Numbers 15:38
Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:
God gave an express, plain and visible command to Israel throughout their generations to make fringes in the borders of their garments with a ribbon of blue, a very simple arrangement showing He condescends even to the particulars of dress. The command was given after He had wrought miraculously to bring them out of Egyptian bondage to serve Him. The ribbon bore the words of the law embroidered in brief, expressing the Ten Commandments in short as duty to love God supremely and the neighbor as oneself. Looking upon it was to remind them of all the commandments of the Lord to do them and be holy unto God, to remember the Creator they acknowledged and obeyed, and to keep them from serving their own desires and following their own unsanctified hearts and eyes.
It was to distinguish and separate them as God's commandment-keeping peculiar people and peculiar treasure, so an Israelite was known as soon as seen as one brought out of Egypt to keep the law, set apart from the idolatrous nations around them and not to imitate them nor mingle with them in drunken feasts and eating swine's flesh and luxurious food detrimental to health. The ribbon itself had no direct influence on health, only as God would bless obedience, yet it kept His high claims in memory and preserved their peculiarity. As the Jews departed from purity and their works became contrary to the law, they enlarged these garment borders and phylacteries and added words beyond what God specified, using outward appearance of exalted devotion and sanctity while their lives and works were in the widest contrast and opposed to God's law.
Obedience to the requirement was on principle even when the distinctive dress was inconvenient, troublesome to make and keep clean, easily soiled and worn, mortifying to pride, out of fashion, and pressed for time, and no such excuse justified refusal, with such excuses vanishing when the required dress becomes fashionable. The special mark upon garments is not now required, but the definite directions about ancient Israel's dress prove the dress of God's people in this age comes under His notice. The same command and purpose now directs God's people to come out from the world, forsake idolatrous practices and conformity to the world, and be distinct from the world even in dress by a simple, modest, convenient, healthful reform style that glorifies God, marks them as His peculiar people, rebukes the pride, vanity and extravagance of worldly pleasure-loving professors, and is essential to physical and mental health.
Dress reform answers in the present to what the ribbon of blue did for ancient Israel, distinguishing God's commandment-keeping people from the world. Though its separating feature may be a cross, it identifies those who honor sacred truth and follow the light given, tests and reveals who loves the separating truth, with the proud and loveless showing it by indifference or contempt and faithful obedience keeping simplicity and separation.