Exodus 39-40 - Obedience, Usefulness, Anointing and Glory

The Importance of Obedience

 4  They made for the ephod attaching shoulder pieces, joined to it at its two edges.   5  And the skillfully woven band on it was of one piece with it and made like it, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen, as the LORD had commanded Moses. - Exodus 39:4-5 ESV

Moses has returned from the mountain, where he had been in the presence of the Lord God. In that glorious presence, he received detailed instructions from God about how the Israelites were to live and worship their Creator. Included among those instructions were plans for the construction of a tabernacle with all its furnishings where Israel was to worship their God.

God chose a craftsman by the name of Bezalel to oversee the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings. He was assisted by Oholiab and a number of gifted labourers, all contributing their efforts to make this project a reality. Those whose hearts were willing, contributed the supplies necessary for the work. God had given these generous donors the means to do this through the Egyptians who gifted them with gold, silver and clothing when they left Egypt. 

Israel left Egypt a wealthy people. Evidence of this wealth is seen in their contributions of gold and silver for the tabernacle. The details of these gifts are recorded for us in Exodus:38:24-25:

 24  All the gold that was used for the work, in all the construction of the sanctuary, the gold from the offering, was twenty-nine talents and 730 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary.   25  The silver from those of the congregation who were recorded was a hundred talents and 1,775 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary:  26  a beka a head (that is, half a shekel, by the shekel of the sanctuary), for everyone who was listed in the records, from twenty years old and upward, for 603,550 men.  - Exodus 38:24-26 ESV

Let me put these numbers into perspective. These former Israelite slaves generously contributed 29 talents and 730 shekels of gold. One talent is 34 kilograms or 75 pounds. A shekel is two-fifth of an ounce or 11 grams. This means that the weight of gold contributed was 994 kilograms. At today's rate the value of this gold alone would be CAD$185,516,220 (US$130,102,386). 

Israel also contributed a quantity of silver. Exodus 38:25 tells us that they donated 100 talents 1,175 shekels of silver for the tabernacle. This amounts to 3,419 kilograms of silver (7,537 pounds). The current value of the silver would be an additional CAD$9,597,133 (US$6,767,226). 

This was a significant gift for these former slaves to make. The silver and gold would be melted down and used for the utensils, bases, frames and furnishings of the tabernacle.

As we examine what takes place with these contributions in Exodus 39, it is important to note the repetition of a certain theme. Consider first the words of Exodus 39:1:

 1  From the blue and purple and scarlet yarns they made finely woven garments, for ministering in the Holy Place. They made the holy garments for Aaron, as the LORD had commanded Moses. - Exodus 39:1 ESV

When the people made the holy garments for the priests from the donations of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, Exodus 39:1 tells us that they did so “as the Lord had commanded Moses.”  They followed Moses instructions to the letter.

Moving next to Exodus 39:4-5 we read:

 4  They made for the ephod attaching shoulder pieces, joined to it at its two edges.   5  And the skillfully woven band on it was of one piece with it and made like it, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen, as the LORD had commanded Moses. - Exodus 39:4-5 ESV

The ephod was part of the priest’s garment. It was a vest worn by the priest made from blue, purple and scarlet yard with specialized shoulder straps and breastplate. Exodus 39:4-5 tells us that the craftsmen who made the shoulder pieces did so “as the Lord had commanded Moses.”

In Exodus 39:6-7 the workers cut onyx stones and engraved them for the shoulder pieces of the ephod. Once again the author tells us that they did this exactly “as the Lord had commanded Moses.”

The breastplate was attached by rings to the ephod with blue lace. It contained special stones representing the people of God. We read in verse 21 that this task was also completed “as the Lord had commanded Moses.”

In verses 22-26 we have a record of the blue robe the priest wore under the ephod. It had decorative pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet and bells of pure gold attached to the hem. Again, verse 26 ends by telling us that they completed this task as well “as the Lord had commanded Moses.”

Verses 27-29 describe the linen coats and underwear they made for Aaron and his sons. They also made a finely embroidered sash of blue, purple and scarlet yarn. Again verse 29 confirms that they made each of these articles “as the Lord commanded Moses.”

Finally, verses 30-31 relate how these gifted craftsmen made a plate of pure gold and engraved the words “Holy to the Lord,” on it. They attached this to the priestly turban It too, according to verse 31, was completed “as the Lord had commanded Moses.”

In Exodus 39:32 we read:

 32  Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished, and the people of Israel did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses; so they did.  - Exodus 39:32 ESV

Observe from this verse that it was not just the priestly garments that were completed “as the Lord had commanded Moses” but every detail of the tabernacle with all its furnishings. Everything was done exactly as God required. The utensils, hooks, frames, bars, pillars, bases, coverings, veil, poles, lampstands, gratings, basin, table, ark, altar, hangings, cords, oil, incense and pegs, were all completed according to the command of God through Moses. Every detail was just as God required. 

When everything was completed, Moses examined the work. Exodus 39:43 gives us his final assessment:

 43  And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the LORD had commanded, so had they done it. Then Moses blessed them.  - Exodus 39:43 ESV

They had done it!! Nothing was left out. There were no compromises. Every detail was according to God’s plan and instructions. Moses could find nothing out of order. Every instruction, down to the finest detail, had been meticulously followed. 

Let me linger here for a moment. How easy it would have been to be faithful in the big things but skim on the small. Imagine one of the craftsmen saying, “Nobody is going to see these tent pegs under ground, I don’t see why they have to be made of bronze.” These craftsmen refused to compromise. God determined linen underwear for the priest and bronze tent pegs for the tabernacle, and that is exactly how they made them. They chose obedience over convenience. 

