Heavy Temporary Dwelling Place

Heavy Temporary Dwelling Place

Exodus 26: ¹⁴ “You shall also make a covering of ram skins dyed red for the tent, and a covering of badger skins above that.

 

¹⁵ “And for the tabernacle you shall make the boards of acacia wood, standing upright. ¹⁶ Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the width of each board. ¹⁷ Two tenons shall be in each board for binding one to another. Thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle. ¹⁸ And you shall make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side. ¹⁹ You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under each of the boards for its two tenons. ²⁰ And for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, there shall be twenty boards ²¹ and their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under each of the boards. ²² For the far side of the tabernacle, westward, you shall make six boards. ²³ And you shall also make two boards for the two back corners of the tabernacle. ²⁴ They shall be coupled together at the bottom and they shall be coupled together at the top by one ring. Thus it shall be for both of them. They shall be for the two corners. ²⁵ So there shall be eight boards with their sockets of silver—sixteen sockets—two sockets under each of the boards.

 

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GOD gave Moses very specific instruction to cover the tabernacle. HE also provided details into the structure that could easily be assembled and disassembled.

 

My Observations:

• GOD chose a sturdy wood that was rot and water resistant and very heavy.
• GOD gave the instructions on how to make a tongue and groove structure that was not flimsy.
• GOD wanted a temporary meeting place that would need to be carried around for forty years.

 

The tabernacle weighed about seven to ten tons. Its top was red and had a dark center. GOD seems to want the structure noticed and carefully carried. This enormous structure would require a large group of people to build, assemble and disassemble it when GOD said to move from one location to the next.

 

There was no other structure like it at the time. The Egyptians had stone pyramid tombs and huge grain vaults, made by the children of Israel. GOD was preparing the children of Israel for HIS presence. HE would be with them and wanted a formal structure. I notice that the structure came after the curse mentioned in Genesis. The structure was more for humans than it was for GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the top and walls of the tabernacle?
• Has GOD called you into something that requires a stronger structure?
• Does GOD want you to strengthen the flimsy idea and make it into something sturdy with components?

Not Taken Lightly

Not Taken Lightly

Exodus 20: ²² Then the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. ²³ You shall not make anything to be with Me—gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves. ²⁴ An altar of earth you shall make for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I ^[d]record My name I will come to you, and I will bless you. ²⁵ And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it. ²⁶ Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed on it.’

 

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After GOD spoke to Moses and the children of Israel, the people became terrified of GOD. They asked that GOD speak to Moses and he would speak to them. GOD told Moses to have the children of Israel make an altar of sacrifice to remember HIM.

 

My Observations:

• GOD reiterated that the children of Israel were not supposed to make gold or silver gods.
• GOD gave clear directions for the altar HE wanted.
• GOD promised that if they remembered HIM, HE would come to them and bless them.

 

GOD seemed to be establishing a formal relationship with the children of Israel to address a mindset that was imposed on them by the Egyptians. Gold and silver were precious metals that were remnants of the garden of Eden. GOD did not want HIS gold or silver to be used for manufacturing a god.

 

Another mindset GOD seemed to be addressing was preservation of human life. Some people that the children of Israel would face believed in human sacrifice. GOD wanted an offering of their food source, lamb and their tools, oxen. HE also wanted the sacrifice to remember what HE did for Adam and Eve by covering their nakedness. I believe Abel’s sacrifice acknowledged GOD’s action as righteous, so he mimicked HIM.

 

Burnt offerings and peace offerings would become the norm for the children of Israel for centuries until JESUS would arrive as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. GOD gave this temporary way of confessing sin and worshiping HIM through offering unblemished lambs and strong oxen. GOD was focusing the children of Israel to leave their slave mindset where they would give Pharaoh their best and to remember HIM by sacrificing their best.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS command to provide burnt offerings?
• Has your relationship with GOD gotten a little lackadaisical/?
• What limiting mindset is GOD trying to guide you out of?

 

Outside of the Garden

Outside of the Garden

Genesis 33: ¹⁸ Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city. ¹⁹ And he bought the parcel of land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. ²⁰ Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel.

 

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Jacob wanted to settle down peacefully in the land GOD told him to return to. He paid one hundred pieces of money, or silver to the children of Hamor. Hamor was the founder of Shechem.

 

My Observations:

• GOD allowed humans to own discipline when HE promised that HE would never flood the earth.
• Noah cursed Canaan, causing him to try to become powerful to avoid the curse.
• Many followers of Canaan settled in areas where Jacob bought his land.

 

After the flood, people were looking for pieces of the Garden of Eden. Gold was highly sought after and so was sliver, a lesser metal. Jacob used one hundred pieces of money to procure the land in Canaan. While it looked like Canaan avoided Noah’s curse, this purchase would become pivotal in history.

 

Canaan was told that his descendants would serve the descendants of Shem, who is in the lineage of JESUS. Canaan had no idea what Noah’s curse was about. Those who would cause havoc on humans because of their rebellion against GOD would eventually serve those who believe in CHRIST as their Savior. This prophecy does not seem to mean, CHRIST followers would be slave owners, rather, all evil will fall subject to GOD’s judgment.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think this transaction was important enough for GOD to tell Moses?
• Have you ever thought one place was less cursed than another, even though GOD cursed all of creation?
• Can you remember GOD’s promise to be with you always, even to the end of the age?

