Ram's Skin Dyed Red Covering

This picture shows the Rams' Skin Dyed Red covering of the Tabernacle. Since a ram's skin is not red naturally, but had to be dyed to become red, this reminds us once more of the great significance of blood shown throughout the fabrics of the Doors and Coverings of the Tabernacle. Isaiah prophesied of the Messiah some 750 years before His crucifixion "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter" (Isaiah 53:7).

The sheer size of this covering indicates how precious is the sacrifice of Messiah (Hebrew), or Christ (Greek): the covering measured at least 14 metres x 20 metres.

Jesus said "My blood is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28). The debt we each owe to God, because of our sins and offenses against Him and against one another, is colossal. Jesus paid with His blood the price our sins exacted in God's eyes, so He could purchase us back (redeem us). Peter writes (to mainly Jewish believers): "know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like gold and silver, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Messiah, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Peter 1:18-19).

However, the emphasis here is not merely on individual redemption. The covering lies across the boards of the Sanctuary Building, which are fitted and built together. The upright boards standing together signify God's people: "Our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people that are His very own" (Titus 2:13-14). Likewise, Paul speaks to the (mainly Gentile) Ephesian believers concerning the "church of God which He purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28), writing to them later to confirm "Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:25).

This is the goal of redemption: that believers in Messiah/Christ, whether of Jewish or Gentile background, would become one joint Body in Messiah/Christ, joint heirs and partakers of the promise God made to Abraham: in you shall all the families/nations of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12:3 and Ephesians 3:6). What God intends and longs for is one redeemed and purified people that are His, owned by Him, filled with Him and displaying all the virtues of the One who called them out of darkness into His marvellous light (I Peter 2:9-10).

Very significantly, it was a ram caught in the thicket that God provided to be sacrificed in place of Isaac (Genesis 22:8,13). Similarly, God ordained that rams were sacrificed when Aaron and his sons were consecrated as priests to serve in the Tabernacle (Exodus 29:15-35).

The ram therefore speaks of consecration and obedience to God: "being found in appearance as a man, He (Christ Jesus) humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father" (Phillipians 2:8-11).