A Work in Progress….

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. 

Exodus 39:10 Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it. The first row was carnelian, chrysolite and beryl; 

Today I am struggling with the opulence of the tabernacle, or rather, I’m struggling with the perceived message that many modern churches seem to have taken from that opulence. The tabernacle in Exodus was built from the generous donations of the Israelites. It was a symbol of their love for God and His love and provision for them.

Exodus 39:11-12 the second row was turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald;  the third row was jacinth, agate and amethyst; 

Today, it feels like some churches (many churches?) see an opulent building as a prerequisite. It almost feels more like “See how great and fancy our building is? That’s how much we love God!” Perhaps I am looking at it the wrong way, but if not, it’s a terrible philosophy.

Exodus 39:13 the fourth row was topaz, onyx and jasper. They were mounted in gold filigree settings. 

Precious Savior, The tabernacle in Exodus was about Your love for Your people and their generous giving to You and for You. Help us not to conflate this scripture into a need for opulent buildings or attire. Help us all to be devoted to drawing closer to You and having Your heart, being Your hands and feet, in this world. Help us, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 39:14 There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 39:6 They mounted the onyx stones in gold filigree settings and engraved them like a seal with the names of the sons of Israel. 

At the time of Exodus, the opulence of the tabernacle was symbolic. In Exodus 36 we are told that “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done” (Exodus 36:5)

Exodus 39:7 Then they fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the Lord commanded Moses.

The opulence came from the generous donations of the people, who were called to give and who gave generously. The tabernacle’s opulence is a testament to the work that God was doing in the hearts of the Israelites and a testament to the sacredness of the tabernacle as a space for God to dwell with His people. 

Exodus 39:8 They fashioned the breastpiece—the work of a skilled craftsman. They made it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that the Israelites contributed from their own stores to the opulence of the tabernacle, that their giving, the tabernacle’s opulence, is a reminder of their generous donations to You. Thank You for the reminder that when I respond generously to Your call, You can use my gifts in extraordinary ways. Amen.

Exodus 39:9 It was square—a span long and a span wide—and folded double.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 39:1 From the blue, purple and scarlet yarn they made woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary. They also made sacred garments for Aaron, as the Lord commanded Moses.

In this chapter, we’ve switched from the minutiae of the tabernacle to the details of the priest’s garments, and the word that comes to my mind is: intentionality.  

Exodus 39:2-3 They made the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut strands to be worked into the blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen—the work of skilled hands. 

Dictionary.com identifies intentionality as a noun and defines it as “the fact or quality of being done on purpose or with intent” and “an attitude of purposefulness, with a commitment to deliberate action.” 

Exodus 39:4 They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached to two of its corners, so it could be fastened. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the intentionality of these verses and for the intentionality of Your love for Your children. Help me to be intentional in the time I spend with You and in my reading of Your word. Draw me closer through our mutual intention. Amen.

Exodus 39:5 Its skillfully woven waistband was like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Have a blessed day.