Twitter
RSS
Facebook
ClickBank1

10-13-15. Exodus 26:1-37. The Holy But Accessible and Inclusive God-my devotional

10-13-15. Exodus 26:1-37.  The Holy But Accessible and Inclusive God-my devotional

Exodus 26:1-37                                                                                       Kevin E. Jesmer

Key Verse: 26:2                                                                                    10/13/15

curtains

“Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by a skilled worker.”

       This passage seems to be filled with a lot of tedious details about how to make some massive and beautiful window dressings for the tabernacle. A friend of mind confessed that he just skims over such chapters. But within these verses are some principles about God. We can learn about God’s character. The curtains were beautiful, portable and durable. It shows the holiness of God, who in his moral perfection, separates himself from the world as curtains can separate a room.  It also shows that the Israelites were not just a bunch of down trodden slaves who could barely survive and only lived for selfishness. No. There were artisans plying their craft. There were gold smiths, weavers, dyers of cloth. God was allowing each person apply their talents for the glory of God.

 

Part 1: God Wants To Travel Along With His People (1-29)

 

Verses 1-29, “Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by a skilled worker. 2 All the curtains are to be the same size—twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide.3 Join five of the curtains together, and do the same with the other five. 4 Make loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and do the same with the end curtain in the other set. 5 Make fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the other set, with the loops opposite each other. 6 Then make fifty gold clasps and use them to fasten the curtains together so that the tabernacle is a unit. 7 “Make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven altogether. 8 All eleven curtains are to be the same size—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide. 9 Join five of the curtains together into one set and the other six into another set. Fold the sixth curtain double at the front of the tent. 10 Make fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set and also along the edge of the end curtain in the other set. 11 Then make fifty bronze clasps and put them in the loops to fasten the tent together as a unit. 12 As for the additional length of the tent curtains, the half curtain that is left over is to hang down at the rear of the tabernacle. 13 The tent curtains will be a cubit longer on both sides; what is left will hang over the sides of the tabernacle so as to cover it. 14 Make for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of the other durable leather. 15 “Make upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle. 16 Each frame is to be ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide, 17 with two projections set parallel to each other. Make all the frames of the tabernacle in this way. 18 Make twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacle 19 and make forty silver bases to go under them—two bases for each frame, one under each projection. 20 For the other side, the north side of the tabernacle, make twenty frames 21 and forty silver bases—two under each frame. 22 Make six frames for the far end, that is, the west end of the tabernacle, 23 and make two frames for the corners at the far end. 24 At these two corners they must be double from the bottom all the way to the top and fitted into a single ring; both shall be like that. 25 So there will be eight frames and sixteen silver bases—two under each frame. 26 “Also make crossbars of acacia wood: five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle, 27 five for those on the other side, and five for the frames on the west, at the far end of the tabernacle. 28 The center crossbar is to extend from end to end at the middle of the frames. 29 Overlay the frames with gold and make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Also overlay the crossbars with gold.”

 

.          God is holy and separate from the world. The inner curtain separated the Most Holy Place–the throne room of God–from the Holy Place. The table with the bread of the Presence and the lampstand and lamps, symbolizing God’s living presence, were in the Holy Place. The curtains of the tabernacle had some deep spiritual meaning. They show the holiness of God, who in his moral perfection, separates himself from the world as curtains can separate spaces in a room.  This curtain separated the two sacred rooms in the tabernacle, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. The priest entered the Holy Place to commune with God and to tend the altar of incense, the lampstand and table with the bread of the Presence. The most holy place was where God himself dwelt, his presence resting on the atonement cover, which covered the Ark of the testimony. Only the priest could enter the Most Holy Place. Even he could do so only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, to make atonement of the sins o the nation. Though the curtains separated dwelling place of out holy God, God tried his best to make himself accessible to the people. He really wants a relationship with us.

 

In this New Testament era, the curtains of the Temple were used to show the world what Jesus has accomplished for us through the Gospel. When Christ died, the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom, (Mark 15:38). This symbolized our free access afforded to anyone who believe, to God because of Jesus’ death. No longer did people have to approach God through priests and sacrifices, but through faith in Christ.

 

The tabernacle was made to travel. God is a pilgrim God who would travel with his people to the Promised Land. The people were also mobile. God wanted to be with his people as they traveled. He wanted to be close to them and accessible. That is why the tabernacle was designed to be portable. There were tent walls and poles and bases and curtains all of which could be dismantled and carried. The ark was even meant to be carried by poles. God didn’t want his people to just settle in the desert of Sinai. He wanted them to travel and experience faith through many events. Eventually after wandering 40 years, they would enter into the Promised Land. As his people traveled, God would be with them. He would guide, protect, deliver and provide. He would be as a father guiding his own children. The Israelites would have to simply trust and obey.

