Exodus 25–31

The LORD gives instructions for the building of the tabernacle and all its trappings, including the ark of the covenant (the lid of the ark is the mercy seat where the LORD will meet with Moses), the table of showbread, the golden lampstand, the bronze altar, the garments for the priests, the sacrifices, and the altar of incense. The LORD also prepares skilled craftsmen to carry out the designs, and the sabbath becomes the sign of the covenant.

A lot of reading today, but it shows that the LORD cares about the details. He is a God of detail.

As I was reading the description of the tabernacle, I couldn’t help but think of Paul’s language for the church in Ephesians. Each part has a role to play, and each must play its part if the whole is to function as it should. Every hook, clasp, curtain, stand, loop, and base, not to mention the ark, the table, the lampstand, the bronze altar, the priests, and the altar of incense, each had a part to play in the tabernacle. And each was important to fulfill what God had designed. It was something that worked together.

Just like us. We go together. The church isn’t one of us. It’s all of us. Generously bringing the full weight of the resources the LORD has entrusted to us in serving the body. The church is the place where the LORD dwells among us in a special way.

And just like the tabernacle, the LORD gives gifted men for the building up of the body, equipping the saints for the work of ministry. Another one of those Ephesian things from Paul.

That’s, of course, if you are a part of the body, the Church. And that’s only true of you if you have trusted in Jesus. You can do that today. It starts with recognizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and believing that Jesus is the Savior whom God promised. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death. He was raised to life on the third day, proving that He had conquered both sin and death, so that by believing in Him, we can be saved—not because of anything that we have done, but because of what Jesus did. The Innocent who died for the guilty so that the guilty could be declared innocent.

pro rege

This post is based on a sermon from our Exodus series. Download the podcast at: Central Christian Church Main Service, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or Threads: @ccclancaster. You can also download our Central Christian app in the iTunes App Store.