The second rung on your ladder of trust is called “Little Faith”. This can be represented by the second piece of furniture in the outer court of the Tabernacle: the Laver.
The purpose of little faith is to learn to trust God and His word in our lives. This life application represents separation. It is here where you are separated to God by T’zilah (water baptism) “And he said unto them, ‘Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?’” (Matthew 8:26 KJV).
After the Altar of Sacrifice, the priest went to the Laver of Cleansing. The Laver was a washbasin mounted on a base, and it stood in the outer court. Made of brass, it was kept filled with clean water.
Its function was the washing of the hands and feet of the priests as they ministered in the Tabernacle. It speaks of the sanctifying power of the Word of God. Water is symbolic of the Word of God by which you are cleansed and sanctified.
The Laver was the only piece of furniture where the dimensions were not given. God commanded that every time the priest approached the altar or the Tabernacle, He must wash at the Laver.
What was the reason?
The priest became defiled with every step he took, even when he was in God’s service.
The service of the Lord was an exacting service. The Scripture says, “They that bear the vessels of the Lord must [emphasis mine] be clean.” Washing the hands and feet with the water in the Laver did this cleansing. The hands speak of service, the feet of the walk, and conduct.
The Laver represents separation from the world, the flesh, and things that defile us by the washing of the water by the Word. God warned Moses, in Exodus 30:20-21, that if the priests did not wash, they would die. It is a serious requirement that you wash as you come to handle any of the things of the Lord.
Why?
Those who believe in Yeshua are considered priests. Read the Word of God: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation [emphasis mine], a people for God’s own possession [emphasis mine], that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 KJV).
And again, “And He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father – to Him be glory and the dominion forever and ever, Amen” (Revelation 1:6 ASV).
You wash in the Laver two ways:
* The first is by going through T’zilah, or water baptism, after conversion or repentance (Acts 22:16).
* The second is the Laver of your mind through the washing of your mind in the Word (Ephesians 5:26; John 13:8-10; 15:8).
This is according to the pattern in Exodus 29:39, which is, at least, two times a day, morning, and evening.
At this point, you have been set apart for God. The word, “holy” or “sanctified” means “set apart.” The Scripture says: “But you have cleansed yourselves, you have been set apart for God, you have come to be counted righteous through the power of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah and the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11 CJB).
When you reach this point in your walk, your trust has grown, and you have stepped on the second rung of the ladder of trust. It is on this rung, through the water of separation, you are learning to trust. This is called “Little Faith”.
Shalom