 

God is with us. Immanuel means “God with us”. Actually the tent wandering of the Israelites is the life style of the patriarchs. Abraham lived a tent life, as did Isaac, and Jacob. The life of so many giants of faith was a wandering life. But they were never alone. For their God was with them. God is with us in our pilgrimage of life as we traveled to the ultimate Promised Land, the eternal Kingdom of God. God is with us even in our heartache and pain. He is with us in the good times and the bad.  He is with us in the times celebration and times of depression, elation and despair. He is there to comfort, bless and heal and restore, encourage and infuse his life into us. Our God is Immanuel.

 

What a comfort knowing God is with me. It is pure grace to be with my Lord is with me all along my travels in life. It sure makes this life a whole lot easier knowing that my Heavenly Father is with me.

 

Second, the tabernacle reflected the beauty of the Lord. The tabernacle was beautiful on the inside and rather dull and common-looking on the outside. The curtains were blue and scarlet and purple. There were golden loops. It was complimented with the gold table and lampstand. There was the ark with its golden cover. Its final covering was made of the hides of sea cows. God loves beauty for beauty reflect the glory of God. He especially loves inner, hidden beauty. Jesus was described as one with no beauty or majesty to attract us to him. Isaiah 53:2 reads, “He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him..” (NIV) Jesus was like a root out of dry ground; but his inner beauty and glory are beyond description… matchless. This Jesus, became flesh and dwelt or tabernacled among us.

 

Grace means beauty in Greek. God’s grace is reveled in his prevision, his hope for us people, his guidance, his protection…but most of all, his forgiveness. God’s beauty is revealed in the tabernacle. God’s beauty draws us to him. God’s beauty inspires us to seek the Lord. God’s beauty embraces us in his love.

 

Part 2: God Utilizes The Gifts Of All Of His People (30-37)

 

Verses 30-37,“Set up the tabernacle according to the plan shown you on the mountain. 31 “Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker. 32 Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. 33 Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. 34 Put the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant law in the Most Holy Place. 35 Place the table outside the curtain on the north side of the tabernacle and put the lampstand opposite it on the south side. 36 “For the entrance to the tent make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer. 37 Make gold hooks for this curtain and five posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold. And cast five bronze bases for them.”  (NIV)

 

The people were utilizing their skills to bring glory to God. We tend to think that the Israelites as slaves, helpless after being brutalized for four centuries in slave labor camps. Yes they were. But they were not some uncouth slave people who could do nothing well. There were artisans living among them. There were embroiderers, weavers, gold smiths, carpenters, engineers, furniture makers, etc. While they were Egypt they used their skills to beatify Egypt.  Now that they were delivered from Egypt, they could now use all of their skills and talents for the glory of God.

 

God has given each of us talents and gifts that are all meant to build up the church. They are like talents that God intends for us to use for his glory. It takes all kinds of skills and abilities. It takes more than one vegetable to make a delicious salad. God develops variety among his people.

 

We many not even know what our talents are. They need to be drawn out and nurtured by God. We may not know how to apply our talents and gifts. That is precisely when we need to listen to God’s voice and study his world and follow God’s leading. He will reveal things to us and he sojourns along the road of life with us.

 

Lately I have discovered that my gift is networking and building up the mission in the church through networking. In the past I used this gift in so many misguided ways, trying to encourage people to sin. In the first 26 years of my Christian life, this gift was squelched because networking was never a priority in the ministry I was engaged in. But now, as I enter into the next season of my life, networking is vital to me and my family and in promoting the mission of God. It is being used by God to build up his church.

 

We are to bring glory to God, God’s way and not our own. God gave detailed instructions. This passage gives us a lot of directions There are commands like, “Make the tabernacle according to the plan on the mountain”. This is in reference to the way that God directs. Everything was to be done according to his pattern. Moses was not to take away or add anything to the design of the tabernacle. When we know the will of God and obey it, we can find God’s gifts and utilize them and build up the body, the church, in God-honoring and beautiful and fruitful ways. God’s people must come to the Creator God humbly, in God’s way.

 

Prayer:Lord, thank you for being with us on our travels of life and helping us to grow to know you deeply. Thank you for working in our lives allowing us to offer up our talents to bring you glory, honor and praise.”

 

One Word: God makes himself accessible and inclusive.

 




Interact with us using Facebook

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.