The Atonement Money and The Bronze Basin

The Atonement Money

Exodus 30:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 12 When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. 13 This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD. 14 Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD. 15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. 16 And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.

The price has been paid and all of God’s children are ransomed, but with this ransom they are no longer their own and they owe everything they are to the owner of their sanctuary. Jesus asked a simple question, “of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?” The obvious answer is strangers. The atonement is paid in full, and His children are living in the flow of their relationship that honors their Father instead of attempting to earn their righteousness.

The Bronze Basin

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.

Jesus instructs Peter, “He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.” Illustrating His disciples were about to be shown the way into their tabernacle and become ministers to His people after they had been converted into His power, and offer the Burnt Offering of Jesus Christ to all whom shall receive it.