 

Abraham Buys Sarah’s Tomb

Abraham Buys Sarah’s Tomb

Genesis 23: ¹⁴ And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, ¹⁵ “My lord, listen to me; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. What is that between you and me? So bury your dead.” ¹⁶ And Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out the silver for Ephron which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, currency of the merchants.

 

¹⁷ So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded ¹⁸ to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.

 

¹⁹ And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. ²⁰ So the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial place.

 

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Ephron the Hittite was very wealthy and owned a field with a cave fit to bury a king. Abraham asked that he purchase the cave from Ephron, but Ephron insisted on giving it to Abraham. Knowing this “gift” would be forgotten, Abraham insisted on paying for the tomb.

 

My Observations:

• This is the first mention of record keeping such as a deed, so the Hittites were advanced.
• Abraham understood currency and was able to purchase Sarah’s tomb.
• Silver was the currency of choice since gold was rare and highly sought after as a part of the Garden of Eden.

 

Living amongst the Hittites may have been rewarding and challenging at the same time. This group of raiders were strong, which would probably keep Abrahm ready to fight at all times. But on the other hand, no outside raiders would dare to attack. This seemed like a suitable place to bury Sarah.

 

Abraham became rich in land through this purchase. He probably stationed guards around the land to keep people from squatting. He received a deed and buried Sarah in the tomb. He paid more for the land than CHRIST was offered for HIS life.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD go into detail about how much ‘Abraham paid for Sarah’s tomb and how he got a deed?
• Has anyone ever offered to pay for something for you, but you sensed it would be wise for you to pay for it yourself?
• What is GOD’s wisdom saying to you about dealing with someone who does not have your best interest in mind?

Trying to Pay for Wrong

Trying to Pay for Wrong

Genesis 20: ¹⁴ Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him. ¹⁵ And Abimelech said, “See, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” ¹⁶ Then to Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; indeed this vindicates you before all who are with you and before everybody.” Thus she was rebuked.

 

¹⁷ So Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they bore children; ¹⁸ for the Lord had closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

 

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Havilah was a place that had gold and precious or rare stones on it. Adam and Eve could visit this place to see something different, but they may have thought nothing more than “wow, this is beautiful.” But when Satan caused them to fall, humans were taken out of the Garden of Eden. When the flood happened, the Garden was washed away. But precious stones remained and were scattered all over the earth.

 

People may have searched for these unique stones and metals because of their rarity. Abimelech had silver, a slightly more common metal, and he offered it to Abraham as a way of trade. He knew he had done something wrong, so he gave animals, people and silver.

 

My Observations:

• Silver was mentioned for the second time here, where the first mention was with Abraham.
• Currency seemed to have gotten started and trading people, animals and precious stones had become the norm.
• Abimelech thought he could pay for his wrong through his vast supply of people, animals, land, and precious stones.

 

Sarah remained untouched, but may have been in captivity for over a year. Living in the king’s house, she may have been treated well, but was not with Abraham. During that time, no woman in Gerar could have a child because of Sarah. GOD made all the women barren.  Abraham may have regularly tried to convince Abimelech to let Sarah go, but he may have refused.

 

But after a while he begged Abraham to take Sarah back. He paid, what he thought was, a heavy price for her to Abraham. A thousand pieces of silver for Sarah and only thirty was offered for JESUS.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the conversation between Abimelech and Sarah?
• Have you ever done something wrong and thought you could pay GOD off by giving to a church or by sinning less?
• Have you considered that GOD owns everything you own and JESUS paid for your sins with HIS life?

Saved by Silver

Ezekiel 7: ¹⁹ “‘They will throw their silver into the streets,
    and their gold will be treated as a thing unclean.
Their silver and gold
    will not be able to deliver them
    in the day of the Lord’s wrath.
It will not satisfy their hunger
    or fill their stomachs,
    for it has caused them to stumble into sin.

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Broke was the word that best described my situation. It seemed like there were more bills than money. Weekly I would get yet another call from a creditor and it seemed like I was moving backwards instead of forwards. “If I just had a little more money I could relax” I thought to myself.

• There have been times when I really wanted more money.
• There have been times when I craved more cash.
• There have been times when I wanted more stuff but could not afford it.

During this “broke” time I groused and my smile was seldom seen. I mean my life was a shamble right? Wrong! My dependence on cash made my life like a thermometer, hot when I had it, cold when it was gone. What was I supposed to do?

• GOD says to me “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”
• GOD says to me “Put your trust in ME and all will go well with you.”
• GOD says to me “Trust in the LORD with all your ways and all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.”

When I calmed down I realized I had never missed a meal and I was living in a semi-paid for apartment. My job was difficult but I was getting a steady paycheck. I truly had a lot to praise GOD about. “You mean I can depend on GOD for my worries?” I thought to myself. This brought a genuine smile to my face. I felt heaviness fall from my shoulders. GOD wants me to smile in the middle of the storm without depending on cash or my wits. HE does care.

• Have you placed too much emphasis on money?
• Do you spend an excessive amount of time worrying about money?
• Will you stop placing so much value on money and start valuing GOD?