For forty years I led you through the desert … yet your sandals did not wear out." Duet. 29:5
“All this was done just as the Lord commanded Moses.”
When Moses was alone with God on Mt. Sinai, He gave him the Ten Commandments. But He also gave him very detailed instructions – building plans – for the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, the gold altar, the gold lampstand, the wash basin, the curtains, even the utensils to be used at the altar. God also gave Moses the exquisite design for the priestly garments to be worn by Aaron and his sons.
Literally tons of silver and gold were used in the building of the sacred tabernacle. Much of it, no doubt, had been given to the Israelites when they were driven out of Egypt. It was pagan treasure now sanctified and fashioned for holy use.
Bezalel was a master craftsman, gifted by God for his work.
“But the people continued to bring additional gifts each morning.”
To their credit, the people really got behind the “tabernacle project”. The workmen finally had to go to Moses and tell him to have the people stop bringing in additional materials!
“Anyone who works on that day must be put to death.”
This is a stinging command, and one that underscores the LORD’s passionate desire for his people to respond in obedience.
“For the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.”
The God of the universe desires to have a personal relationship with us, his creatures. So much so, in fact, that he is jealous when our heart’s affections, when are deepest desires are for something other.> There is no other. “I am the Lord, and there is no other” is the central message of scripture.
“For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”
What do we mean when we say that the LORD – Yahweh – is present with us, his people?
He leads us. He sustains us. He impacts the world through us.
It is almost too much to get one’s mind around – how quickly the Israelites turned to pagan idolatry. And Aaron helped them do it!
The judgment of God carried out by the Levites seems grave, but how grave the transgression!
God especially gifted two crafstmen, Oholiab and Bezalel, for the work of the tabernacle.
God’s plan. God’s work. God’s passion. God’s gifts.
“Every morning when Aaron maintains the lamps, he must burn fragrant incense on the altar. And each evening when he lights the lamps, he must again burn incense in the Lord’s presence.”
Aaron and his descendants were commanded to burn incense every morning and every evening. The burning of incense, like everything else involving the tabernacle in the wilderness, is highly symbolic. Incense is symbolic of the prayers of God’s people, which are to be offered up faithfully each day.
