A Work in Progress….

Exodus 40:21 Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain and shielded the ark of the covenant law, as the Lord commanded him.

Today’s scripture led me to a quote by Edward Everett Hale: “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do.” 

Exodus 40:22-23 Moses placed the table in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tabernacle outside the curtain and set out the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord commanded him.

It is easy to look at a situation and see only what you weren’t able to accomplish, what you didn’t do (or do right or do well), but it is much harder, at least for me, to look at a situation and say, “I did what I could. It wasn’t perfect, but it was something. Other lives are better because of what I was able to do. Thank You, Jesus.” 

Exodus 40:24-25 He placed the lampstand in the tent of meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle and set up the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord commanded him.

Precious Savior, Thank You for the impact we can have when we heed Your call. Help me not to beat myself up for what I failed to do and instead give You thanks, praise, and glory for all that I was able to do in Your name. Amen.

Exodus 40:26-27 Moses placed the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the curtain and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord commanded him.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 40:17 So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year. 

The final chapter of Exodus is drawing to a close. Moses, who balked and argued when God first tapped him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, has grown into a man whose heart is for God, doing “as the Lord commanded him.”

Exodus 40:18 When Moses set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in place, erected the frames, inserted the crossbars and set up the posts. 

The Israelites themselves have gone from captives in Egypt to demanding a golden calf to worship to giving their precious items for the building of the tabernacle and helping to craft that tabernacle from nothing. 

Exodus 40:19 Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, as the Lord commanded him.

Precious Savior, It has taken a long time, 40 chapters, to bring about these changes in Moses and in the Israelites. Thank You for the reminder that change is possible, becoming someone who puts You above all else, who chases You with all our hearts is possible. Help us to seek You, to draw closer to You, every single day. Amen.

Exodus 40:20 He took the tablets of the covenant law and placed them in the ark, attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover over it.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 40:12 “Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting and wash them with water. 

Moses’s obedience in verse 16 jumps out at me this morning as I think back to Exodus chapters 3 and 4 where Moses, repeatedly, gave excuses for why he could not do what God was calling Him to do. 

Exodus 40:13 Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest. 

It makes me think of an old ad tagline: “You’ve come a long way, baby!” because, truly, Moses has come so very far from arguing with God about his personal deficiencies to doing “everything just as the Lord commanded him.”

Exodus 40:14-15 Bring his sons and dress them in tunics. Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing will be to a priesthood that will continue throughout their generations.” 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that we can change for the better if we align ourselves with You, if we listen and study and try to be Your hands and feet. I know I have flaws. Thank You for calling me anyway. Help me to do everything just as You command me. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 40:16 Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 40:6-7 “Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting; place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it. 

BibleHub calls this section “Setting up the Tabernacle.” Commentary calls it “How to arrange the items in the courtyard.” Both titles speak to order, organization, putting things “just so.” 

Exodus 40:8 Set up the courtyard around it and put the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard.

Whether that’s God’s distinction or man’s, I think there is something to “a place for everything and everything in its place.” When things are out of order, it can be hard to focus, and if I am not focused during my time with God, I’m not going to get much out of it. 

Exodus 40:9 “Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy. 

Precious Savior, Help me to be present, attentive, and focused during our time together. If putting everything in its place will help toward that goal, please help me to make it so. I want more than anything to draw closer to You. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 40:10-11 Then anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar, and it will be most holy. Anoint the basin and its stand and consecrate them.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 40:1-2 Then the Lord said to Moses: “Set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the first day of the first month. 

Commentary says that it has been a year since the Israelites exited Egypt, suggesting a year is a good time to look back and see how far they have come in maturing in the Lord. They are not where they were, but they are certainly not where they want to stay.  And I completely get it.

Exodus 40:3 Place the ark of the covenant law in it and shield the ark with the curtain. 

Yesterday marked one year since I walked out of my classroom for the last time, officially retiring from education. This past year has been about letting go–of alarm clocks, of schedules, of that daily grind. It has been about resetting. Now I can look forward towards who I am becoming in this chapter of my life. 

Exodus 40:4 Bring in the table and set out what belongs on it. Then bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. 

