Journal Through the Bible: Week 16 Friday

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Exodus chapter 36
God's people gave freely out of their abundance until finally the workmen told Moses to tell the people to stop giving because there was too much! From the materials that the people gave the craftsmen and artisans were able to fashion the curtains, loops, boards, sockets, vails, and pillars. (In future chapters we will read of the other things they made.)

Does God make any promises in this chapter?

• There are no promises made in this chapter, but in previous chapters we were told that the reason they were doing all this work was because God promised to meet with them in this Tabernacle that they were building.

Are there any references to Jesus?

• In previous journal posts I stated that these physical objects designed by God were specifically to represent the Messiah and as such were object lessons to teach the people about their future Messiah: Jesus Christ. In much the same way that these curtains, boards, and pillars made up a "tent" to picture Christ, in the New Testament we are told that churches represent the bodies of Christ in their respective locations. Perhaps there are parts of this Tabernacle pattern that do not seem as important as others but the Apostle Paul said that as a body of believers meeting as a congregation each member is as important as another and each has a role to fulfill. (See 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.)

Are there any references to future events?

• God gives each individual the talents and abilities that He wishes them to have and expects them to be used for His glory. I fully expect that the talents we have will be with us and enjoyed by both God and our fellow-man forever. (I take great comfort in believing that I will be able to enjoy my children's talents throughout eternity.)

Does God issue any commands?

• In the first few verses we see God's earlier call for specific craftsmen and any other craftsmen who wanted to help being answered WILLINGLY! (see verse 2)
• We also see that God's commands to follow His specific patterns for the curtains and boards were being followed.