Bible Discussion Thread

Exodus 25

This chapter describes the making of items for the tabernacle of meeting in fine detail. The directions are meticulous and exacting, representative of the absolute reality of each item's counterpart in heaven. These are said to be made after a pattern as well as a shadow of what is truly real.

The chapter begins with YHWH telling Moses to speak to the people, asking them to bring an offering to the YHWH voluntarily (God loves a cheerful giver) in a heartfelt way (worshipful). Then YHWH lists the items He asks the people to bring to Moses:

gold, silver, bronze

blue, purple, and scarlet fine linen

goat's hair, ram's skins (dyed red), badger skins

acacia wood, oil, spices

onyx, and various stones

YHWH reveals the purpose of these things offered is to make a tabernacle (sanctuary) (place of worship and meeting with YHWH) so that He may dwell among the Israelites.

YHWH is asking the people to bring to him costly things or rare things. Most of the metals were from the jewelry and items the Israelites received from the Egyptians just before fleeing the country. The dyed cloth was luxurious (not for everyday clothing). The hair and the skins from the animals involved slaying these creatures. Goats and rams they had as livestock, but badgers were wild (and fierce). The wood was from a tall tree with a rounded crown that grew in the wilderness, but sparsely, not as in forests. And the precious stones were also considered luxurious.

The items YHWH wanted made from these things required a large quantity of these things, so generosity was needed to supply all that was needed, even though the Israelites left Egypt in haste and not with ALL of their household goods. They probably didn't have a lot of excess of some of these things and most likely each served a good purpose for the people in their journey. They were to give sacrificially to YHWH, likely testing many of the Israelites since replenishing these things was unlikely in

this place.

This was such a great undertaking that happened here in Exodus. I've been reading it over a few times over the past couple years and in my finite mind...it amazes me how the tabernacle or even the arc of the covenant had been constructed. No human architect has ever used such blueprints. Amen.