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A Wardrobe of Different Sorts

By Nikki Derioun

A few days ago, I finally opened up a fabric kit I had and made a wall-hanging quilt. It was one that was intended to fray at the reverse seams. This is not usually the intent of a quilt but for this quilt, there was a specific look in mind. Now, the fact that all the fabric came in the kit caused me to believe that all the fabrics were suited for the same purpose. But, lo and behold, there was a piece of beautiful red floral print. Right off, I noticed a difference in its texture. Common sense and a prior knowledge of fabric weight and weave told me that this red fabric would not fray at the same rate as the other loose weave fabrics. But it all came in the same kit! So I spent time piecing and setting and clipping and quilting and finally I threw it in the washing machine. When I pulled it out, much to my chagrin, the little red pieces did NOT fray!!

I had to smile and shake my head … if I still lived under the Old Testament this would not have happened! There are specific laws regarding the mixing of fabric. Although it would have saved a young Jewish girl a lot of time and frustration, there were much more significant reasons for the laws God gave.

The 22^nd chapter of Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 22) is full of various laws. These laws are so diverse and yet are stated in such a way that shows the same significance for carrying out each law. There is a great emphasis on purity: separation of men and women’s clothing, the need for unmixed fields, the law not to yoke different animals, the separation of fabric, and the penalties and rituals of sexual purity. In this section, there are three references to the manner and type of clothing the Israelites were to wear. One involves the need for a distinction in male and female clothing. One involves the separation of fabrics in clothing. The last one involves the need for tassels on the edges of the cloaks.

There are so many lessons to be gleaned from these verses! The first is that God sees a distinction in people (gender specific clothing). Second, he wants his people to see a distinction in their clothing (no mixing of materials). Third, He wants others to see a distinction in the clothing of His chosen people (the visible tassels on their clothing). There are many more lessons we could pull from this section, but I want us to focus on these three.

The distinction God saw in the genders:

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. (Deuteronomy 22:5)

The distinction they were to see in their own clothing:

The distinction the Gentiles would have seen in their clothing:

This brings me back to my quilt. So there I was standing in our laundry room looking at the little un-frayed red hearts staring out at me on a beautifully frayed background. After a little thought, I clipped all the un-frayed edges and satin stitched around them. Good save!

But that made me think about the chapter we are studying. For the Jews, the letter of the law was to be held in the strictest sense. God wanted it this way. He wanted them to see a clear distinction between the physical elements of the world. He wanted the pagan nations to see a difference in His children. For the Christian there is still a need for distinctions to be made. But there also needs to be a distinction of the heart!

Sometimes our hearts are not dedicated to the Lord. His Word has not pricked them. They are not able to discern between the different “fabrics” of the world. And sadly, often our hearts are no different from the hearts in the world. Sometimes we need to ask for a new heart! We also need to be prepared when what we need is a dramatic “clipping” and “edging”!

QUESTIONS:

1) Some times, we fail to use common sense because we take the “whole kit” we have been given and forget to test each piece. How is this true in a spiritual sense? (1 Thessalonians 5:21f, 1 John 4:1)

2) There is a distinction in the clothing of false prophets. What is it? (Matthew 7:15)

3) God sees a distinction in the genders and He wishes for us to see one as well. What are some differences that you can see shown in the New Testament? (I Peter 3:7)

4) God also sees a distinction in the married and unmarried. (1 Corinthians 7:34) What does He desire from the unmarried woman? What does He desire from the married woman? How can the world see these attitudes and action as being different from worldly women?

5) What is the Christian to be clothed in? (Revelation 3:5, 1 Peter 5:5)

6) Why did one man miss Heaven? (Matthew 22:11)

7) God wants the world to see a distinction in our dress. What is a physical way that the world can see a distinction? (1 Timothy 2:9)

8) What distinction in our clothing is an inner difference? (1 Peter 3:3f)

9) What different “fabrics” can our heart be made of? (Matthew 13:18)

10) What does Romans 2:29 teach in regards to our lesson?