Thanks for your comments gang!
Exodus chapter 25.
God has a task and calls the church or the people to come together so as to meet a need. God wants items donated so he can have the following items made:
1. An ark where the tablet of God's laws will be stored.
2. A lid over the ark where God's presence will always be.
3. Rings and poles to carry the ark so that no one ever touches the ark. Because God is Holy therefore the ark is to be treated as holy since God dwells there. No one is to touch the ark for they are unclean.
4. The table with the items used to present offerings before the Lord.
5. A lampstand so one can see what they are doing.
Today, God wants to dwell in our lives. Therefore
1. Our Lives should hold in our hearts God's words of truth and his laws
2. Our Lives should be holy as God is Holy which is accomplished through Christ.
3. Our life should be a daily Living Sacrifice to him, willing to do whatever he calls us to do.
4. Our life should be guided by the Holy Spirit who will be our light in a dark world, thus showing us the way we should go.
I can’t even imagine what it must have felt like for the Israelite’s that were directed to build the ark ,table, and lamp stand, I have made things (not that important , but feel pride) but what an honor to be called to accomplish such a task, that God commanded.
God was very specific and had a precise way for everything to be made and set up for His tabernacle. I like what Pastor Blair shared about how God wants to dwell in our lives today. Our lives should be set apart for Him. I’m reminded of 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
Amen! Tabernacle means “to dwell” – that’s pretty appropriate for what they were to build. Hebrews 8:5 tells us that the tabernacle is a shadow or picture of what is presently in heaven.
God asked for specific items from every man that gave willing of his heart. In chapter 36, we will see that the people gave so generously that Moses had to stop them from giving more. When have we ever heard a pastor say that?! In today’s economy, the tabernacle would have cost millions of dollars. We are to give joyfully and generously – it’s a principle of God. Those that do are richly blessed. (2 Cor 9:6,7)
I wonder if the Israelites had any hesitation to give up their gold and yarn. It reminds me that all that we have is not ours, but God’s, and we must be willing to give it up at any moment. I struggle with this, but I need to remember keeping too many things and staying attached to possessions isn’t healthy. I love all the comments made on this chapter. I pray God can dwell within in. I don’t always allow Him to be at the forefront of my day, but I hope to change that.
I know He is speaking to me about possessions, because the moment I read the verse that the people were to give up their gold and special yarn, I thought hmmm – was that hard for them to do? Did anyone try to keep theirs? I hope not, because all is the Lords and nothing is for us to keep to ourselves.