Precious Savior, Thank You that we are not who we were yesterday. Thank You for time and growth. Help us all to continue to grow in You, so that we can become, in every phase of our lives, who You designed us to be. Amen.

Exodus 40:5 Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the covenant law and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 39:33 Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent and all its furnishings, its clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases; 

An appropriate title for today’s reflection seems to be “Taking Stock” because, after so long focusing on the minutiae, these verses seem to take a step back, to take a look at the bigger picture. 

Exodus 39:34-35 the covering of ram skins dyed red and the covering of another durable leather and the shielding curtain; the ark of the covenant law with its poles and the atonement cover; 

And I know for a fact how important that process of taking stock can be. I am guilty of getting so focused on the details, the specifics, that I lose sight of the bigger picture. That process of taking stock, of checking in, or reflecting on the entire scope of a project is important.

Exodus 39:36-37 the table with all its articles and the bread of the Presence; the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its accessories, and the olive oil for the light; 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that sometimes we all need to take a step back and reassess, taking stock of the bigger picture and reminding ourselves of why we are doing what we are doing. Help us never to forget that You are at the heart of every WHY. Help us, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 39:38 the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tent;

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 39:30 They made the plate, the sacred emblem, out of pure gold and engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal: holy to the Lord. 

There is much satisfaction in a job well done–in knowing that you did everything you could to ensure that what you completed was as close to perfect as possible. I feel like that sense of pride and accomplishment was present for the Israelites at this point in the building.

Exodus 39:31 Then they fastened a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban, as the Lord commanded Moses.

I guess the problem comes when we start taking credit for all that we have accomplished in the name of the Lord. The thoughts of “I did this” and “Look at my great work” could lead to pride and, perhaps, self-aggrandizing behavior. And that behavior can be a slippery slope. 

Exodus 39:32a So all the work on the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, was completed. 

Precious Savior, Help me to walk on the right side of the line of “pride in my work, work done for You, through You, with You, in You,” and “prideful behavior that leads me away from You.” I know that all that I am and all that I have is from You. Help me to always act like it. Amen.

Exodus 39:32b The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 39:25 And they made bells of pure gold and attached them around the hem between the pomegranates. 

My sister creates amazing cross stitch pieces. She created Christmas stockings for my family that are the stars of my mantle each year. But have you ever looked at the back side of a piece of cross stitch? Even the most beautiful cross stitch pattern is a hot mess from the back.

Exodus 39:26 The bells and pomegranates alternated around the hem of the robe to be worn for ministering, as the Lord commanded Moses.

I sometimes wonder if that’s what life is like. We are on the underside of the cross stitch, looking at the mess of threads and knots and wondering what in the world it’s all for. God sees the “right” side of the piece, He knows that all the mess we see from our side is creating an amazing tapestry from His. 

Exodus 39:27-28 For Aaron and his sons, they made tunics of fine linen—the work of a weaver— and the turban of fine linen, the linen caps and the undergarments of finely twisted linen. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for this view of life–that sometimes all we can see is the messy underside but that You see the beautiful pattern that You are creating. Help us to trust You as our Creator, that You have got this under control. Amen.

Exodus 39:29 The sash was made of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn—the work of an embroiderer—as the Lord commanded Moses.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 39:20 Then they made two more gold rings and attached them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod. 

Verse 24, with the blue, purple, and scarlet pomegranates made of yarn around the hem of the robe, put me in mind of crewel embroidery work this morning. And as a creative soul myself, the creative ornamentation on the hem of the robe led me to thinking about ways I can use my creativity for Christ.

Exodus 39:21 They tied the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband so that the breastpiece would not swing out from the ephod—as the Lord commanded Moses.

And, honestly, isn’t that what He wants of us–to take the gifts that He has given us and use them for Him, to shine His light, to give Him glory, to comfort His people? Am I doing that with my talents? I’m trying. 

Exodus 39:22-23 They made the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth—the work of a weaver— with an opening in the center of the robe like the opening of a collar, and a band around this opening, so that it would not tear. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that my creativity is Your gift to me and that what I do with that creativity is my gift to You. Help me to put beauty and kindness into the world in Your name. Help me to bring You praise and glory. Amen.

Exodus 39:24 They made pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen around the hem of the robe.

Have a blessed day.