How should they build?

How should they build?

There are three main points in biblical building, we need to look at.

§        Building with Wisdom

§        Building with Understanding

§        Building with Knowledge

In what way did Moses build the Tabernacle (Mishkan). It was with wisdom? There are at least two ways to build with wisdom. First, great wisdom must be used in providing the materials (Word of YAHVEH) to construct the Tabernacle. Second, the same wisdom is to be used in the choice of the workers (ministry).

The story begins in Exodus 35 with an account of how necessary to secure the material, which was to be used in making the Tabernacle (Mishkan). As we look at the account with our spiritual eyes, we can learn a great lesson on the nature of preparing in YAH’S holy community. Study to show ourselves approved. Training and resources are needed and the only resources are among the children of Yisrael in the congregation.

Therefore, Moses made a plea for people to voluntarily give what they could. They gave so much that Moshe had to turn some away! In addition, they were required to give of their skills, time, and energy to build the tabernacle (Mishkan). The Torah relates, that under the leadership of Moshe, Bezalel and Ohaliav, all the work pertaining to the Tabernacle, the tent of Meeting, was completed according to the specification of YAHVEH YAHVEH.

A demonstration of this type of wisdom can be found in the Book of Exodus (Shernot) 35:2 “Moses then convoked the whole Yisraelite community and said to them ..”  We see this type of phrase repeated frequently in the scripture, and the reason is simple. Adonai gave His Torah to the whole community of Yisrael through one mature leader. The Wisdom of YAHVEH can be seen here, He purposely involved the whole community in fulfilling the Torah through the leadership of one faithful person. Lets look at this in greater detail.

The Hebrew text calls the children of Yisrael Adat Yesrael, lxrWy tdf... The word adat, tdf is from the root word (hdf), which means

Appointed. For example, another word derived from this same root is mo’ed, dfvm, which has to do with something, which is appointed. For example, another word derived from this same word used in Leviticus (Vayikra) 23:1 to designate a certain special calendar on which YAHVEH promises to meet with His people for special appointments.

Here is Exodus 35:1 as elsewhere when the word adat is used to describe Yisrael, we can infers from the nature of the word, that YAHVEH called Yisrael (believers) as a community for a special appointed reason.  They are in other words, a called out community, appointed by the Holy One to fulfill a specific divine purpose.

This calling cannot be fulfilled only by single individuals, but by single individuals coming to maturity within the community of believers. It was designed by YAHVEH to be fulfilled by each individual living out that calling, both individual and corporately. Accordingly they are called out to receive Moses (ministry) instructions together, as a group, and as a community. They were adat YYisrael  YAH’S called out redeemed community chosen by Him to fulfill His sovereign call upon them, which is son-ship, full maturity. This call was meant to be a group project, a community undertaking.

Too often in today’s individualistic and independent minded society, even believers forget the importance of the redeemed community. This is especially true for those who desire to go into ministry. They forget that the Torah was given to Adat Yesrael, His precepts were designed for a community, as a holy partnership where everyone works together as a group to live out YAH’S calling to the nations. The reason for this is so that in the end, no one individual could take the credit for the beauty of the finished project. The real beauty of it was the cumulative effort of Adat YYisrael.

 Not only was the Miskan (tabernacle) built with Wisdom, it was also built with understanding. To be sure, both terms are somewhat related, so there is a bit of overlap in these concepts. Nevertheless, there is also a difference. The difference lies in the fact that wisdom has to do with how YAHVEH foresaw the whole project of creation, which includes both its planning and construction. On the other hand, construction of the Mishkan tabernacle required understanding. YAHVEH takes into account the needs of the whole community and designs the project accordingly.

We can also say that by using understanding, YAHVEH was demonstrating some of the practical applications of wisdom. Let’s look at a few examples, for further understanding. The need to give, and how YAHVEH viewed giving. Believers need to understand that the reason why YAHVEH leave it up to us is to combat the natural tendency to be selfish. While it is true that we all have a flesh, which is quite selfish, we are new creations, in Messiyah. I believe that same spiritual reality also applies to the remnant among ancient Yisrael who were true believers. The difference between them and us today is that of the writing of the Brit Hadasha (New Testament), we now have an adequate spiritual vocabulary to describe our spiritual life.

If what I am saying is true, by providing, the Yisraelites with an opportunity to collectively, as well as individually, provide the resources for the building of the Mishka, the Holy One was also providing the believers with a golden moment in which they were able to truly live according to who they really were, spiritual believers who were born again.

YAHVEH showed great understanding in the spiritual domain of the nature of His elect; when He designed for them a plan to collectively and individually give from the heart. By designing it this way, YAHVEH not only helped them to have the joy of walking in their own YAHVEH-given righteousness, but He also afforded them a wonderful moment to demonstrate to unbelievers how graciously the redeemed community conducts themselves. This is one of the few moments in history that the redeemed people actually lived the way YAHVEH had intended.

