God’s people gave so generously to the work that they had to be commanded to stop giving. Let that sink in for a minute….
2.7 million in gold alone at today’s prices. That doesn’t include the silver, bronze and other valuable items that were donated. This tabernacle was really an ornate place by all standards. I think that even pagan kings would have been impressed to see inside it. That tells me something about what God feels is appropriate for worship – He wants to be worshiped extravagantly. God didn’t say “hang onto the money and use it to buy bread and other food items along the way”. He has no problem with our sacrifice and extravagance directed toward him. This is proven to be true in the New Testament, when a woman named Mary pours a jar of perfume all over Jesus while a certain disciple protests.
Note that Jesus doesn’t agree with Judas. He is pleased with Mary’s extravagance. Read John 12:1-11
This passage seems redundant, doesn’t it? We already heard all of this when God told Moses to build it beginning back in Chapter 25. Why not just say “and they did exactly what God told Moses”? The answer to that is probably related to the way people wrote in that day. Perhaps in their mind shorter wasn’t better.
That doesn’t help me much, but then again I get bored recounting the story of Goldilocks. I mean, how many times do we have to say the same thing about the porridge, the chair and the beds? We get it already, let’s move along! (ahem..)
Anyway…maybe that’s what they are doing here. Recounting the story and enjoying the details as the description causes them to relive the entire event. Thinking of it that way, I guess it’s okay.
The important point to remember today is that the Israelites did everything exactly as they were told by God, through Moses. Let’s take a quick look at what total obedience means.
The broad description of each item is given, and in some cases there is some detail given, but in every case there is room left for artistic expression. Belalel is told to make angels with wings tipped in, and faces looking at the top of the lid…but all other details are left to him. The size of the wings and the angle. Will these wings be together touching at the wingtips, or are they spread apart? What clothing will the angels be dressed in? You get the point; It is possible to be 100% obedient and still have room to express yourself. I think that beyond obedience, watching us imagine and create is what gives God the greatest pleasure.
We learn something about God here. He has a purpose and a plan for everything He does, and He gives great ability to people through the Holy Spirit…and then He allows them to do the job that He has equipped them to do, leaving room for personal expression. If I were building the Ark of the Covenant, where the presence of God was going to hover, I would want every possible detail to make sure I got it right. I would want to know how tall the angels had to be and that sort of thing. But God was content to give a few key directions and allow the people to work from there. As long as they were obedient to do what He asked, He blessed their efforts. Who knows how woefully short those best efforts fell…since all of these artifacts are lost to history.
God gives you and I broad parameters to guide us, but then He allows us to work within them. Worship services, personal attire, occupation and the like are all included in this idea. Every church doesn’t have to look exactly the same, in fact they shouldn’t. There are many different ways to serve, and no one way is more correct than the other. God only says that we should serve, He allows us to express how we will obey.
I guess that one of the lessons I take from this reading today is that I need to be obedient (and creative!) and not worry about what obedience looks like in someone else. As long as we stay within the broad parameters, we can expect to be blessed!
Faithfully,
PR