Tabernacle Knowing

Ex 36:14-29

Knowing. In our minds, knowing is always a story.

Descriptive narrative is a way of telling the story of a things’ essence. The author of Exodus tells us the details of the tabernacle and the parts of the tent of meeting as if we were there, and he were pointing out the details. The tabernacle given, comes with a describing host.

Ancient Greek rhetoricians used the paradigm of a house to memorize their speeches. The would begin in the foyer by describing all the elements at the house entrance, and then mentally they would move room to room, each of which they imaginatively filled with the objects they intended to discourse.

The contestants from modern memory competitions use the same technique to assure they can remember a long list of unrelated words.

We narrativize what we want to remember because our brains – our memories – are essentially geared for stories.

Jesus Christ came to earth because God isn’t a fact. He is a person. A person with whom we can relate. A relationship remembered.

Stop the Contribution

Ex 36:3-13

The freedom to give generously is an act that comes from the anticipation of the extraordinary thing that is being accomplished. Many look forward to supporting what new thing is being brought into existence.

The generosity of the Israelites is like this. They held nothing back. All that was necessary to accomplish the work, and even more than this, was quickly collected until Moses ordered the giving stopped.

We invest with the anticipation of a return on the investment – even when the return in not money. It’s the return that generates the motive to act – the possibility of value created that moves us to invest.

Jesus said, “What can one give in exchange for his life?”

So, store up for yourself treasures in heaven. Invest in what God is doing in the lives around you.  Give with the anticipation of new value.

Work of Culture

Ex 35:26-36:2

The Israelites begin the work of building the tabernacle.

When the sons of Israel entered Egypt 400 years prior, they did not have the necessary population or cultural skills to produce the tabernacle. They were described as keepers of their flocks.

By the time of Moses, things had changed. The skilled trades created the possibility of a cultural creative expression that facilitated the community’s relationship with God. Men and women who had these skills were celebrated and given the opportunity to lead great projects.

God’s project is about community. In community we have the potential for creative expression and scientific exploration beyond what any individual could ever accomplish. Yet, His creative process is always life giving without the hint of libertine selfishness which so often taints the best efforts of every historical culture.

God is in the business of authentic culture.  So seek a creativity that not only challenges but builds up the community.

“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”

Tabernacle Offerings

Ex 35:10-25

The people offered their time and treasure to construct the tabernacle of the Lord – that God might dwell with them.

So I gave my tithe.

God is about relating to the community. He blesses the land for the community. He dwells with the community. The violations and sins of the community He forgives. The community is safe and protected and flourishing in His presence.

It’s easy to get caught up in the spirituality of my individual circumstances. We say, “If I was the only person on earth, Jesus would have died just for me.” But the contrivance of this hypothetical distorts God’s project; His purpose.

It’s not that you or I don’t matter as individuals. He loves you. He sees you in your potency and perfection.

But the project is community.

“He who has done these things to the least of my brothers, has done them also to Me.”

Call for Contribution

Ex 34:30-35:9

Moses asked for the materials needed to make the tabernacle.

Anything that has being is describable in four ways, the material used, the wisdom to shape the material, the forces that caused the process to take place and, finally, the purpose of the thing.

For the tabernacle, the pattern had been given, and the purpose was established. These things God provided. What was needful was the actual material – upon which the pattern could be imposed – and the determination to act.

Human participation.

This in itself seems to be a pattern with God. Purposeful and wise. He is purposeful and wise.

He could have simply spoken the tabernacle into existence. He chose to work through men.

You are His hand extended today. Be generous and determined.

Moses Glows

Ex 34:19-29

Moses spent an additional forty days before the Lord in total fast.

The freedom to remain.

To be steadfast is an act of determination, even though it doesn’t seem like anything is evidently happening. It is a story whose ending is otherwise contingent except that some human being insists that it should turn out in a particular way.

Moses remained. Determined.

We are called to a steadfast love. What we do – whatever we do – be done in love.

Steadfast love. Determined.

Works of the Lord

Ex 34:9-18

God will work miracles in Israel in order to show the inhabitants of the land his works.

Knowing, in the deepest sense, doesn’t come naturally. It is born out of rightly interpreted experience and conveyed from one generation to the next through community.

Just as it is possible for an individual person to misinterpret their experience, it is also possible for a community to get things wrong.

Yet, reality has a way of imposing itself against falsehood. But that doesn’t mean that reality is indifferent to what we think of it.

Our purposes and behaviors are a part of it.

The wisdom of God is Christ crucified. Utter insanity.   And Christ resurrected – the Hope of Glory!

Not just a plausibility. Not merely an historical fact. A response to my folly. A way forward for this moment.

Lord Passes By

Ex 33:20-33:8

Moses spoke to the Lord as one speaks to a friend – face to face. But no one can see the face of God and live. Not even Moses. For his sake, the Lord hid him in the cleft of the rock.

The God of all creation is holy and righteous and powerful beyond all imagining. How could the force behind the universe be anything else? Yet, this same God, incarnate as man, Jesus of Nazareth, is humble and lowly. He is approachable. His face was known. His touch was available to the least. His healing was not withheld from great sinners.

Catch a glimpse of God today. Like nothing else ever known, recognize a powerful friend speaking through all of His created works.

Intimate Friend

Ex 33:9-19

Moses met with the Lord as one meets with a person; face to face.

Moses had a remarkable freedom to dwell in the presence of the Lord. God accepted him and dwelt with him in the tent of meeting. Ultimately, He revealed His glory to Moses in an unparalleled way.

What will it take for you or for me to approach God in this way: to see Him in his glory but also his personhood?

There’s on old Irish expression – “A friend’s eye is a good mirror.”

You have a friend in Jesus.

Reflect the light.

God Refuses

Ex 32:33-33:8

The Lord will not travel with the children of Israel for their own sake.

Forgiveness, especially the forgiveness intended to achieve reconciliation has this implication: reconciliation to the appropriate relationship.

Like Joseph, who was willing to provide for the needs of his brothers but not willing to reveal himself to his brothers, sin and offense have an enduring residual.

The problem is on my side. My guilt and shame are not immediately resolved simply because I have been forgiven. After a breach, the intimacy required for certain kinds of relationships may not – may never – be possible again.

“Purify my heart” – we think we are asking to be relieved of our disposition to sin.

“Purify my heart” – that my shame may not prevent me from dwelling in the presence of God and my brothers.