Exodus 26:15-25 Architect, Engineer and Designer

Exodus 26:15-25  "Then you shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright.  Ten cubits shall be the length of each board and one and a half cubits the width of each board.  There shall be two tenons for each board, fitted to one another; thus you shall do for all the boards of the tabernacle.  You shall make the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards for the south side.  You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards, two sockets under one board for its two tenons and two sockets under another board for its two tenons;  and for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards,  and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board and two sockets under another board.  For the rear of the tabernacle, to the west, you shall make six boards.  You shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle at the rear.  They shall be double beneath, and together they shall be complete to its top to the first ring; thus it shall be with both of them: they shall form the two corners.  There shall be eight boards with their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board and two sockets under another board.” (NASB)

This week I am taking some vacation time off of work but as many are these days – this is a “Staycation”.  So, I needed a project.  We’ve had a covered area by our pool with slotted wood since it was built more than 15 years ago and I’ve wanted to make that a solid all weather roof for some time.  This is the time.  Construction, or shall I say – destruction started on Monday.

Right off the bat I met with the unexpected as I brought out my trusty wrecking bar to pop off the 2x2 redwood that was simply nailed up there.  Oops!  Not nailed, it had been screwed down.  Every piece had been screwed in place which of course made for good construction but made my job of taking it apart a challenge.  Out comes the electric drill with Phillips head screw driver attachment and away we go.  What I discovered of course was that I did not know what I was getting into as I began even the demolition phase.

By Tuesday morning I was ready to go shopping for materials having a pretty good idea of what I wanted to do from a construction standpoint.  Well, I didn’t have an inventory of the hardware store in mind as I put the thoughts in my head so there was quite a process of wandering and pondering as I pieced the project together mentally gathering the necessary materials.

It worked out that the measurements would provide for a two foot spacing.  So, I put the first hanger up and measured out two more feet to the next position.  Two more feet and – TROUBLE.  A light fixture and conduit was exactly in that position so I couldn’t put it there.  I had to deviate and go with two and a half feet on that one.  Then back to two feet for the remainder.

I’m not done with the project but I will just guarantee there will be unexpected challenges as I design as I build.  And that is the point of the passage I chose today from Exodus which is a portion of the detailed instructions given to Moses by God to the people of Israel for building the Tabernacle.  The Tabernacle was the precursor of the Temple and housed the Arc of the Covenant.  It was the portable version carried by Israel as they wandered through the desert on their way to the Promised Land.

So what is the significance?

God did not simply say, Moses – run down to Lowes and pick up a few rugs and some lumber and build me a tent.  He gave very detailed instructions.  This was the Lord’s house and He wanted it made a particular way.  He gave detailed instructions to Moses to have the Tabernacle materials prepared and ultimately constructed.  As they moved through the desert for decades, the Tabernacle went with them.  It was taken apart and then put back together in each new location.

God also provided the artisans with the skills to prepare the various pieces of silverwork, tapestries and woodwork.  None of this should be lost on us as we observe what God did in providing for the building of His Tabernacle.

So what?  How does this matter to me?

Well, our God does not change.  The God that provided that detail to Moses in building that Tabernacle is the same God that is living and active today.  He is at work with His plan and we know by observing His ways that His method is not to get into a project and decide what happens next on the fly.  His plan has been established from the beginning.  And His plan is detailed down to the finest point, we don’t need to wonder whether that is true.  Thankfully, we have passages like this to see a glimpse of the detail our Lord considers.

It is unlikely that any one of us will be asked by God to build Him a tent.  But we do know that every Christian is considered a part of the body of Christ (see 1 Cor 12) and as such has a function to fulfill.  In context our function is not a haphazard unplanned effort that we make up on the fly.  Our Lord has a design in mind. 

OK – so, I’m supposed to be working on some project.  What?  How?

I cannot tell you what your project for God is but I know He has something in mind for you.  I do know that doing nothing is NOT it.  Discerning God’s will for your life is an ongoing process and it involves time in His word, time under Biblical teaching, time in prayer and time in fellowship with believers to gain godly counsel.  This passage comes to mind, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 (NASB)

Our steps are laid before us – we simply need to walk in them. AMEN!

Hebrews 4:12-14 Hidden Sin, Really?

