While studying Exodus, I came across a fascinating passage.
And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. Exodus 28:2 NKJV
In this chapter, God gives very detailed tailoring instructions on how to clothe Aaron, the priest, He has chosen for the people of Israel. God is particular about the purpose of the clothes that are to be made for Aaron – they are “for glory and for beauty”. Isn’t that fascinating? God has selected Aaron as a member of His staff and He doesn’t just let him wear anything – He wants him to look good. He cares what he wears.
Have you looked up visuals of what the final attire looked like? Check them out on YouTube. You might be just as fascinated as I was seeing what God wanted. It is like Him walking into a fashion house and giving specifications on what to make for His member of staff. It might be one of the only such descriptions we have in the Bible.
So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. Exodus 28:3 NKJV
It gets even more interesting – not just anyone could make these garments. Only gifted artisans could, those filled with the Holy Spirit! God’s members of staff were to wear custom, tailored attire. There’s a transition from being naked and unashamed in the garden (Genesis 2:25), to God Himself weaving clothes together for Adam and Eve after the fall and then to this…God giving instructions for garments to be made by someone for glory and for beauty.
Notice also that the clothes were also supposed to consecrate the priest – to set him apart so he could minister to God. Did you know that clothes do that? They have the capacity to consecrate you – to set you apart?
Checkout something else:
“Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: six of their names on one stone and six names on the other stone, in order of their birth. Exodus 28:9-10 NKJV
Notice the attention to detail – the stones had to be arranged in order of their birth! Wow! God is into all sorts of things – military strategy (checkout the strategies He keeps giving David and other kings and judges to win), animal husbandry (see the tips He gives Jacob), astronomy (leading wise men with a star), business (see Jesus’s parables), charity (see the Bible 🙂 ), parenting (see the parenting tips He keeps giving). He’s into lots of things. I’d never considered that God is into fashion too.
He cares about clothes. His desire is that they are both for beauty and for glory. If you are a designer, are you making garments for glory and for beauty? If, like me, you just wear what’s been made, are you careful to choose those that consecrate you?