I thought we'd be concluding our study of Chapter 26 today but the Lord had other plans and brought out something in today's passage that I feel we need to spend some time talking about before we finish this chapter. He has an encouraging message for us!
But before we reach the main point of today's message we'll finish taking a look at the framing of the tabernacle. "Also make crossbars of acacia wood: five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle, five for those on the other side, and five for the frames on the west, at the far end of the tabernacle. The center crossbar is to extend from end to end at the middle of the frames. Overlay the frames with gold and make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Also overlay the crossbars with gold. Set up the tabernacle according to the plan shown you on the mountain." (Exodus 26:26-29)
I don't know about you, but while we've been reading the instructions for making the parts for the tabernacle I've had trouble picturing in my mind how all the various parts would go together. But that's a problem I typically have and I require a very clear and detailed diagram whenever I have to put an object together. There are other people---and my husband is one of them---who can be presented with a bunch of parts and be able to start sorting them into the correct order and start putting them together. But maybe Moses was like me and needed some extra help because the Lord says in verse 29 that He showed Moses how to set the tabernacle up. Moses is going to be able to tell the craftsmen exactly how to fashion each part and then, when all the parts are finished, he'll be able to direct the men in putting it together. Isn't God gracious when dealing with our weaknesses? He knows not everyone can read instructions and be able to form a picture in their minds of the completed project. He provides a diagram to Moses that's so easy to follow that no one will have any trouble figuring out how all the parts of the tabernacle should go together. God didn't give the same skills to every single person on the earth and its' a good thing He didn't. He doesn't need or want all of us to be alike. And speaking of skills, that's the subject we'll be discussing for the remainder of today's study time together.
"Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker. " (Exodus 26:31) This is going to be a beautiful tapestry created by a "skilled worker". The Holy Spirit used these two words from this verse in today's study to pass along what I feel is a very encouraging message. We're living through a depressing, scary, and uncertain time in our nation right now. It would be easy for us to get so down in the dumps that we stop feeling any interest in pursuing our talents and hobbies. It would be easy for us to lose interest in honing the skills and talents the Lord gave us, but while studying our passage today the Holy Spirit said that this is exactly what not to do.
The Israelites are a people of many skills and talents. To fashion the tabernacle and all its furnishings, it will take carpenters, goldsmiths, silversmiths, weavers, leather tanners, and so much more. The Israelites didn't neglect their talents while they were being oppressed in Egypt. They could have bewailed their circumstances to the point of saying, "What does it matter? What good is it for me to pursue my talents and hobbies if I'm going to be stuck in slavery for the rest of my life?" But instead they bloomed where they were planted. And isn't it a good thing they did? Because if they hadn't they wouldn't have the skills to construct the beautiful meeting house where the Lord has said He will "dwell" with them.
We could learn a lot from their example. We're all going to go through difficult times in life. If we're feeling upset or depressed we may have less interest in the things we usually enjoy, but that's exactly when we should keep on doing those things anyway. If we don't, we're likely to fall further into depression. We need to keep up with our usual activities and hobbies as much as we can, even though at first we may feel like we're only going through the motions. But the Lord gave talents and skills to each of us for a reason and this is why we find the Apostle Paul speaking these words of encouragement to his young preacher friend Timothy who was going through a difficult time: "Do not neglect your gift." (1 Timothy 4:14) The ancient Israelites who endured slavery in Egypt would have agreed with the Apostle Paul's words. They didn't neglect their gifts while they were in Egypt and now they're in a position to do great things for the Lord. You and I may feel like we're in Egypt, figuratively speaking, and we may be tempted to wallow in sadness and inactivity. But that's just what we mustn't do!
The Lord says to us what Paul said to Timothy, "Do not neglect your gift." Who knows what we'll be called to do with our gifts in the future? The Israelites never expected to build a glorious meeting house for the Lord. They were forbidden to openly practice their religion in Egypt. They had no place to bring offerings and sacrifices to the Lord but they continued working with metals and weaving tapestries and learning how to cut and carve wood, never dreaming what they'd someday be called to do with their talents. Generations died in Egypt without being the ones to work on the tabernacle or its furnishings, but they taught their skills to their children and grandchildren. Then those children and grandchildren taught these same skills to their children and grandchildren. And now their efforts are paying off. Now they are doing a great thing for the Lord and a great thing for themselves. So let's not give in to the temptation to do nothing when we're feeling low. That's exactly what Satan wants us to do. You can be certain that's what Satan wanted the Israelites to do so they could never build a place to meet together with the Lord. If they'd never built the meeting place they would have been in far more danger of falling away from the Lord and falling into useless idolatry. Their hard work has paid off and your hard work and my hard work will pay off too. I don't know how the Lord intends to use our skills in the future but I don't want to miss out on it, do you?
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