We are in Numbers chapter eight with our word for today. מַרְאֶה pattern, seeing, appearance, sight, vision. Our word is used 103 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used most of the time in the sense of form, the visual appearance of something or someone. A good example of this is David. 1 Samuel 16:6-7 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on מַרְאֵ֛הוּhis appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 17:41-42 And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome מַרְאֶֽה in appearance. Our word is also used a lot in the sense of appearance, outward or visible aspect of a person or thing. We see this with both Sarai and Rachel. Genesis 12:11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful מַרְאֶ֖ה in appearance. Genesis 29:17 Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and מַרְאֶֽה appearance. Our word is used in the sense of vision, a supernatural appearance that imparts a message often in dreams. Ezekiel 11:24 And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in the בַּמַּרְאֶ֖ה vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen went up from me. Ezekiel 43:3 וּכְמַרְאֵ֨ה הַמַּרְאֶ֜ה [literally the vision I visioned] And the vision I saw was just like the כַּמַּרְאֶ֤ה vision that I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and just like the כַּמַּרְאֶ֕ה vision that I had seen by the Chebar canal. And I fell on my face. Daniel 10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the בַּמַּרְאֶֽה vision. This is close to how our word is used in our chapter today in that God is making known a picture or vision of how he wants this item made for the tabernacle worship. Let’s look at our chapter that has only one use in the sense of pattern, something intended as a guide for making something else. Numbers 8:4 This was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the כַּמַּרְאֶ֗ה pattern that the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand. I find it interesting that this word is used when a different word that has been translated as pattern has been used several times in Exodus and Leviticus. We will get to that word when it comes up again. Our word may have been used to emphasize the idea of form, appearance and vision from God that he wanted to make visible. We do know that the Holy Spirit makes the point that God is showing us heavenly things through what Moses was instructed to construct with the tabernacle worship. Hebrews 8:5-6 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. Did you catch that this was just a shadow? The true appearance of what God was doing is in his Son Jesus Christ. I’ll close with this use of our word that is a messianic prophecy that reminds us that just like David who was underestimated Jesus physical appearance was not what one would draw people to him. We do know that people were drawn toward Jesus because he loved people and was authentic. And after his death and resurrection Jesus is still drawing people to himself and connecting us to God the father through his sacrifice for our sins. Isaiah 53:2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no מַרְאֶ֖ה beauty that we should desire him … But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