The need to used our YAHVEH given gifts, is another avenue of YAHVEH understanding that the redeemed community needs to give and can, indeed, do it quite effectively if given the opportunity. He also understands that the redeemed community needs to use their spiritual gifts.

This idea was vividly demonstrated in Exodus 35-36, when Moses singled out Bezalel and Oholiav for their character to which YAHVEH has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of construction. YAHVEH put these ability in these men, specifically given by Him for this work, Finally YAHVEH creates the opportunity for them to unleash all of these spiritual gifts and walk in their calling.  Remember the wedding feast of Cainan, the water did not turn to wine until it was drawn out, when an individual gets a chance to minister from what has been place in them, that is in essence the new wine.

Indeed YAHVEH has granted to every man, woman and child a measure of spiritual gifts and abilities which are designed to be used for furthering His Kingdom. Lets take some time to take note of the abilities of Bezalel and Oholiav. They had 1 – A special calling from YAHVEH. 2 – A divine gifting, 3 – Special skills, 4 – Special abilities, 5 – Special knowledge of every craft, 6 – ability to actually make the things, and 7 – Special ability to give direction, and may be the ability to teach others how to do it.

The need to rest is according to His perfect understanding. The principle behind this is that YAHVEH was teaching Yisrael that when He called them to follow Him, He would provide all that is necessary in order for them to obey Him. Here is a demonstration of YAHVEH in His perfect understanding, He knew that man has a need to learn the concept of rest. Naturally, physical rest was only part of the issue. YAHVEH was using the physical rest from creative work, especially on the Tabernacle to paint an important spiritual picture. The main components of the picture are the concept of cessation from labor, the Shabbat and the building of a relationship with YAHVEH the Misaim. Relating properly with YAHVEH is a matter of entering into His rest, as Hebrews chapter four indicates. Entering into His rest means stopping all of our human effort to please Him, to earn His love, to merit His salvation and to trust solely in what Yahushua did.

Therefore, the Mishkan was built with a complete understanding of man’s need to enter YAH’S rest. That is the main reason, why the teaching about the Shabbat comes right at the beginning.

 

Building with Knowledge.

Building with knowledge is very closely related to building with wisdom and understanding.  To build with knowledge means that we knew the intricate details about both the builders and that which is being built, and therefore act on the basis of that knowledge. The key word here is detail. No fact escaped YAHVEH in the constructing of the mishkan, the temple. Let us look at some examples of what I am suggesting.

In His knowledge of people. YAH’S intimate knowledge of each and every individual is demonstrated in the mentioning of Bezalel and Oholiav by name. He singles them out by name to demonstrate to us that we are individuals to Him. We are not just cogs on a wheel; YAHVEH has specifically chosen, and loved us by name individually.

This become especially clear when we realize, that not only did YAHVEH choose people like Bezalel by name, but also He even sovereignly caused them to have the name, which, in fact, they possess. The name Bezalel means under the protection of YAHVEH. YAHVEH saw to it that he had a name fit for the task. He also wants us to be assured that His intimate knowledge of us is always present. Yet it is with perfect knowledge that the Holy One sovereignly picked such people for this specific task. As it turns out, they came equipped, with just the right kind of knowledge needed to complete the task.

The master craftsman of the Mishkan, the Temple did not behave like robots. The instructions were not fed into a computer. They used their own discretion and intelligence in implementing the instructions, making sure the end product corresponded to the Divine instruction. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can carefully choose people who are qualified for each part of the building process of the individual and corporate Mishkan.

The last point I wish to make is that YAHVEH also demonstrated His perfect knowledge of the work that was necessary for the actual manufacturing and construction of the Mishkan, the Temple. We see this in the minute details of measurements and specifications called for in the material delineates in Exodus. This implies that He is a YAHVEH of details. The fact that YAHVEH knew all the details is not the point. The points is that He wants us to be detailed, specific, and meticulous in our approach to Him and ministry.

Imagine how difficult the work must have been for them. Here they were in the heat of the wilderness, with no running water, and who knows the kind of tools that they possessed. The fact that they had never built anything like this before, compound the problem. The details required by YAHVEH, to build it His way; it was YAH’S way of telling them, I know the work involved, I understand your limitations and how they relate to His perfections, but I will send you a comforter. I will truly multiply your gifts to make the project successful. In the end, YAHVEH will be pleased and YAHVEH will be happy. He is a wise YAHVEH who knows how to accomplish the impossible with one faithful person; He is a YAHVEH of knowledge, with a perfect grasp of the facts or the situation. He is an understanding YAHVEH, who knows how to meet all of our needs. “YAHVEH who is at work in you and I both to will and to work for His good pleasure”, Philippians 2:13.