Exodus 27-28; Matthew 21:23-39

You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits broad. The altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits. 2And you shall make horns for it on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze. You shall make pots for it to receive its ashes, and shovels and basins and forks and fire pans. You shall make all its utensils of bronze… Exodus 27:1-3

…All the pillars around the court shall be filleted with silver. Their hooks shall be of silver, and their bases of bronze. The length of the court shall be a hundred cubits, the breadth fifty, and the height five cubits, with hangings of fine twined linen and bases of bronze… Exodus 27:17-18

Exact measurements, thorough instructions, directions about the minutiae of each facet…

And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and of fine twined linen, skillfully worked. It shall have two shoulder pieces attached to its two edges, so that it may be joined together… Exodus 28:6-7

You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel, six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, in the order of their birth… Exodus 28:9-10

A meticulous plan, specific materials, colors, gemstones, metals, in depth ornamentation and decoration…

You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, in skilled work. In the style of the ephod you shall make it—of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen shall you make it. It shall be square and doubled, a span its length and a span its breadth. You shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row; and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree. There shall be twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They shall be like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes… Exodus28:15-21

I am struck by the detail.

Piece by piece, item by item, God described the various aspects of the bronze altar, the court of the tabernacle, the Priest’s garments. Each precise feature was designed to be functional and beautiful, as a part of the rituals of praise and atonement. Each portion was also designed to be a prophetic illustration, a foretelling of the coming Christ, as well as a reminder of God’s goodness.

Every time I read these passages about the tabernacle. Every moment I spend in nature, looking at flora and fauna, and learning more about my surroundings. Every day as I watch my daughters grow, I am reminded that God is a remarkable Creator. I look at each element and see the intricacies of each part; and I know that even as I observe, I am still not aware of all of the complexities.

Like God designed the tabernacle and all of its pieces, He designed me. He formed me in my mother’s womb from the inside out. He knows my name and every hair on my head. He sees my going and my coming. He crafted me complete and full of detail. He molded me into a unique being, yet He fashioned me in His image. He created me for such a time as this to show Himself, His love to the world through Christ in me. He chose me.

Yesappa, Thank You for being in the details of everything from the tiniest atom to the largest galaxy and everything in between. Thank You for helping me see Your finished work in those intricate details, for helping me understand pieces of Your vastness. Thank You for letting me be a part of Your plan. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessings – Julie (writing from Sholavandan)

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Exodus 37, John 16, Proverbs 13, Ephesians 6

Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. That is why you need to put on God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing. Ephesians 6:12-13 (NCV)

God is the creator of all things in the heavens and in the earth. I think of my children and how perfectly formed they are, down to the smallest details, including the heart-shaped birthmark on my toddler’s abdomen and the perfectly kissable lips on my baby; and I marvel that, as unique as these two little girls are, they are only two of the trillions of completely distinctive human beings who ever lived or died.

As I read more about the details that God laid out for the construction and artistry of the items used within the tabernacle, and even the tabernacle itself, it is amazing to me how specific He is for each item. From the type of materials used to the measurements and sizes, all crafted by a man whose name means ‘In the Protection of God.”

I believe that there is so much significance to everything that God does, meaning within meaning. There is a reason each of these items were certain dimensions. There is a reason each item was adorned with specific decorations. There is a reason certain materials were used in the construction of each item. Of course, physical beauty to be admired and strength to withstand the ages, but also everything ultimately points in some way to the cross, the finished work of Christ.

More specifically, what stood out to me was the use of acacia wood and gold. Annette Ettinger, my dear mother-in-the-Lord, a woman who has extensively studied Biblical botanicals, writes this:

 “Acacia or shittim wood was a virtually incorruptible wood that God chose for the construction of the Tabernacle of Moses and its contents; excluding the laver, the golden lamp stand and the mercy seat.  All of the acacia wood was overlaid with pure gold representing the deity of the Lord.  The acacia wood depicts the Lord’s humanity and His sinless incorruptible nature.

We enter into this anointing through the framework of the tabernacle…This imagery clearly brings forth a prophetic picture of the body of Christ being jointly fit together, standing ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ and resting in the finished work of the cross.  Overlaid in gold represent His Bride taking on His image from glory to glory through His refining fire!” ¹

When I accepted Christ in my heart, we became one, I in Him and Him in me. Through Him, I am given strength; I am given everlasting life. I am grafted into His vine. As I continue to receive His gift, He infuses my life and literally changes me from the inside out. He trains me, teaches me and gives me the tools I need to withstand – truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer.

At the same time, His glory covers me from head to toe, and I am given God’s armor which reflects His image and His glory to protect me. My image transforms from that of a woman clothed in the filthy rags of sin to the image of a warrior princess covered in the gilded splendor of my King. And, I am able to stand against the wiles of the enemy.

 ²

Blessings – Julie, Vadipatti, India (written in the U.S.A.)

¹ http://www.hegai.org/products/acacia.html

² http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cdhgqHhno4o/SjTLwf0sFcI/AAAAAAAAAY0/BwC3WLKSPX8/s1600-h/Armour+of+God.jpg

Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Exodus 25-26, Mark 1:1-22

Receive an offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him… Exodus 25:2

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11-12

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 1 Corinthians 3:16

The Tabernacle, God’s desert tent.
Immanuel, God with us,
Greater and More Perfect Tabernacle,
image of invisible God in earthly tent.

Ark of the Covenant, golden mercy seat.
The Angel of the Lord, Son of David,
Christ the end of the law
for everyone that believes

Bread of presence, God’s fragrant provision.
Bread of God, True Bread from Heaven
Bread of Life for the world.
Take and eat. This is my body.

Lampstand, Branches of light in the darkness.
Messiah, Righteous Branch of Jesse,
Light from heaven, light of life,
Light of the World

Temple Curtain, Royal purple wool.
Prince of Peace, Only begotten Son,
Lamb of God who takes the sins of the world
Torn

Temples of the Holy Spirit
God within us,
Living tabernacles made perfect forever
By one sacrifice, once for all.

Tabernacle, the person of Jesus Christ.
Tabernacles, everyone that believes.
Unfasten your sandals.
Everywhere we stand is now holy ground.

yicareggie