Exodus 38

Exodus 38

When I was in high school, one of our required reading books was The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. A story about love, friendship, and the pursuit of something you always longed for. This book is, in my opinion, one of the most descriptive chapters I’ve ever read. Great Gatsby was known to throw extravagant parties and in his mansion were antiques, artifacts, grand chandeliers, and find pieces that are described as if you could picture them in your head. So as I was reading Exodus 38 and the great detail of the altar, bronze basin, court, and tabernacle, I can picture what each of those things looks like. Just like Gatsby’s house, the clear description of each of these things should lead us to wonder; what does it all really mean? 

In the context of Exodus 38, the creation of these things was not only fulfilling a command given in Exodus 27, but also they needed a place to dwell with God. This was a time when God wasn’t dwelling in us through his Holy Spirit so these places provided a dwelling place. They were held with high honor and reverence. The descriptiveness of the type of wood they used, the gold they melted (by the way, was about 2,000 lbs), and where they got all their materials, all point to something that was meant to be respected. If you read back to the Arc of the Covenant, even that was meant to be held in high honor, but as we know that was not always the case. 

Like Gatsby, these grand and ornate things were pleasing for the moment, but in the end, were empty. Now God is not the same as a rich millionaire in a fictional story, but we do know that God’s intention was to not stop his righteousness with the altar, arc, tabernacle, basin, or court. It all led back to the sweet promise of Jesus, who was not treated like a king and did not live like one but was full and everything we needed. So as we read these chapters, displaying the majesty of God through these things, we should be reminded that God is worthy of honor in this way but wants something deeper with us. 

What things do you idolize more than God? 

How can you surrender those things and give them to God?