23 posts from May 2007

Exodus 37

“Bezalel made the ark…” Exodus 37: 1
“Bezalel made the mercy seat…”  Exodus 37: 6
“He made the two cherubim…”  Exodus 37: 7
“He constructed the table…”  Exodus 37: 10
“Then he made the lamp stand…”  Exodus 37: 17
“Bezalel made the altar of incense…”  Exodus 37: 25

As in many cases for biblical names, Bezalel’s name matches his character/calling.  Although there are 4 possibilities of interpretation, the commonly held meaning of “Bezalel” is “In the shadow of God”.  This is then explained to mean “In the protection of God”.

This explanation coincides marvelously with the name of Bezalel’s colleague Oholiab.  His name means “Father’s Shrine”.

When you put the two together, you get “The protection of God in our Father’s shrine”.  Pretty cool…as long as you are at, or near the shrine!

The bible can be summed-up as the story of man’s desire to separate from God, and God’s deliberate strides to commune with mankind.  Each God-stride established a more permanent presence.  Beginning with the Tabernacle, God commissioned a portable house of presence.  Wherever He led, Israel was to follow.  God stopped and they set up the tent.  If you wanted to dwell with God, you had to literally follow Him around.

The Temple was a more permanent house for God’s presence, laid in a foundation.  A problem arose when God’s people turned their hearts from Him.  As result, God drove Israel from His temple.  The temple may have been a permanent structure, but men could be separated from it.

With the giving of His Spirit, Jesus consecrated the bodies of His followers as worthy to receive His presence.  Wherever the believer goes, ”God will never leave or forsake you.”  Heb 13:5

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”  1 Cor 6: 19

Ultimately, all followers of Messiah will permanently dwell with God in Heaven.

“And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be,”  John 14: 3

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins

“So Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person in whose heart the Lord had places wisdom, everyone whose heart moved him, to come to the work and to do it.”  Exodus 36: 2

There are differing views on Judaism and its relation to Art.  We are well aware of modern Jewish visual artists, such as Chagall.  One would be hard-pressed to examine film or television credits without noticing a strong Jewish creative presence.  But, what of ancient Judaism?

Often, the opinion is held that there is no significant visual art in biblical Judaism; that the Jew lacks the aesthetic sense; and that this is largely due to the influence of the Second Commandment, which prohibited sculpture and other three-dimensional art, as idolatry.

Defenders of the Jewish artistic mindset could say that Judaism was determined to lift the God-idea above the sensual, and to represent the Divine as spirit only.  It could also be said that Art was not Israel’s calling.  Whereas the legacy of Greece was Beauty, the mission of Israel was Righteousness. 

But when it came to building His tabernacle and temple, God didn’t call the Greeks.  He enlisted, of all the Nations, Hebrew artists.

It is reminiscent of what the Lord told Zerubbabel through Zechariah the prophet, concerning rebuilding the temple.  “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by strength or by might, but by my Spirit says the Lord of Hosts.”  Zech 4: 6

In addition, Zechariah tells Zerubbabel: 

“For who scorns the day of small things?  These seven eyes of the Lord, which scan throughout the whole earth, will rejoice when they see a plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”  Zech 4: 10

What is the lesson?  God has “equipped & called” YOU to work in His Kingdom.  Tasks have been designed for you, specifically.  Furthermore, the Lord’s delight is when you respond, with faith and enthusiasm.  We must all work, but completion is not determined by our strength or might.  God’s guidance & favor towards His “faithful” ensure our success.

The highest artist is not the greatest master in self-expression, but in self-control: The one who forsakes all to follow.

Blessings.

Hey everyone!

See you TONIGHT at the Downtown Coffee Depot.  7pm

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins

“Moses said to the Lord, ‘Look, You have told me, “Lead this people up”, but You have not let me know whom you will send with me.  You said, “ I know you by name, and you have found favor in My sight.”  Now if I have found favor in Your sight, please teach me Your ways, and I will know You and find favor on Your sight.  Now consider that this nation is your people.’”  (Exodus 33:  12-13)

“Mother Teresa says, ‘You’ll never know Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have.  Moses understood the importance of going with God.  He had seen the destruction of Pharaoh’s army, and the judgment Israel when they denied the Lord.  Moses wanted to know God’s ways, but he never could have predicted God’s methods of instruction…bonding His people to Himself, and each other, by means of shared adversity.

For Moses & Israel, the next several decades would be a constant stream of faith-stretching trials.  Why would the Lord choose this method of character building, as opposed to lavishing abundance & prosperity upon His children?

