Today’s household object is the washing machine and our Bible passage is Exodus 19:9-14.
In Moses’ time, clothes-washing was a symbol of cleanliness and of marking a special occasion. Moses tells the people to wash their clothes in preparation for the third day, so that when the Lord comes down the mountain, they will be ready with clean garments. In Revelation 7:14 we are told that those who have come out of the tribulation have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. The paradox of blood making something clean reminds us of the paradox of the gospel.
Nowadays, washing clothes is much easier than it used to be because of the washing-machine, but the idea of washing reminds us firstly of dirt (and sin) and reminds us that it is through Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross and subsequent rising on the third day that we are made clean. We need reminders throughout our lives that cleansing is not only necessary but has now been made possible.