If Your Presence Does Not Go With Me (2)
We are now at the tail end of the book of Exodus and see the finishing touches made to the tabernacle and all the things associated with it.
The tabernacle and the priests were to be a very significant and constant reminder to the people of the presence of God and the need to worship Him only for the rest of their journey in the wilderness. And as we read through today’s passage, let us consider what does it mean for us today…
Bible Passage: Exodus 37-40
There are so many spiritual lessons one can learn from the making of the Ark of the Covenant, the Golden Lampstand, the Altar of Incense, the garments of the priests etc.
However, I would just like to share a couple of points that jumped up on me…
Me Doing All This For God???
The world has never been short of talented people. Even in the church.
God has placed amongst us a marvellous diversity of gifts and skills to accomplish meaningful work for the church. And this was very clearly evident in the wilderness in today’s passage and the other chapters of this book.
First, God have Moses to Israel as a gifted leader. However, when it came time to construct the tabernacle, Moses did not have the gift, skills or ability to do so by himself. He was certainly no craftsman.
But God had already provided among the people skilled workers such as Bezalel, Aholiab (Ex 36:1), and countless others unnamed such as the women who wove yarns and fine linen (Ex 35:22-26) and those who have freely and worked hard (35:10, 21, 29; 36:3-7). Everyone worked according to the gifts that God had given them.
When I looked at Bezalel, I could not help wondering how he felt…
Here he was… being asked to build something for God’s people. And it was not something ordinary… but something where God is going to dwell in! Instruments that will be used in offerings to God! Just read through the list of things he built again and tell me… if it were you… how would you feel?
It is an honour and glory to be able to do such a great work for God.
But we may say that we do not have the opportunity or gift to be able to do what Bezalel did.
Is that true?
All of us have our gifts and talents. And if we have the willingness to offer them for the Lord’s use, we too, will be building things that will be used in the house of God to His glory.
Just imagine! You! Doing work for God!
Have you ever thought about that in our work in church? Maybe that will change how we approach our work in church and discharge our duties from now on.