Inside The Camp

During Bible times, those who had a disease or some form of uncleanness were not allowed to enter or be inside the city gates of Jerusalem. Everything inside the city gates (or inside the camp) was considered holy. Therefore, everything unclean or unholy was strictly forbidden in the city. God was very serious about this when he gave the law to Moses.

Numbers 5:1-4 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “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. 3 Send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.” 4 The Israelites did this; they sent them outside the camp. They did just as the LORD had instructed Moses.

Many of the regulations within the law were types and shadows of the good things that were to come. Look at how the writer of Hebrews states it.

Hebrews 10:1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason, it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.

Disease and uncleanness speak of sin, which is everything outside of the ways of God and his love. Those who have sinned are unable to enter the kingdom of God. It is most reassuring to know that when Jesus died, he did not die inside the city gates. No, he died outside the camp so that those who have sinned could be included in his provision for right standing with God! Jesus did not come to die for those who consider themselves good enough – No! He came to seek and to save those who are lost. Luke 19:10 Jesus, though perfect and sinless, was crucified outside the camp as one who was unclean, and he did it for you and me!

Hebrews 13:12-14 (NIV)  And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here, we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Do you see it? This is so beautiful! The Scripture encourages us to go to Jesus outside the camp! In other words, we must come to God just as we are! We must not try to act like we are good or deserve to be inside the camp. We can never be good enough to come to God on our own merit or righteousness. Jesus died outside the camp to identify with and save people like you and me.

Galatians 3:10-11 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly, no one is justified before God by the law because “The righteous will live by faith.” 

Oh, how glorious! Don’t let the lie of trying to be good enough deter you from running to him just as you are! As the Scripture above says, “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse.” You see, God already knows everything about you. He knows that you cannot get there on your own, which is why he died outside the gate. Oh, yes! You can run to God just the way you are! Don’t worry about your mistakes and failures because you can be confident that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.! Philippians 1:6

Oh, that we would know and fully receive God’s undeserved favor and goodness for us! Because of his incredible love for you and me, God did not command us to be perfect enough to meet him inside the camp; instead, with great compassion, he came for us outside the camp bearing our disgrace. The price for our redemption has been paid! Those willing to believe and receive his payment outside the camp can now freely and forever live with Christ…

Inside the Camp