Perhaps, the answer is found in Moses’ discussion with God.  Similar to their conversation at the burning bush, Moses seems to have a difficult time taking God at His word.  Even though God told Moses He would be with him, Moses still seeks signs.

It is said in business, “Speed of the leader, speed of the team.”  That is to say, if Moses had faith problems, there was no way Israel would be ready to follow.  Faith is muscle, that must be exercised.  It takes desire and discipline to grow.

A young man once came to the philosopher Socrates, searching for wisdom.  Socrates was sitting beside a river, so the young man sat down beside him.  ‘I want you to teach me to be wise,’ he said.  Without warning, Socrates grasped the young man by the neck and thrust his head under the water.  The man struggled and flailed until Socrates finally let him up.  As he gasped for air Socrates said, ‘When you seek wisdom as you sought air, you’ll have it.’”

God gives His Word and Spirit to reveal His nature & ways to His children.  Our life experience with both is what builds faith.

Blessings.

“So Moses returned to the Lord and said, ‘Oh, this people has committed a great sin; they have made for themselves a god of gold.  Now if You would only forgive their sin.  But if not, please erase me from the book You have written.” The Lord replied to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against Me I will erase from My book.  Now go, lead these people to the place I told you about; see, My angel will go before you.  But on the day that I settle accounts, I will hold them accountable for their sin.’ Exodus 32: 31-34

Just a few days ago, we observed Shavuot, or “Pentecost”.  Shavuot is the most important harvest festival on the Jewish calendar.  Since it coincides with the giving of the Law, Shavuot has become emblematic of God’s confirmation & consecration of Israel as His “first fruit” among the nations.

Israel’s consecration is shadowed by their worship of the calf.  On that day, Moses gave a “with me or against me” challenge to Israel, and the Levites gathered to him.  On the very day the Law was given, 3000 were killed.  That is to say, Israel, set against the Law’s standard, produced a crop of death.  When God settles accounts , solely by means of the Law, none can survive His judgment.

Fast-forward to Acts chapter 2.  At the time of the same festival of Shavuot, after Jesus’ resurrection, the Spirit was given to Israel.  The first fruits of God’s Spirit were also 3000 men, but this time, unto life!  When God settles our accounts based on Messiah’s blood atonement, applied upon our belief, and certified by the presence of His Spirit, His Judgment returns, “Not guilty!”

“But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Messiah, he does not belong to Him.  Now, if Messiah is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of His righteousness.  And if the Spirit of Him who raised Messiah from the dead lives in you, then He who raised Messiah from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through His Spirit who lives in you.”  Romans 8: 10-11

Blessings.

The Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell the Israelites: You must observe my Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations so that you will know that I am the Lord who sets you apart.  Observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you.  Whoever profanes it must be put to death.  If anyone does work on it, that person must be cut off from his people.’”  Exodus 31: 12-14

Several years ago, my wife and I went on a mission trip to Mexico.  On the Mexican border of Texas, many “squatters” had formed “colonias”, shantytowns.  Our mission was to build 9x12 houses for these severely impoverished people.  It was over 100 degrees and incredibly humid…no easy task!

One of the men on my team was a fireman.  Ever since we had met in Texas, this guy was talking about heat exhaustion, “Gotta stop every 15 minutes, and drink water…”  On & on he droned.  I had been a college athlete, a long distance runner.  I could run for miles, and nobody was there to give me a single drop of water.  This fireman obviously was talking to the “lightweights”.

1/2 way through our second day on the job, our construction wasn’t nearly as far along as we should have been.  Fireman called for a break, and I kept working.  Thirty minutes later, another break.  I kept working.  Two hours later, I started feeling dizzy.  You get the point.  The next thing I knew, the fireman was treating my heat exhaustion.  I should have trusted the expert.

The work of constructing the Tabernacle was of the highest importance, and was work in the service to God.  But it was not of greater importance than the Divinely-ordered rest.  Nothing was permitted to supercede it.

To profane the Sabbath resulted in death.  It was the equivalent of breaking the third commandment, “Do not receive the Lord’s name in vain”.  That is, you should not call yourself “God’s child”, yet deny God’s authority over your life.

To ignore the “rest” resulted in being cut-off from your people.

Try thinking of it this way: Kingdom work has a mandatory “union” break.

Blessings.

“The wealthy may not give more, and the poor may not give less, than half a shekel when giving the contribution to the Lord to atone for your lives.  Take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting.  It will serve as a reminder for the Israelites before the Lord to atone for your lives.”  Exodus 30

The technical expression for “ransom” occurs three times in the Torah, and each time it refers to money paid by one who is guilty of taking human life in circumstances that do not constitute murder.  Such a ransom was forbidden in the case of deliberate murder.

