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February 11th
The Bible reading for today is in Exodus chapters 36,37,38.
These three chapters, along with the final two chapters of Exodus, tell us what “God activity” was going on at the Sinai encampment in the last weeks and months before they broke camp to proceed on their wilderness journey toward the promised land.
In these last months, Moses certainly communicated with his Tabernacle contractors, Bezalel and Oholiab. Moses kept them up with how God was stirring up the people to give toward the Tabernacle build. His contractors kept Moses informed about the spirited and excellent work that was being done on the Tabernacle. They gave credit to Moses for his discernment to choose heart and talent over just talent...when it came to workers.
Friends, two things catch my attention here. God not only commanded the building of the Tabernacle, to get it up and running, but He also worked to stir up the “hearts” of the congregation.
The building program was on the agenda. Absolutely. It was a God-thing to be sure. It would have its purpose....to the glory of God!
But God was just as interested in working on the hearts of His people.
And how do we know that He did?
Our text today says that skilled workers with hearts for the Lord and hearts for the work came from every segment of the congregation. It also says that the people in this spiritual community gave freewill offerings that went over and above what was needed for the project. In fact, Moses told the people to stop giving. That’s a heart thing...a God-thing!
And how did that Tabernacle build turn out? Well, the rest of that story is in tomorrow’s reading.
But there is one more thing...the Court of the Tabernacle.
The “tent of meeting”...the Tabernacle, sat on the west end of the court. The east end of the court included the bronze altar for burnt offerings, and the brass laver for ritual washings by the priests that signified spiritual cleansing and community dedication to God and each other.
The entire court was fenced in by a white linen cloth wall. The approaching worshiper would see the barrier of white that separated him from God’s presence in the tabernacle.
“An approaching worshiper asks under his breath...”How am I to get to God?... I am told that He is here...the cloud and the fire says it.”
Another answers the whispered words...”I heard someone say that it’s through that colorful screen gate.”
There was a twenty-foot wide gate made of white purple blue and red woven cloth. It was known as the Entrance gate.
How would a sinful Israelite get to meet with God and worship Him...
Through the gate...through the altar...through the priest...through the tabernacle...
Remember...Jesus said that I am the way...
We find out that Jesus is also the gate...
We continue...and where the altar was we see the cross...
Continuing...we see the High Priest...why...that’s Jesus...
And the Priest takes blood from the sacrifice...why...that’s Jesus’ blood from His bloody death on the cross. And the priest/Jesu .takes his own blood through the vail and placed on the mercy seat...Where God the Father accepts it as atonement for our sin .and saves us forever.
Now that’s an Exodus story to beat them all.
Thank you, Jesus!
You are always the rest of the story!
Have a great day!
