Buffer zones in Exodus

In urban planning, a buffer zone is an area that separates different land uses to reduce conflicts and negative impacts between them. Like between houses and noisy motorways or houses and smelly industries. Or it can be protective like the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. Did you know about the buffer zones in the book of Exodus?

The book of Exodus has two main sections, God rescues the Israelites from Egypt (Ch 1-18), and God establishes a covenant with the Israelites (Ch 19-40).

When they left Egypt, “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night” (13:21NIV). God was with them all the way. But there was a buffer zone between God and the people.

God made a covenant with them at Mount Sinai. He came down to the mountain in a “dense cloud” (19:9) and Moses was the only person allowed on the mountain. God said, “whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death” (19:12).

“There was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled” (19:16). And “When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear” (20:18).

There was a large barrier between the people and God. This is because God is sinless, and people are sinful. Sinners can’t come near a sinless God. Moses alone was set aside by God as a mediator who could come near to Him. He went up and down the mountain to communicate between God and His people. He bridged the buffer zone.

After Mount Sinai, God dwelt in the tabernacle. It was God’s residence among His people on earth. The tabernacle showed the holiness of God and the sinfulness of people.

The tabernacle had 3 buffer zones. There was a curtain that restricted entry to each of them.
– Only Jews could enter the courtyard, where they could offer sacrifices.
– Only priests could enter the first room to tend the table with 12 loaves of bread, the lampstand and the altar of incense.
– Only the high priest could enter the inner room (the Most Holy Place) where God dwelt. It was once per year with a sacrifice for the sins of the people. Animal sacrifices were made for the sins of Israel as substitute deaths in the place of sinners.

So there were buffer zones between God and people at Mount Sinai and the tabernacle. The whole mountain was a buffer zone where people were not allowed. They were excluded. And there were three zones in the tabernacle where certain people were not allowed. They were excluded.

The book of Hebrews shows that Jesus is greater than the high priest because He died, rose, and ascended into heaven to secure our salvation. He did this once for everyone. When He died the shielding curtain in the temple was torn from the top to the bottom symbolizing the opening of direct access to God through Jesus Christ (Mt. 27:51). By his blood (death), Jesus entered the Most Holy Place (Heb. 9:11-14). And we can now “enter the Most Holy Place by the blood (death) of Jesus,” showing that through Christ, we have a new and living way to come into God’s presence (Heb. 10:19-21). The buffer zone was destroyed.

The buffer zones in Exodus show us that God is accessible, but He is also holy and set apart. The proper way to approach God, requires a sense of awe, reverence and respect. God’s holiness requires separation from sin. While we have direct access to God through Christ, we must still honor His holiness.

Prayer

Father God, we realize that the events at Mount Sinai were awesome. The people trembled with fear at your power, glory and holiness. They were at a distance and very aware of the buffer zone between them and yourself caused by their sin.

Likewise, most people were prohibited in the tabernacle. We thank you for the sacrificial system that required continual animal sacrifices because of their ongoing sins. This was a pattern prophecy of how you would destroy that buffer zone.

We thank you for sending Jesus to die for the sins of all the people of the world. Through His death our sins can be forgiven, and we can look ahead to a home in heaven. In this way, Jesus is better than Moses and better than the Jewish high priest. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Written, February 2025