T'rumah (Offering)
7) Exodus 25:1-27:19
Your heart was created to be filled with the very Presence of God. Your inheritance as a son or daughter of God is that God’s love would satisfy the deepest longings of your heart. King David describes this soul-cry for communion and intimacy with God in Psalm 27:4 (NIV),
One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
David wants to dwell in God’s house. Yet God wants to make David’s heart—and yours—a place for His dwelling! This intimacy with God can be described in terms of Relational Depth. God was intimately present in the Garden and promises to again restore and renew the earth to again be a place for His dwelling. When this happens—when the earth is renewed and filled with the glory of God—God’s Kingdom will be restored on earth. This is Kingdom Breadth. The book of Exodus describes God’s purposes of pursuing Relational depth for Kingdom breadth (RD4KB).
In this post, I will begin by reminding you about the macro-structure of the book of Exodus so you can see how it embodies RD4KB. Then, in the “Relational Roadmap” section, I will highlight two verses from the opening part of this week’s portion so you can taste and see how good God is to fill us to overflowing so that our giving brings glory to Him alone!
The book of Exodus, Sh’mot in Hebrew which means “Names” tells the story of God naming a nation to reach the nations of the world. Through covenant, God puts His Name on Israel and stakes His reputation—the credibility of His Name—on His faithfulness to keep the terms of this covenant. I will describe the macro-structure of the book below. You can see this macro-structure depicted graphically HERE.
The book of Exodus has 11 portions.
The first 4 portions carry the theme of Deliverance. God delivers the children of Israel from their slavery in Egypt. This story is told in chapters 1-17.
The next 2 portions carry the them of Covenant. God enters into covenant relationship with Israel at the foot of Mt. Sinai. This story is told in chapters 18-24.
Together, these two themes reveal God’s intention to deliver people in order to enter into covenant relationship with them. This enables Relational depth.
Today, begins the first of 3 portions that carry the theme of Instructions. God gives instructions to His covenant people. This story is told in chapters 25-34.
The last 2 portions carry the theme of Dwelling. God dwells with humans in the fulness of His glory and the intimacy of His love. This story is told in chapters 35-40.
Together, these two themes reveal God’s intention to give instructions in order for a holy God to dwell among unholy people. This works to accomplish Kingdom breadth.
This week begins God’s instructions that have one clear purpose stated in Exodus 25:8 (NIV),
Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.
God wants to be with us. He loves us. But a holy God cannot dwell among unholy people. Sin defiles and destroys the intimacy God desires. So God, motivated by His love, gave us instructions to build a mobile Mt. Sinai, so to speak, so He could come down the mountain, inhabit a dwelling place, and be in our midst without destroying us in a holy consuming fire.
Let’s look at God’s intention for Relational depth and intimacy with us in a progression from heaven to earth.
God dwells in HEAVEN (see also 1 Kings 8:27). Psalm 33:13-14 (ESV),
The LORD looks down from HEAVEN; he sees all the children of man from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth.
God descended onto the top of MT. SINAI. Exodus 24:16 (ESV),
The glory of the LORD dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
God descended down the mountain and takes up residence in the newly constructed TABERNACLE. Exodus 40:34 (NLT),
Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle.
While the end of Exodus describes the glorious indwelling of the Tabernacle, Moses cannot enter into the holy Presence of God (Ex. 40:35) until the cleansing sacrifices are made as described in Leviticus 9:23-24 (NIV),
Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Then fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.
After travelling through the desert with the children of Israel for 40 years, God leads the son of the “man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14 and Acts 13:22) to build the TEMPLE as a dedicated Jerusalem “landing pad” for the indwelling of the glory of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 (NIV, see also 1 Ki. 8:10-13),
Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the house. The priests could not enter into the house of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’S house. All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the LORD upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the LORD, saying, “Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
The mission of the Son of Man and Son of God was to confirm the promises to the patriarchs and inaugurate the beginning of the “restoration of all things” (Acts 3:21) by allowing Gentiles to now enter into covenant relationship with God without becoming Jews first. Through the life, death, and resurrection of this Jewish God-man, Yeshua (Jesus)—and by faith in Him—God now dwells in INDIVIDUAL JEWS AND GENTILES. 1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV),
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own
Finally, God is working in this age to construct a holy Temple out of individual believers through the COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS, often called the People of God or the Church. Consider God’s word primarily speaking to Gentiles in Ephesians 2:19-22 (TLV),
So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household. You have been built on the foundation made up of the emissaries [apostles] and prophets, with Messiah Yeshua [Jesus] Himself being the cornerstone. In Him the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple for the Lord. In Him, you also are being built together into God’s dwelling place in the Ruach [Spirit].
Do you see the pattern and progression? God desires and pursues Relational depth with us so we can receive and respond to His loving invitation to be restored to our full inheritance as His image-bearers. Jews and Gentiles united in Messiah! A Holy Habitation of RD4KB!
Furthermore, while Exodus 25:8 identified God’s goal of building a place for Him to dwell with us, the second verse in this week’s portion identifies the means. Specifically, God seeks voluntary submission and contributions that flow from His provision. Exodus 25:2 (ESV),
Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me.
Beloved, is your heart moved today? Seek God in His word and He will fill you with everything you need for life and godliness. Remember, you cannot out-give God. Invest your time, talent, and treasure in voluntary submission to a good and sovereign God Who is working EVERYTHING for your good and His glory. Use the links below for daily readings and commentary to help you keep your eyes fixed where they need to be (Hebrews 12:2).
Readings for the Week:
Torah: EXODUS 25:1–27:19
Prophets: 1 KINGS 5:12 [26 TANAKH]–6:13
Apostolic Writings: 2 CORINTHIANS 9:1–15
Click HERE for the online Parashah commentary.
Shalom,
Thomas