This concept underlies the “half shekel atonement”.  The same phrase is used in connection with the offering of plunder after the Midianite battle, in Numbers 31: 52.  Those men registering in the census were those registering for military duty…all able-bodied men.  The soldier who was marching into battle is in the eyes of Heaven a potential taker of life, although not a deliberate murderer. 

The soldier is to be impressed with the fact that, high as the aims for which he goes into battle may be, war remains a necessary “evil”.  Therefore, ransom is to be paid at the time of mustering, long before the actual fighting occurs.

Whether rich or poor, the tax was the same.  All souls are of equal value in the eyes of God.  Hence, all are to give the same ransom. 

Concerning our guilt, Jesus paid our ransom.

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, am, Messiah Jesus, who gave Himself – a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.” 1 Tim 2: 5-6

Redemption of Messiah is for all people.

“And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; because you were slaughtered, and You redeemed us for God by Your blood from every tribe, and language, and people, and nation.”  Rev 5: 9

Those at Jesus’ trial cried, “May His blood be on us, and our children!”  Yet Jesus prayed,” Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23: 34   In essence, He was asking for their zealous murderous intent to be counted as “unintentional”.

Blessings.

Exodus 29

“Slaughter the ram, take some of its blood, and put it on Aaron’s right earlobe, on his son’s right earlobes, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet.  Sprinkle the remaining blood on the sides of the altar.  Take some of the blood that is on the altar and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle them on Aaron and his garments.  In this way, he and his garments will become holy, as well as his sons and their garments.”  Exodus 29: 19-21

Atoning for sin is bloody business.  It is ugly and it involves death.  Mankind has a way of excusing its own sin, rather than dealing with, head-on.  All people, in all cultures, feel guilt. 

The fact that men naturally feel guilty testifies that there is a moral law from which to judge right & wrong.  If there is a moral law, there must be a moral law giver…God.

The problem is not as much that men don’t know they sin.  It is that they overlook their own sin, while exposing the sin of others. 

The closer people come to God, the more they feel “convicted”.  Some respond by repenting, others respond in anger.

“If the world hates you, understand it hated me before it hated you.”  John 15: 18

From the giving of the law to Israel, God prepared a way to atone, or cover their sin.  Sin kills, so someone or something has to bear the punishment, leading to death.  The blood of the sacrifice reminds men of how heinous their sin is.  Today, sin is only atoned for by Jesus, and received by following Him.  Acts 4: 12 

For Aaron and his sons, the ear was touched with the blood, that it might be consecrated to hear the word of God; the hand, to perform the duties connected with the priesthood; and the foot, to walk in the path of righteousness.

All followers of Jesus are called to be “priests” (servants).  Messiah’s blood consecrates every part of us: ear, hand and foot, and is extended to every member of His kingdom.  Matthew 26: 28, Ephesians 1: 7, 2: 13

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins

Exodus 27

“You are to construct an altar of acacia wood.”  Exodus 27: 1

The Rabbis explain the symbolism of the altar by forming an anagram from each of the four letters spelling “Mizbe’ah”.  Since few of you read Hebrew and my computer doesn’t type Hebrew letters, you’ll just have to trust me!

FORGIVENESS: Sin separates us from God.  The altar was the channel whereby the Israelite could seek reconciliation with God. 

MERIT:  Gratitude, humility, and contrition found an outlet on the altar.  By exercising these virtues, life was ennobled and “merit” acquired.

BLESSING:  By remaining true to the teachings centered around the altar, man receives the Lord’s blessing and himself becomes a blessing to his fellow men.

LIFE: The altar points the way to the life everlasting.  It directs ones worship to things that abide forever, truth, righteousness, and holiness.

In order for men to perpetuate forgiveness, merit, blessing, and life, it was necessary for them to sacrifice prescribed things at prescribed times, in a prescribed manner.  Problem: Atonement diminished ever time.  You were only covered till the next sacrifice.

Interesting, today neither of the 2 tabernacle altars exists.  They have been missing since the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD.  So how are one’s sins atoned today?

We receive forgiveness, merit, blessing, and life when we trust in Jesus.  His atoning sacrifice lasts forever.

“We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle do not have the right to eat.  For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy of holies by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.  Therefore Messiah also suffered outside the gate so that He may sanctify the people by His own blood.  Let us then go to Him outside the camp, bearing His disgrace.  For here we do not have an enduring city; instead, we seek the one to come.  Therefore through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name.  Don’t neglect to do good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.”  Hebrews 13: 10-16

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins

Exodus 26