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!

James 4:13-15 Business Anyone?

(James 4:13-15)  "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.'  Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.  Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.'"

I’ve been silent on the BLOG for way too long now and for several reasons.  I have been busy, I had some health concerns and frankly I got out of the habit.  I named the BLOG “Periodic” as a hedge for the day when this might happen and sure enough it did.  Enough with the excuses….  

Since I’ve last written lots has happened.  One of the most significant is that I’ve changed jobs.  Not companies, jobs.  The opportunity for a new role and some responsibilities that I’ve been hoping for presented themselves and I went for it.  This I shared with you some time ago.  The aftermath has been a whirlwind and reminded me of the verse presented here today from James.  The essence is that you can make all the plans you like but the master planner is still the Lord.

James writes to those who say they are going to go engage in business somewhere and have a plan to make money.  This sounds very entrepreneurial and we as Americans can identify with what James is writing; we do this all the time.  We do it as business men, as business owners and even as volunteers working projects for “non-profits”.  We are all very familiar with making a plan to engage in an enterprise to, “Make a profit”.

James critique is not really against this aspect of the behavior.  What he’s chiding is the expectation and perhaps even the perspective.  He says, “You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow”.  That’s true isn’t it?  Do you know what is going to happen next despite your best planning?  No!  A customer of mine just lost his battle with cancer after making big plans for expansion of his farm management enterprise.  He was sick with the disease as he expanded the operation, unsure of the outcome.  But he knew he was sick and he knew there was a possibility the efforts of expansion and re-organization would not be something he would see to fruition.

How many of us have that perspective?  Not many I’m afraid.  Too many of us go about the business of business as that was the end of it, the purpose and meaning of it all.  Well, for the business perhaps that is true but for the person it is a lie from Satan himself.  While there is nothing wrong with going out and setting up a business and making a profit there is a right way to do it.  The first step in the right way is to understand, “You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.  You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away”.  The right perspective understands that God alone is sovereign, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that”.  AMEN!

Psalm 60:11-12 God is Sovereign

Psalm 60:11-12  “O give us help against the adversary, For deliverance by man is in vain.  Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries”. (NASB)

As David led the army of Israel against its enemies they came upon hard times.  In David’s leading of the army of Israel this was rather rare but as depicted in Psalm 60 they had a hard time.

The verses shown are the final two from this psalm in which David explains rather than complains about the circumstances he faces militarily.  He says, “O God, You have rejected us. You have broken us; You have been angry”. v1  In that phrase David gives room to say that perhaps God was simply standing back and allowing hardship to come on His people. 

David goes on to say, “You have made the land quake, You have split it open; Heal its breaches, for it totters.  You have made Your people experience hardship; You have given us wine to drink that makes us stagger”.  v2-3  Here there is no longer wiggle room.  It was God who did this thing.  He made the land quake.  He split it open.  He made His own people experience hardship.  He diminished their capacity to fight.  God in His sovereignty and for His own purposes did these things to His own people.

So, as a premise to David’s lament God had perhaps allowed rather than directed some external force to bear upon Israel.  But, He also took direct action causing hardship too.  He did these things for His own purpose.  Having said this it is important to remember that God had and has the capacity to prevent calamity in the lives of His people.  He is sovereign; it is up to Him.

What might the purpose have been for not only allowing this misery but also directly causing hardship?  Well at the very least it got the attention of David, the leader of His army.  David writes in the psalm of the promises of God.  He writes of the promises to deliver His people.  “You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.  That Your beloved may be delivered, Save with Your right hand, and answer us!  God has spoken in His holiness: ‘I will exult, I will portion out Shechem and measure out the valley of Succoth.  ‘Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim also is the helmet of My head; Judah is My scepter.  ‘Moab is My washbowl; Over Edom I shall throw My shoe; Shout loud, O Philistia, because of Me!’". v4-6

Could it be that Israel had gone off without remembering God and they had to be called up short?  I think that is exactly what was happening.  The tell tale is our closing two verses for the day.  By the time David pens the last he has adequately acknowledged the difficulty he faces and put God and His plan back into it’s proper and primary position. 

David becomes reliant on God saying, “O give us help against the adversary”.  He continues expressing the futility of going it alone, “For deliverance by man is in vain”.  And finally he says that we can triumph over our enemy by relying on God; “Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries”.

The lesson for us is at least two fold.  First, we should always remember that God is sovereign.  Simply put, He plays chess while we play checkers.  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.  "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts”. Isaiah 55:8-9 

Second, it is always better for us when we allow God to lead.  When we go it alone; when we seek deliverance by man, our efforts are in vain.  When we are sensitive to what God wants and obey His leading we will always find success.  Not on our own account will this occur but because He will succeed; He is sovereign.

To God be the Glory!  AMEN!

Colossians 2:8-10 Christmas part 4: Completely God

Colossians 2:8-10  “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.  For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;” (NASB)

Charlie Brown asks a valid question, “What is the true meaning of Christmas”?  If you give it a thought you can understand the validity of his inquiry.  Christmas in the year 2010 is full of traditions, adornments, activities and yes, beliefs that may blur the true meaning of Christmas.  Christmas is not about trees and decorations.  Christmas is not about shopping and gift giving.  Christmas is not even about gathering family together for that big dinner.  Scripture in fact, never uses the word Christmas.  The word Christmas is actually two words, Christ and mass and indicates the worship of Christ, the Son of God as part of a religious service.  It is of particular importance to Christians as we celebrate the coming of Christ to the earth; as we celebrate his birthday.

What does Scripture say?  Our passage today, written by Paul to the church in Colossai, the letter to the Colossians refers to the significance of Christmas.  “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form”.  When you think of baby Jesus in the manger do you remember, “The fullness of Deity”?  Yes, although Jesus came to earth having emptied himself (Philippians 2:7), he remains fully God.  He took the form of that helpless baby but He was and is fully God.

The passage goes on to remind us of the work of Jesus, “In Him you have been made complete”.  This refers to the work of salvation and redemption and sanctification of the believer.  It is through the work of the Deity that became flesh, Jesus, that we are completed.  We believe that each believer is on a growth path, a spiritual growth path.  Growing up then is a result of the work of Christ in us, completing us.  All that made possible by His time with us, Immanuel.

Finally, the passage reminds us of just who Jesus is.  “He is the head over all rule and authority”.  In other words, nothing happens without Jesus knowing about it and agreeing that it should happen.  Jesus is sovereign.   Jesus, “… upholds all things by the word of His power…”. Hebrews 1:3  The buck stops with Jesus.

This Christmas as we celebrate the birth of baby Jesus, as we decorate, give gifts and fulfill our traditions, let’s remember that little helpless child in the manger is completely God”.  AMEN!