Exodus 25-27

( ... UNDER CONSTRUCTION ... )

9 April 2019

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+25-27

"God coming from heaven to wilderness ... "

Opening Remarks

Often, I hear (i.e., in Bible studies) that these passages of the Old Testament are "quite boring" or not exciting enough for reading or studying. Bible study leaders and preachers fear that participants may fall asleep or start yawning when these passages are being read or discussed. It is because, in today's time, we take our super-easy access to God for granted :) Back in those days, the instructions in these passages were just some of the many steps Israelites had to take, in order to have access to God. Can you imagine? - Access to the King of the Universe who has all things under his control!! So, they must be SUPER-EXCITED about these passages and the detailed instructions / steps laid down in them. On the other hand, we today, have such an easy access to God (Thanks to what Jesus did on the cross) and we forget that it was not the case earlier, resulting in current-day ridicule of these kinds of passages in the Old Testament! Mind-blowing, ha?

Potential Discussion Questions:-

What do all this (i.e., the Tabernacle) correspond to, today?

Now, Jesus is the true Tabernacle:- John 2:19:- "Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Here it seems God cares a lot about outer beauty & earthly riches (i.e., gold, silver, etc)? What does it tell about God’s character? How much should we care about them in our lives? Should not have these riches been instead used to take care of the poor?

First of all, here in this context, we should not look at these commodities, such as gold and silver, in terms of their "worldly price", but rather as commodities that God might have choose, even before the foundation of earth was laid, for specific purposes as here. They happen to be also very "pricey" according to standards set by people - but that is not why, I believe, God choose them here. God would have chosen them, even if they were considered worthless by people. So, let's focus on their purposes (*1) here, and not be distracted by the heavy "price tags" that people attach to them.

Several verses / passages in the Bible such as 1 Peter 3:3-4, Matthew 6:19-21, Isaiah 1:13-17, etc. clarify how God sees these earthly riches (i.e., gold, silver, etc) in the big scheme of things.

1 Peter 3:3-4:- "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. "

Isaiah 1:13-17:- “Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me … Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow”

In-fact, Jesus warned about earthly riches:- Matthew 6:19-21 - "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. "

Now, let's also inspect another very interesting related incident from the Bible:- Matthew 26:6-12 - "Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. ". This is a rare recorded event, when Jesus accepts an expensive offering. But this is also a one-time event - preparing Jesus for burial. In general, Jesus did not walk, laced with earthly riches. But that does not mean that God does not care about material "riches" any more. Christians will in-fact see & experience abundant material riches, in their full glory, in heaven. - And, that is what I believe Matthew 26:6-12 partly points to. But, again, why did then Jesus not walk on earth, laced with earthly riches (given that God does also greatly care about earthly riches, as we see in the construction of the Tabernacle & Jesus replaced Tabernacle as per John 2:9)? Read below.

People, often tend to worship creation over the Creator. Especially if the creation is deemed very "rich" (i.e., gold, outward physical beauty, etc). In the upcoming Exodus 28, we see the appointed high-priest Aaron is to be dressed up in great outward beauty & glory, laced with great earthly riches (i.e., gold). On the other hand, our current high priest, Jesus, came as "unattractive" from outside (Isaiah 53:2:- "For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. "). Likewise, we see here Tabernacle is laced with earthly riches, but Jesus (who replaced Tabernacle / Temple - John 2:9), was not dressed / laced with earthly riches - Why? Maybe, because God wanted to correct people from idolizing outward appearances and earthly riches. People have had this folly reputation:- 1 Samuel 16:17 - " ... for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” ". Matthew 6:19 (" ... treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal ") also suggests people tend to "go crazy" over earthly riches, and there is now "as-if" curse attached to them!

Now, regarding the question - should the earthly riches used in the Tabernacle, instead have been given to the poor / needy? - Again, I believe what we see - all the great beauty & glory - in Tabernacle here, points to heaven of the future. And, I believe, these lavish spending on the construction of Tabernacle was to be done without neglecting the genuine needs of the needy.

In today's time, we are not expected to use great earthly riches in constructing any building (i.e., say Church buildings) for God's works here on earth. So where then should we spend the earthly riches? I believe we are to spend the earthly riches in fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) God has given to the Church. And that includes call to take care of the genuine needs of the needy, according to many passages in the Bible. One such passage is Matthew 25:31-46:- " ... 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ ... 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ ... ". Here Jesus ties "taking care of those in need in the Kingdom" (i.e., using earthly riches) to the fruits of salvation. Apart from this, very interestingly, no where in the Bible we see any other use of "earthly riches" that is tied to the fruits of salvation!!

Again, the Tabernacle and it's set-up here points to the new heaven (permanent dwelling place of God; Revelation 21) which is to come in future. There every entity will be beautiful inside-out. There we will appreciate both the outer and the inner beauty, of every entity, in accurate terms, without idolizing them. - Since we will be in sinless glorious bodies, unlike the sinful fallen ones we have now.

(*1) Talking of "purpose", next time you see an entity, ask yourself - what is the purpose attached to this entity? Why did God create this entity? The entity could be a human or a commodity such as gold. In the case of humans, Ephesians 2:10 ("For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." ), also reminds of a "purpose" attached to every human God created.

Should Church buildings today be lavishly build with great earthly riches such as gold, silver, etc?

Note that the Tabernacle here points to the new heaven (permanent dwelling place of God; Revelation 21) which is to come in future.

Remember, Jesus is the true Tabernacle (John 2:19). And where is Jesus? -

Matthew 18:20:- "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I (Jesus) among them. "

... (See commentary above, for more)

Tabernacle was laced with great earthly riches. But Jesus who replaces Tabernacle (John 2:19), did not walk laced with earthly riches. Why?

(See commentary above)

What do you learn about the character of God & His expectations from these passages?

Serving God and His Kingdom with all heart, soul, and mind ...

The great material wealth (i.e., gold, silver, etc) out at disposal ... To me, this symbolizes the GREAT material sacrifices Israelites made towards building God's Kingdom. We are called to do the same.

Here God is also outlining a way how people can access Him. How has it changed today? Does this knowledge prompt you take God more seriously?
Why don’t we do the rituals, outlined here, (i.e., keep lamp burning - Ex 20) today?
Any more spiritual lessons?
God was to come and live in Tabernacle. Where is God now?

God no longer confines Himself to a Tabernacle or a Temple. As to where God is today, one very important verse to always keep in mind is - John 14:23 - " ... Anyone who loves Me (Jesus) will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. "