Exodus 38
May 27, 2010
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Bible Passage: Exodus 38
In earlier chapters, the blog writers have written about the altar of burnt offering, wash basing and courtyard.
Those earlier chapters described the blueprints of construction from God given to Moses and in this chapter the blueprints have become reality. It became reality due to the generous offering of the Israelites and the hard work of two artisans.
When reading this chapter, I was pretty intrigue by the amount of materials needed for the tabernacle. Weight of gold was about 1 tonne, weight of silver was about 3.4 tonnes and weight of bronze was about 2.4 tonnes.
In total that is slightly more than 6.8 tonnes. We can round it off to 7 tonnes.
For those who have been in the army, we are pretty familiar what is 5 tonnes. That is the weight of the big army trucks that are used to carry soldiers and stores.
The total weight of the gold, silver and bronze, precious metals in the Tabernacle was already heavier than the big army trucks.
I would imagine it required many Levites to help carry the tabernacle when the Israelites journeyed.
It was stated that the men numbered about 600 thousands and each of them offered half a shekel of silver each. 1 shekel is about 16grams according to some sources.
Therefore each person only contributed about 8 grams of silver. 8 grams is not really a lot of weight.
From this, it can be seen that although the contribution is not a lot each, due to the sheer number of people, the weight of the precious metal is pretty substantial.
If using the price of silver now, the weight of the silver would be more than 2 million US dollars.
What I learn is that it is important that in church everyone contribute to the church work.
The tabernacle was where God’s presence was and it was where God met and spoke to the people. If everyone is willing to contribute their effort, even if it is a little, the church will grow and the will of God can be accomplished.
If the Israelites did not offer 8 grams of silver each, there would not be enough silver for the tabernacle.
The amount may seem small each, but when the efforts are combined, big and important things can be accomplished. The building of the tabernacle was a major construction as it was the centre of their spiritual lives.
Likewise today, have we put in the effort to construct the temple that is within us? Have we offered this 8 grams of effort or sacrifice to God who dwells within us?
The Bible says that our bodies are the temple for the Holy Spirit. It is a temple unlike the tabernacle during Moses time.
A temple does not move from location to location but was designed and made for God to dwell there forever.
Since the beginning of time God desired to be close to His people. He started with the tabernacle and then followed by the temple.
Finally He fulfilled His wish to dwell in us by the abidance of the Holy Spirit; in this way regardless of time and location He is close to us; as close as in our hearts.
In order for Him to dwell in us, He had paid a high price by offering His body as a sin offering. Being motivated by His love, we ought to offer our best to Jesus, our loving and merciful God.
Lastly, the two artisans Bezalel and Oholiab were talented people and took up the challenge and heavy responsibility of designing and fabricating all the items in the tabernacle.
Likewise, God has given us talents to do His Work. Have we thought deeply what are our talents?
Sometimes we are quick to dismiss that we are not talented and not worthy. It is good to feel unworthy as none of us are, but do we really have no talents at all?
This coming Spiritual Meeting is a good time for us to reflect on ourselves. Through prayers and through the sermons, we can consider what are the talents we received from God.
Moreover, through prayers we can ask God to help us in our service to Him and to beseech Him to pour down Spiritual Gifts.
For example for the past few Spiritual Meetings I have been asking God to give me the courage to preach the gospel.
I thank God that He has helped me and slowly but steadily I am gaining the confidence to preach to strangers. I am confident that He will help you too, if we ask Him.
May the Lord Jesus guide us, motivate us and kindle our zeal and love for Him.
Thanks biblereader for the sharing!
Dunno about you, but this just kinda reminds me of the sermon by Pr Chin AQ where he talked about the 4 animals with beautiful (or some other word) intelligence/wisdom/understanding, and where he talked about the locusts in Proverbs 30: 27. Alone, the locusts are small and can’t do much damage.. But when they come together and put their strength together…. OWNAGE!!!
Although of course we’re not here to do damage to property.. But what I’d like to share is that in the building up of each individual’s faith, we have been told that we ought to pray for one another that our faith will increase together, to remember our fellow brethren in prayers, and to strengthen each other in the faith. Kinda like adding a little more effort to build up the church as a whole.
So let us all strive to put in effort to build up the temple within us (paragraph 16, line 1), and to pray for another, so that we all may grow together in the faith.
Ex 38:8 He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
This verse touches me a lot. It reminds me of the woman with the 2 mites.
Ex 36:5 and they spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the LORD commanded us to do.”
Besides the blessing of God, the people contributed their possessions with willing hearts. They did not give out of their surplus. They gave their max which resulted in the abundance.
In heaven, there are firstborns. On earth, there are brothers and sisters.
May be the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting contributed their bronze mirrors bec they had no gold, no silver… only bronze… only mirrors. May be in their sisters’ fellowship, they discussed and encouraged one another to contributed their “two mites” to their almighty God.
i sincerely hope that they preserved their reverence and did not become slanderers in their old age (Titus 2:3). And that they are waiting for us in paradise now.
Really looking forward to meeting them.