Going Outside the Camp

When Jesus was filled with the Spirit following His Baptism He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to pray and fast in preparation for the launching of the Kingdom of God. You could say that he went outside the camp. Question is, What does this phrase mean and how does it apply to our time of seeking to draw near to Jesus with a whole-heart?

Exodus 33:7 Now Moses used to take [his own] tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting [of God with His own people]. And everyone who sought the Lord went out to [that temporary] tent of meeting which was outside the camp.

Moses took his own tent and pitched it far off from the camp. When you look at this symbolically you will quickly notice it was Moses’ tent, and no one else’s. The Apostle Paul referred to our earthly house, our bodies, as earthly tents (2 Cor. 5:1, 4). Symbolically speaking, you can apply the Exodus passage to your own spiritual life by asking the question, How can I take my own tent; my own spiritual house outside the camp to meet with God?

But that leads to another question: What is the Camp? What’s in the Camp that Moses was seeking to get far away from? Does this refer to just the day to day activities that took place inside the encampment of the children of Israel? Was Moses departure from the Camp focused only on physically removing himself from the circumstances of day to day life in the camp or was he seeking something more?

Hebrews 13:13 encourages all believers to get outside the camp when it states: Let us then go forth [from all that would prevent us] to Him outside the camp [at Calvary], bearing the contempt and abuse and shame with Him.

Here’s what I want you to pray towards during this time of fasting: How can I meet Jesus outside the camp? Ask the Lord to reveal to you how He wants you to meet Him outside the camp. Then watch, and listen for how He will answer you.