people are not aware of this situation. Most people are quite comfortable in their deception. The thing that upsets them is when someone dares to speak the Truth. Most people cannot handle the Truth. Pride keeps people from being willing to submit to the Truth. Most people assume they have the Truth. The Gospels show us that the religious world of that time was not willing to receive the greatest gift that God has for mankind — the Lord Jesus Christ. John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for the Messiah, but the people did not receive it. The book of Acts and the Epistles show us that the Truth was not readily received in that time either. Church history continues to show us that the Truth has never been readily received. Those who are truly born again today should not be surprised that there is much religious activity, but the Truth is still not readily received. Jesus commanded us to love our enemies and to pray for them. Any person that will be changed for the good, will be changed by the grace of God through the work of the Holy Spirit in their heart. There is hope today, but that hope is found in knowing the true God, not in a change in human government.
In our text, the brazen laver was another important vessel in the Tabernacle. Interestingly, the priest needed to wash his hands and his feet at this laver. The priest was already to be a servant of the LORD. The priest was to walk in the fear of the LORD. He was not to be an unbeliever. Thus he did not need to wash his body here, but his hands and his feet.
Jesus taught the disciples an important lesson along the same lines in John 13. None of the disciples were willing to stoop to washing the other disciples’ feet at the last supper. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, took off His outer robe and took a basin of water and stooped before each of His disciples and washed their feet. Peter protested this action at first. He did not want his Master to wash his feet. Jesus warned him that if He did not wash his feet, he could have no part with Jesus. Peter then wanted to be washed all over. Jesus told him that was not necessary for him.
Peter already believed in Jesus. His belief was at a very elementary place at that time, but he did believe in Him. His faith would be greatly increased after Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.
In our text, this washing was to take place at the brazen laver. The laver was not overlaid with gold. It was of brass. The brass was symbolic in a good sense of strength. In a bad sense it symbolizes stubbornness. The stubbornness of sin must be removed. God’s strength needs to replace that in order for us to be useful to Him.
All saints will sin. Sometimes true saints will try to harbour sin. Those who are called of God to serve the Lord, cannot harbour sin. They must confess their sin and serve God in sincerity. They can only do so under God’s strength. Today, far too many religious leaders lack that strength. We, as people, can be intimidated. Some not so easily as others, but the danger is there that we can be intimidated. There are also people who do their best to try to intimidate the true servant of the Lord.
We know that this washing was only ceremonial. Water cannot wash away sin. The blood of Jesus Christ washes away sin. After salvation, confession of sin to God is required in order to be forgiven and restored to right fellowship.
The priest needed to be fit for service in the Tabernacle. He needed to demonstrate with the outward washing, that his heart was right with the Lord. God said this washing was necessary that the priest die not. God does not appreciate hypocrisy. Jesus condemned the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. He did not strike them dead immediately, but they would perish unless they would repent and be saved.
We notice that this command, given to Moses, was for the priests throughout their generations. The priesthood was not to be corrupted, but sadly it soon would be. However, God’s command has been fulfilled in that Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. However, since His coming, men have corrupted Who Jesus is. Sadly, most professing Christians have no idea who Jesus is. They follow a fictitious Jesus that they have received through their own imaginations with the help of false teachers. That statement will likely offend some because they want to believe they are smart enough to figure things out for themselves. That attitude is what is keeping them from the truth. No man has the corner on Truth. God’s Word is Truth.
The Pharisees were not servants of God. They were lost men. They knew of a god, but not the true God. They proved that by rejecting Jesus Christ. They knew He was there. They knew His name. They rejected Him as their Messiah.
The Pharisees were much like many professing Christians today. They know of a god. They talk of a god. They also know the name of Jesus and they talk about Him. However, they do not know the true God, nor do they know the true Jesus. They reject the teachings of Jesus unless they fit with their compromised position. They are also quick to judge and condemn those who would try to honour the Jesus of the Bible.
Those who are truly born again will take the Word of God as their only authority. They will need to live by Godly convictions which will be strengthened the more they spend time in God’s Word and in a God-honouring church. Be sure you are doing that today.
Pastor Bartel