God instructed Moses very particularly with respect to building the Old Testament tabernacle of worship.  He said,  “According to all that I show you, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the furnishings of it, even so shall you make it.”  And he said, “And see that you make them after their pattern, which was shown you on the mount.”  And he said, “And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to the pattern of it which was shown you on the mount.” (Exodus 25:9, 40,; 26:30 KJ2000)  Do you think that God was particular about the way he wanted Moses to build the tabernacle?  Of course he was.  But, why?

The author of Hebrews tells us the importance when he informs us that Israelite priests “serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, says he, that you make all things according to the pattern showed to you in the mount.” (Hebrews 8:5 KJ2000)  The priests, their offerings under the Law, and the tabernacle itself were all done and made according to a heavenly pattern.  What they created and did in the natural were “examples” and “shadows” of “heavenly things.”

So, if God sternly warned Moses to act according to a heavenly pattern, do you think that the same or similar warning might apply to us today?  No, we are not commanded to build a tabernacle according to the pattern given to Moses.  But, Paul does tell Timothy and, through him, us, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words, which you have heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto you keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” (2 Timothy 1:13-14 KJ2000)  And to Titus he says, “In all things showing yourself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing incorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is an opponent may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”  (Titus 2:7-8 KJ2000)

And now, look at the context in the book of Titus:

But you speak the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sensible, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becomes holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sensible, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sensible. (Titus 2:1-6 KJ2000)

Isn’t this a bit old-fashioned, especially the bit about women staying at home and being obedient to their husbands?  Doesn’t the Scripture teach us that the distinction between male and female no longer exists for the spiritual Christian?  Not quite.  The distinction still exists in the natural and in this age.  God established a “pattern” of male and female in which the female should, in most cases, be under the spiritual authority of a male, either her husband or father.  This pattern displays in the natural the following profound truth about Jesus:

 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,  [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  [7] but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form,  [8] he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.   Philip. 2:5-8 (ESV) 

The point is that when a woman fulfills her God-ordained role, which is to remain at home, raise her children, and honor her husband, she fulfills the pattern of Christ himself.  In the pattern of Christ, she should not consider equality with a man a thing to be grasped.  Like Christ and like his admonition to all of us, she dies to her selfish ambitions.  This is a very high calling which most women miss in this Jezebel age of feminist Christianity.  Again, is this important?

Well, the Book of Hebrews carries this concept into one of the strongest warnings against Christians in the entire Bible:

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,  [27] but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.  [28] Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.  [29] How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?  [30] For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”  [31] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.  Hebrews 10:26-31 (ESV)

Now you have knowledge of this truth.  What will you do with it?

P.S.  It was my wife of 31 years who first contemplated and suggested this topic to me yesterday.  We are one in spirit, but she willingly submits to my headship in Christ.  This is how she “covers her head.”