And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot,
The altar of burnt offering with all its furniture and the laver and its foot or base belong to all that God on the mount commanded Moses to have made for the tabernacle sanctuary at Israel's deliverance. They stand among the special directions given by the Lord Jesus for building the tabernacle, within the chapter that gives God's own definition of genuine sanctification, that keeping the seventh-day Sabbath holy is the sign between God and His people that He is the Lord who sanctifies them. The work was assigned to Bezaleel son of Uri of the tribe of Judah as architect, called by name, with Aholiab son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan and every wise-hearted person in whom God had put wisdom. God Himself filled Bezaleel with the Spirit of God in wisdom and understanding and knowledge and all manner of workmanship, giving wisdom, skill, understanding and judgment to devise cunning works in gold and silver and brass and in cutting stones and carving timber and to guide the workers by an unseen Leader.
Israel had been in bondage in Egypt and knew how to make bricks but not these curious arts of engraving and embroidering, and Moses though proficient in Egyptian learning and taught by visions did not know how to do them, so God Himself explained how the work would be accomplished. God arranged every detail Himself and required that the work be done exactly according to all He commanded, with perfection in every detail, exactness, skill, wisdom and care, as a lesson for His people in all ages. God is the true source of wisdom for practical work who commissioned the workers to carry out His plan, so no person had cause to take the credit for the skill and understanding needed. The erection of the tabernacle was sacred for the service of God, standing continually in the sight of more than a million people to represent His perfection and His power and majesty and to illustrate the perfection and completeness of Christ's work.
The exactness, skill, wisdom, perfection and care required for the earthly tabernacle provide a pattern and standard extending to every kind of work done in God's service. The same God who communicated with His people of old still communicates with His people today and gives wisdom to do His will, watching the work and by word and Spirit and providence designing to direct it, especially in erecting buildings for Him. Work and buildings for God today must honor His name and must not move forward shabbily, with faithfulness, stability and fitness seen in every part and line, corresponding with the providence of God and with their relation to the work in other places. Such building is to be done by laborers together with God in the spirit and love of God in entire dependence on Him with prayer and holy song, so that faithful work preaches sermons that convict and convert hearts.
The chosen workers felt greatly honored to have a part in the Lord's work, and love and reverence for God led them to faithful unselfish service returning to Him the increase of the talents given them. This means capabilities given to men and women today are not to be employed for selfish advantage in smaller as well as larger matters of life but bestowed to show forth the glory of God and to praise Him and to advance His cause. Christ has a place for all sanctified ability, first bestowing the gift and then the power to improve it, to be exercised with daily surrender of self to God and every capability used with unselfish love for God while the cross of self-denial is cheerfully borne and times apart are taken to rest and commune with God. Great grace with wisdom and judgment and skill is imparted to one who works thus to be given back to the Lord in willing service.
The altar of burnt offering with all its furniture and the laver and its foot or base belong to all that God on the mount commanded Moses to have made for the tabernacle sanctuary at Israel's deliverance. They stand among the special directions given by the Lord Jesus for building the tabernacle, within the chapter that gives God's own definition of genuine sanctification, that keeping the seventh-day Sabbath holy is the sign between God and His people that He is the Lord who sanctifies them. The work was assigned to Bezaleel son of Uri of the tribe of Judah as architect, called by name, with Aholiab son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan and every wise-hearted person in whom God had put wisdom. God Himself filled Bezaleel with the Spirit of God in wisdom and understanding and knowledge and all manner of workmanship, giving wisdom, skill, understanding and judgment to devise cunning works in gold and silver and brass and in cutting stones and carving timber and to guide the workers by an unseen Leader.
Israel had been in bondage in Egypt and knew how to make bricks but not these curious arts of engraving and embroidering, and Moses though proficient in Egyptian learning and taught by visions did not know how to do them, so God Himself explained how the work would be accomplished. God arranged every detail Himself and required that the work be done exactly according to all He commanded, with perfection in every detail, exactness, skill, wisdom and care, as a lesson for His people in all ages. God is the true source of wisdom for practical work who commissioned the workers to carry out His plan, so no person had cause to take the credit for the skill and understanding needed. The erection of the tabernacle was sacred for the service of God, standing continually in the sight of more than a million people to represent His perfection and His power and majesty and to illustrate the perfection and completeness of Christ's work.
The exactness, skill, wisdom, perfection and care required for the earthly tabernacle provide a pattern and standard extending to every kind of work done in God's service. The same God who communicated with His people of old still communicates with His people today and gives wisdom to do His will, watching the work and by word and Spirit and providence designing to direct it, especially in erecting buildings for Him. Work and buildings for God today must honor His name and must not move forward shabbily, with faithfulness, stability and fitness seen in every part and line, corresponding with the providence of God and with their relation to the work in other places. Such building is to be done by laborers together with God in the spirit and love of God in entire dependence on Him with prayer and holy song, so that faithful work preaches sermons that convict and convert hearts.
The chosen workers felt greatly honored to have a part in the Lord's work, and love and reverence for God led them to faithful unselfish service returning to Him the increase of the talents given them. This means capabilities given to men and women today are not to be employed for selfish advantage in smaller as well as larger matters of life but bestowed to show forth the glory of God and to praise Him and to advance His cause. Christ has a place for all sanctified ability, first bestowing the gift and then the power to improve it, to be exercised with daily surrender of self to God and every capability used with unselfish love for God while the cross of self-denial is cheerfully borne and times apart are taken to rest and commune with God. Great grace with wisdom and judgment and skill is imparted to one who works thus to be given back to the Lord in willing service.