Would the worship of God be affected without the gold and silver frames? Would the priest's ministry be compromised without their linen underwear? Would it have made a difference if the tent pegs were not made of bronze? The answer is yes, it would have made a difference, but maybe not for the reason we would think. God did not need the gold and silver, but His people needed to be obedient. If God commanded those tent pegs to be made of bronze and the people disobeyed, their worship would be hindered. Listen to what God told Moses in Exodus 37:19:

 19  All the utensils of the tabernacle for every use, and all its pegs and all the pegs of the court, shall be of bronze. - Exodus 27:19 ESV

Why did God need to be worshipped in a tabernacle with bronze tent pegs? The answer is quite simple. That was what He commanded. This was His decision and purpose. To do it in any other way would be to disobey and disrespect God and His purpose. This in turn would hinder worship. What a difference it would make, however, when God’s people did everything as He commanded and chose to worship Him as He proposed. Observe what happens when the people of God chose to be absolutely faithful to God in the work of constructing the tabernacle.

Blessing

When Moses examined the work the people had completed and saw that it was done as the Lord had commanded him, he blessed the people:

 43  And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the LORD had commanded, so had they done it. Then Moses blessed them. - Exodus 39:43 ESV

Understand something about this blessing here. It was the direct result of doing what God had commanded without question. There would not have been a blessing if they had not been faithful. If the job was not done as required, Moses could not have blessed them for it.

Writing to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul says:

 2  Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. - 1 Corinthians 4:2 ESV

There is no blessing for those who do not do what is required. There can be no reward for those who break the rules. You will only hear: “Well done good and faithful servant,” if you have competed according to the rules. For a job done as God had commanded Moses, the people of God receive the blessing of Moses. If you want to know this blessing, you must be faithful just as these Israelites were.

Usefullness

Listen to what God told Moses in Exodus 40:4-8:

 4  And you shall bring in the table and arrange it, and you shall bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps.   5   And you shall put the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and set up the screen for the door of the tabernacle.   6   You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting,   7   and place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it.   8  And you shall set up the court all around, and hang up the screen for the gate of the court. - Exodus 40:4-8 ESV

God instructed Moses to take the table, altar, ark and the furnishings the people had made and set them up in the tabernacle for use in the worship of His name. What is happening here? These articles have received God’s approval. They were made to specifications without compromise. He now chooses to use them for His kingdom. This would not have been the case if God’s people had not built them as God required. Consider what the Lord said to the priests of Malachi’s day:

 8   When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts.   9  And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts.   10   Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. - Malachi 1:8-10 ESV

God had no interest in their blind animals. He cried out for someone to shut the doors of the temple so that people would no longer come with their blasphemous offerings. God would not accept what displeased Him. He would not use what blasphemed His name. Had the tabernacle and its furnishings not been built according to His specifications, God would have turned His back on them. Will He allow disobedience into His service? Will He choose one who dishonours His name to advance His kingdom? It is to the faithful that God grants His favour. Listen to what Jesus tells us in Luke 19:17:

 17  And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ - Luke 19:17 ESV

Because the servant in Jesus’ parable was faithful in what God had given him, the master gave him greater authority. What a privilege it is to be an instrument in the hands of God for this service. Usefulness in the kingdom of God springs from obedience and faithfulness even in the smallest details. Do you want to be useful? Prove yourself to be trustworthy in what God has given you now.  Because Israel had been faithful in the construction of the articles for the tabernacle, God was pleased to use them for His kingdom.

Anointing

As we move now to Exodus 40:9 notice the command of God in regards to the work God’s people had done. Speaking to Moses God said:

9  “Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it may become holy.”  - Exodus 40:9 ESV

God commands Moses to anoint the tabernacle, and its furnishings so that they would become holy. Holiness refers to being set apart for God and His service. These furnishings were not only accepted by God but set apart in a special way for His glory. The incense table was unlike any other table. The basin was set aside in a special way for God’s use. The presence of God rested on these articles. They reflected His character and pointed people to the Saviour. In His jealousy, God watched over these articles. Listen to the words of Zechariah 2:8:

 8  For thus said the LORD of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye:  - Zechariah 2:8 ESV

To touch those whom God has set apart is to touch God. To plunder them is to plunder God. To abuse and hurt them is to sin against their holy Father. 

Zechariah goes on in chapter 8 to say:

 2  “Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.  - Zechariah 8:2 ESV

God’s people have been set apart for Him and His glory. He is jealous of them to the point of wrath. To hurt the apple of His eye was to offend a holy, just and almighty God. What God anoints and sets aside for His glory, He jealously guards. 

Writing to the Romans’ the apostle Paul said:

If God is for us, who  can be against us - Romans 8:31 ESV

The pleasure of God rests on what He anoints.

Obedience produced usefulness. What was useful to God was anointed by Him. What He anointed He set apart and kept.

Glory

Observe one more detail in these two chapters. When Moses had completed setting up the tabernacle as the Lord commanded, the glory of God fell from heaven and filled it with His presence.

 34  Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. - Exodus 40:34 ESV

What is this glory but the manifest presence of God in the midst of His people?  God was pleased to dwell among them. This was the greatest blessing of all –the presence of God among them. To know this presence is to know perfect security, for if God is for us who can be against us (Romans 8:31). To know this presence is to know perfect love –for God so loved the world that He gave his only Son (John 3:16). To know this presence is to know perfect salvation —for he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God (Hebrews 7:25). To know this presence is to know eternal life, for as Jesus tells us, He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). 

What was the result of the people doing as God had commanded Moses? Their obedience led to blessing, usefulness for the kingdom, the anointing of God who set them apart and jealously kept them, and ultimately to the glorious presence of God choosing to dwell in them and among them. To compromise is to surrender these wonderful blessings. Never underestimate the importance of obedience in all things.