Numbers 15:38

The institution of the ribbon of blue was of God, and it is very beautiful. It was not worn in Egypt while they were slaves to Pharaoh, but after God had brought them out by redemption. A ribbon of blue worn by a slave of Pharaoh, or a slave of Satan, would be a contradiction. Blue is the heavenly colour, the colour that is of God. Who then were to wear the ribbon of blue? The nation of Israel, and the foreigner who came to live among them. As circumcision was a mark before the eye of God, so the ribbon of blue was to be a constant sign of remembrance before their own eyes.

The word for "tassels" is said to mean "flowers," from a root meaning "to shine." The same word describes the plate on the high priest's forehead (Ex. 28:36), which was also fastened with a lace of blue. The borders of the garments were of course next to the ground. So when a man looked down, the blue reminded him of heaven and encouraged him to look up. Had the man gathering sticks on the Sabbath worn this on the border of his garment, it might have turned his eyes up from the sticks on the ground.

Blue is the colour of heaven and the fitting witness of a heavenly character. White commonly stands for purity, as crimson or scarlet is the image of the world's glory... The Lord wants His people to give constant testimony that they belong to heaven. He wants it in the commonest things of daily life, before their own eyes as well as the eyes of others... It is not enough just to keep away from what is evil, or to cultivate godliness... But suppose all this, and suppose each one wore his garment ever so undefiled — would that be the ribbon of blue? Does it not mean reminding our souls from day to day of the place to which we belong?

Wives, husbands, and children; servants and masters, are all to show the heavenly colour in these relationships... The blue was to be always with them, even in those walks of life where they touched earthly things.

But another case is provided for, and a far more common one — forgetfulness. It is closely linked to presumptuous sin, since it also implies earlier knowledge. The difference is that the presumptuous sinner did not forget. He disobeyed on purpose... Where there are excessive desires for earthly things, heavenly things are forgotten. Any object before the soul other than Christ is a practical denial of our separation from the world... God did not put this ordinance off until they came into the land. The earlier ordinances begin with "when you come into the land." Here those words are missing. It is an ordinance suited to their pilgrim character, journeying through the wilderness, and so it has a special application to Christians passing through the world.

The fringes of the garments reached to the earth, and might come into contact with defilement. God's precepts and directions alone can keep us walking after Him... The precepts of the gospel are like fringes to our garments, attached to those places where sin can touch us... If I were spiritual and walking in fellowship with God, I would not need precepts. But I am foolish and fleshly, so I need God's precepts to keep my soul mindful of Him.

God had given that very thing to lead them to remember Jehovah, and to obey His precious word humbly. They turned it into an occasion of self-exaltation and religious pride. Instead of thinking of God and His word, they thought of themselves. They thought of the place they held in the opinion of their fellows... Let us make sure we do not turn the heavenly memorial into an earthly badge. What ought to lead to humble obedience must not become an occasion of self-exaltation.