The final chapters of the book of Exodus are focused on the fabrication of the furniture and parts for the tabernacle and its first assembly. Moses went into great detail as to all the work and Bezalel and Oholiab and their craftsmen did in preparation for the tabernacle. He also pointed out the generosity of the people of Israel and their liberal outpouring of gifts to provide more than was needed for the tabernacle’s construction. The amount of work that went into the construction is not completely noted in scripture but I find it interesting to note what instructions preceded the collection of gifts and construction of the tabernacle. Moses reemphasized the Sabbath regulation. In 35:1-3 Moses makes very clear, as the greatest work of adoration on which Israel had ever begun was preparing to start, that observing the Sabbath is the a greater act of worship. Greater than building the tabernacle? More important than constructing the ark of the covenant? A more powerful display of faith then the preparations for the high priest’s garments? I see two reasons why the Sabbath rest took precedent over the construction of the tabernacle; two lessons for the church today.
First is that God wants us to understand that no matter how hard we work we cannot earn a right relationship with him. When he extends his grace into our lives and declares us his covenant people then we are in covenant. Our righteous acts didn’t BRING us to that point. Our righteous works won’t KEEP us in covenant. Only God’s grace will sustain us in that right relationship with him.
The second lesson is that God wants us to give him our hearts before we give him our hands. If he tells us to rest, then we need to tell our hands to rest before God. Spending quiet time with God may be more valuable and fruitful to Kingdom work then knocking on dozens of doors, handing out thousands of tracts, or sharing the Gospel with millions.
Stuart
No comments:
Post a Comment