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Israel
has been redeemed from slavery in Egypt with great
power, signs and wonders, and by the deaths of
the Passover Lambs. We are a free people. We have
crossed through the Red Sea on dry ground. God
is providing for our needs, even miraculously,
with manna and water that came from the rock that
Moses struck. We’ve fought and defeated the Amalekites
by relying on the Lord, symbolized by the hands
of Moses being lifted up - then there was victory.
God then manifested His presence on Mount Sinai,
and the voice of God was heard by all of Israel,
and the Ten Commandments were given. Other laws
were given. Israel accepted the covenant with
God. Animals are killed, and blood is sprinkled
on the people.
Then Moses
and Aaron, Nadav and Avihu, and seventy of the
elders of Israel, climbed Mount Sinai, celebrated
this covenant with God. They had a meal on Mount
Sinai, and they saw the God of Israel, who manifested
Himself to them. Then the Lord called Moses up
on Mount Sinai by himself, where God gave him
two stone tablets, and other laws. Now it’s time
to build a tent so that God can dwell among us.
That brings us to this week’s Torah portion. I
want to simply bring up the highlights, and then
help us understand how we can apply these things
to our lives.
Why build
a Mishkan? So that in spite of the Fall of man,
and our sinfulness, God could still dwell among
us, and be close to us, and so that we could learn
how to draw near to Him.
It was
made of the most valuable and precious materials,
telling us that God is precious and valuable.
A Terumah - from the Hebrew root Ram - to take
up, or life up or raise - an offering, was taken.
But these valuable items of gold, silver, skins,
oil, spices, and precious stones was offered up
only from those who freely wanted to give.
The Lord
deserves the best we have to offer. You should
be giving generously to build up the dwelling
place of God. There is something wrong, something
out of order, when a person isn't giving voluntarily,
willingly, generously, when the desire to build
up the Mishkan of God isn't there.
Three
times in this portion we are told that the Mishkan
was made according to a pattern that God showed
Moses. The earthly Tabernacle was patterned after
the True Tabernacle, the Greater Tabernacle, that
is in Heaven.
In the
Most Holy Place of the Mishkan was the Ark and
the Ark Cover. This is the exact location where
God most especially and powerfully dwelt on Planet
Earth. Atop the Ark was the Ark Cover, with two
Cherubim, their wings touching each other. From
above the Ark Covering the Creator would manifest
His Presence on Earth. Inside the Aron were the
two tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod
that budded, and a golden jar with manna.
The Two
Tablets tell us that the God of Israel is a God
of law and justice. His laws are of central importance
to Him. If we are going to have any kind of genuine
relationship with God, it will only happen on
the basis of His laws. We must come to Him on
His terms - there is no other way. The demands
of His Torah must be met - not bypassed. If you
violate God's laws, ignore them or try to circumvent
them, you will not dwell with God. It’s that simple.
The golden
jar with manna reminded us that God promised to
supernaturally provide for His people - even in
a desert wilderness. Just as He miraculously provided
for Israel, so He will provide for us too!
Aaron's
rod tells us that we need a God-appointed, God-ordained
mediator to approach God for us. Man in his fallen
state cannot enter the Presence of God. Sin has
damaged us too deeply to approach the presence
of God directly. We can't approach Him directly
ourselves, and we can't appoint anyone we please.
There
was a Table for the Bread of God’s Presence. The
table and bread speak of God's provision. God
will provide for the spiritual and physical needs
of His people. It also speaks of chah-vay-root
- fellowship. Eating together has always represented
sharing and friendship. The God of Israel wants
to be intimate with us, sharing in our lives,
so that we are His friends. God called Abraham
His friend. Do you have that kind of relationship
with God. Is He your friend?
There
was the Golden Seven Branched Menorah, which gave
light for the priests to serve the Lord in the
Holy Place. It tells us that God is the fullness
of truth and victory.
There
were curtains, boards, and veil, all of which
were designed to keep people at various distances
from God. Israelis could enter the court, but
not the Holy Place. Priests could enter the Holy
Place, but not the Most Holy Place. Only the High
Priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only
on Yom Kippur. God is too holy and pure for sinful
men and women to approach directly.
Outside
the Holy Place, but in the Court, was the Bronze
Altar, telling us that God made provision for
our sins through the sacrifices that were offered
on it.
Now, the
Mishkan and it’s individual parts are also fulfilled
in the Messiah. The Mishkan itself points us to
the Messiah. He is the true Tabernacle., the place
where God most fully dwells and manifests His
presence among human beings.
Yeshua
is the fulfillment of the Ark. He is the place
where God and man meet. The rod that budded points
to Yeshua, the ultimate High Priest, the One and
only Mediator between God and man. The Two Tablets
points to Yeshua who kept the Law, and enables
us to fulfill it. The jar of manna tells us that
He can miraculously provide for all the needs
of His followers.
The Table
and the Bread of the Presence tells us that Yeshua
can provide for His followers, and that He wants
to have fellowship and friendship with us. He
promises, “I stand at the door and knock; if anyone
hears My voice, and opens the door, I will come
in to him, and will eat with him, and he will
eat with Me.” The bread of the Presence speaks
of Messiah as the bread of life. We need to constantly
feed on the Bread of Life, have fellowship with
Him, be intimate with Him as we would a friend.
Yeshua calls us friends if we do the things that
He asks us to.
The Seven
Branched Golden Menorah tells us that Messiah
is the Light of God, the Light of the world. The
seven branches, seven being the number of completion,
perfection, speaks of the complete sufficiency
Messiah to bring truth and understanding, salvation
and victory.
The veil
represents Messiah's body. The moment Messiah
Yeshua died the veil was torn in two from top
to bottom. That means that the way to God's presence
was not available for mankind until Messiah died.
Man is now invited to boldly come before the God's
throne of grace. That incredible privilege was
not possible before Messiah's death.
The bronze
altar was the God appointed way of atonement,
through the sacrifices. Yeshua is the altar, the
place where reconciliation with God took place.
The Mishkan
is gone. Everything in it is missing or destroyed.
But Messiah, who is the Substance to which the
Shadows pointed, remains. Do you know Him? Do
you have Him? Are you friends with Him?
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