Exodus 37 – 40

Verse 38:1 sums up the end of Exodus:

Bezalel made the altar for burnt offerings out of acacia wood. He made it square—seven and a half feet long by seven and a half feet wide—and four and a half feet high.

First comment I have concerning this reading is it’s full of minutia of the temple and the priest’s clothes. Base, linen, alters, lampstands and the covenant chest are all described in these chapters. I think many miss the point of how God commanded these powerful symbols to be created for a clear understanding of the separation between Him and mankind. The attention to detail is important since this is where God resides with his people.

Second comment is Bezalel is mentioned throughout this reading. He is the artisan in charge of making sure all the details are correct. You notice he either does the work or collaborates with the craftsman to finish the work.

As you read chapter 40, you suddenly see this is a portable tabernacle. It made me think of when we were doing church at the high school. Every Sunday we took the school and set up our stuff to make it a church. Like the Israelites did, we would systematically set up the areas to ensure God could be worshiped and the focus not be on where they were, but rather on God.

Chapter 40 has Moses given the schedule on when to set up and worship in this tabernacle. Also, he anoints everything and everyone to ensure the blessing of God is on its entirety.  In the end we see the people build the tabernacle to specification and God blesses them.