Hebrews 4:12-14  “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.   Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” (NASB)

So, I was in Boise this week and stayed at a hotel downtown where the company had arranged the meeting that I came to attend.  This particular hotel chain is one that I frequent a lot although I had never been to this particular property.  My experience is that the rooms are always clean and comfortable and I can always count on a comfortable bed.  I’ll start by saying my overall experience was different this time.

I always have road warrior travel stories.  This one started in near tragedy when the shuttle driver handed me the other guy's bag at the second to last stop upon arrival Monday night.  In the darkness I didn’t notice, just toted it in and started to check in.  Oddly when I let go of the bag to reach for my wallet it flopped over – NOT MY BAG.  Well, that’s just how this visit went with the TV remote not working, the key reader to the outside door not working and etc.

Well after the first day of meetings I returned to my hotel room briefly to drop my computer bag and rejoin the group for dinner.  When I walked in, I saw something that didn’t register at first.  Something odd about my suitcase; something out of place.  When I looked purposely at it I saw the maid had left her rubber gloves behind.  Not only left them behind in my room, she left them behind IN MY SUITCASE!

Now, I don’t really know the ins and outs of housekeeping down to the last detail.  I couldn’t make a hotel bed just the way they do and I don’t have an endless supply of those tiny mints.  But I’m pretty sure the first page of the housekeeping manual says – DON”T PUT YOUR DIRTY RUBBER GLOVES IN THE GUEST'S SUITCASE!

So, she knew what she was doing was wrong – she just thought she would get away with it.  You know, she worked all alone in that room with her cart strategically placed so no one could follow her in.  What she did in there was completely HIDDEN!  Or was it?

You see, as benign as this little housekeeping incident seems it is sinful behavior; it is sin.  And it is sin that I’m quite certain the maid had not intended to reveal.  You know, sometimes there are sinful behaviors that people do flagrantly – IN YOUR FACE sins.  The parades in San Francisco come to mind as examples.  It would be hard to argue that anyone involved in some of that outlandish behavior regardless of their misguided beliefs could think what they do in some of those parades is upright and wholesome behavior.  That’s IN YOUR FACE sin.  The maid’s actions were not, she committed her deed in private.

The problem with hidden sin is that it can sometimes fool the perpetrator into living a double life; putting on the sparkling image in public but knowing secretly of their dark and shameful behavior.  Sin is that way – it eats at us – it ultimately will KILL us.  That is if it is not dealt with.

Scripture tells us of the remedy.  As believers the Word of God – Scripture itself is referenced in the passage quoted today.  “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  So, as Christians the Word of God is at work in our lives as a spiritual scalpel.  It can actually cut through with surgical precision to “Judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  That precision work of rooting out the evil that continually creeps into our lives because of our sin nature is a preservative surgery we need on a continual basis as believers.  We’re all sinners – all of our hearts are darkened by that stain of sin that fell upon our kind since the fall of man.

But, I’ll just HIDE!  My sin is mine alone!   

Baloney!!!

“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”  Scripture is pretty clear here – THERE IS NO HIDING!  You can’t get away from the black and white facts.  You may fool your fellow man.  You may even tidy up after yourself most of the time by picking up those gloves you left in the customer’s suitcase – but your sin is not hidden from “His sight”.  “All things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him.”  So, who are you fooling?  Yourself?  Your family?  Your friends?  Your fellow church goers?

Some years ago the elders went through study called, “Experiencing God” together.  It is an intensive study and I highly recommend it to anyone individually but especially to a small group.  That said, my own experience when it came time in the book to “Walk with God” was quite profound.  The instruction was to go someplace alone with no distractions and simply bare all before your creator.  It took me several days to figure out how and where to accomplish my “Walk with God”.  I finally did it on a lonely drive home one night.  It is something I will never forget as I finally understood standing before my God, “Naked and ashamed.”  I came to terms with the truth that was always there but finally was real to me – there are no secrets with God, there are NO HIDDEN SINS!  I shook in the reality of that moment and unexpectedly I am sobbing even now.

But, our God is good!  He doesn’t leave us alone in that state of weakness and vulnerability.  He’s been there, done that.  Read on in the passage, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.´  We can trust in Jesus because He has walked among us and experienced every temptation and worse and yet did NOT sin.  That’s a great thing because it gives us a Savior in whom we can confide, in whom we can trust.

And although previously unquoted I will close today with the end of the chapter which sums things up nicely, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:15-16 (NASB)  AMEN!