Our passage this week is straightforward. There is a job to be done and everyone is called to pitch in. The place of worship, the tabernacle is to be built. First, Moses gives everyone God's list of the materials that are needed and asks for an offereing, but in the middle of the dessert? Where would they get such things as precious metals and stones, beautifully colored materials, the hides of sea cows or dugongs, (seriously that's what they're called, look it up, I had to) spices, oils and incense? We must remember that the Egyptians, upon the Israelites request, gave them many things for their journey when they left Egypt (Exodus 12: 35-36). This was at God's command that they ask the Egyptians for belongings for their journey. It's interesting though that the text says they "plundered" the Egyptians as plundering suggests robbery by force when it appears as though the Egyptians were willfully allowing them to take what they needed. Regardless, we see God working out his master plan as these ornaments which had decorated the empire of Egypt became the detailed beauty of the tabernacle.
What is so interesting about this passage is what takes place in the many details of bulding the tabernacle. The response of the people was overwhelming. It seems after all the grumbling, complaining and missteps of the Israelites, they were suddenly becoming a well oiled, tabernacle building machine. Moses shows his gifts as an administrator as we see a clear, laid out plan going into action. Bezalel and Oholiab are called out as master craftsmen and teachers of their craft. Exodus 36:1 is an inspiring verse that we could easily read over without considering.
"So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.”
I think a deep truth is revealed here that is highly applicable to everyday. The key phrase here is "every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability." I believe we see the Israelites becoming such a cooperative, industrious, organized nation because God had given them a clear vision for a project that needed skills and abilities of everyone. The Israelites were experiencing the opportunity to take positive pride and ownership in a project and the response was amazing. We see the craftsmen come to a point where they have to tell Moses "We've got more than enough resources. The people can take a break from bringing us their goods." The people were so generous with their gifts the workers had to tell them to stop.
The rest of Exodus is essentially dedicated to the details of the tabernacle, its furnishings and how they built them. We see the details of the ark of the covenant, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the priestly garments, the ephod, the breastpiece and more. The creation and munafacturing of all these things brought the Israelites together under God's leadership through Moses, unified in heart and purpose as a people.
Isn't it amazing what happens when people find their niche. These people went from a complaining, whining, hungry, thirsty, idol worshipping mess of a people to a creative, cooperative team. We wonder why they wanted to go back to Egypt before, but in this display of cooperation perhaps we see part of the answer. Atleast in Egypt they knew their lot in life and they had a role to play. It was not the hard work that caused the Israelites to cry out to God for deliverance. It was mistreatment, unjust expectations and the Egyptians lack of humane treatment of them that was cause for God setting them free and bringing judgement on Egypt. Since then, these people had been wandering in the dessert not quite sure what to do with themselves, but God gives them, each of them, a purpose and a task and they flourish. They had been working hard together in Egypt just to survive, pulling one another up when a weaker one falls. This had given them unity and loyalty to one another as a people who suffered together. Now they have the opportunity to experience the same but in freedom and service to their God who delivered them. Imagining them working together to build the tabernacle in God given detail as a newly freed nation should warm our hearts and give us a picture of hope for us today.
What does this tell us about the church? What does this tell us about ourselves and our young people? God has a purpose and a plan for all of us and when we begin to glimpse that purpose through our experiences we begin to flourish. We begin to feel fulfillment. Why don't we make that a greater priority? It should be our priority not only for those within the church body but for those we are trying to reach. Give someone a taste of fulfillment through the eyes of Christ's design and purpose and watch their heart soften and their soul cry out "You are Lord! You are Lord!"
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