Making the Ark

 

 

                                                    Exodus 37:1-9

 

November 14, 2024

 

Making the Ark

 

Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height.  And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it.  And he cast for it four rings of gold for its four feet, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side.  And he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark.  And he made a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth.  And he made two cherubim of gold. He made them of hammered work on the two ends of the mercy seat,  one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat, he made the cherubim on its two ends.  The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat were the faces of the cherubim.

 

·       What has Scripture reveal to us about Bezalel?  Got Questions had this to say; “Filled with the Spirit: Scripture notes that God filled Bezalel with His Spirit—an extraordinary and rare designation in the Old Testament usually reserved for prophets, priests, or leaders.

·       Fourfold Gift: God gave him wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and all kinds of practical and artistic skills.   

 

·       Exodus 31: 1-11 “The Lord said to Moses,  “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship,  to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze,  in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.  And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests,  and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.”

 

 

In past papers, we have shared that a cubit was about 1.5 feet, so it would be about 3.75 feet in width and about 21/4 in height, and overlaid with pure gold inside and out.  It was always to be moved by the gold poles.  Both it and the mercy seat.

 

This passage highlights the artistry and craftsmanship that went into the tabernacle's construction. The specific details about the cherubim, their wings, and their position over the mercy seat show the importance of symbolizing God's presence and the sacredness of worship practices among the Israelites.  (taken from the internet)

 

From our Back Porch,

Bob Rice

They follow Moses instruction- He Received From God

 

Exodus 36:20-38

 

November 13, 2024

 

Then he made the upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood.  Ten cubits was the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame.  Each frame had two tenons for fitting together. He did this for all the frames of the tabernacle.  The frames for the tabernacle he made thus: twenty frames for the south side.  And he made forty bases of silver under the twenty frames, two bases under one frame for its two tenons, and two bases under the next frame for its two tenons.  For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty frames and their forty bases of silver, two bases under one frame and two bases under the next frame.   For the rear of the tabernacle westward, he made six frames.  He made two frames for corners of the tabernacle in the rear.  And they were separate beneath but joined at the top, at the first ring. He made two of them this way for the two corners.  There were eight frames with their bases of silver: sixteen bases, under every frame, two bases.

He made bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle,  and five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the tabernacle at the rear westward.  And he made the middle bar to run from end to end halfway up the frames.  And he overlaid the frames with gold, and made their rings of gold for holders for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.

He made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; with cherubim skillfully worked into it, he made it.  And for it he made four pillars of acacia and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold, and he cast for them four bases of silver.  He also made a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework,  and its five pillars with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals, and their fillets were of gold, but their five bases were of bronze.

As you read this, it must be talking about the worker. If I were there today, this credit would be given to Moses.  I say this because when a leader of our nation orders the death of an evil man who has killed our people, they give him the credit, not the Navy SEALs that did the job.

But let us not miss the amazing detail, the precision of the work, and that our Lord is a God of perfection.  When we are about our ministry, should we not ask at each turn for the Spirit that lives in us to be the best at what we do? 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

They Obeyed God's Direction

 

Exodus 36:8-19

 

November 12, 2024

 

And all the craftsmen among the workmen made the tabernacle with ten curtains. They were made of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns, with cherubim skillfully worked.  The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains were the same size.

He coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another.  He made loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain of the first set. Likewise, he made them on the edge of the outermost curtain of the second set.  He made fifty loops on the one curtain, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was in the second set. The loops were opposite one another.  And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to the other with clasps. So, the tabernacle was a single whole.

He also made curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle. He made eleven curtains.  The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. The eleven curtains were the same size.  He coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.  And he made fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain of the one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the other connecting curtain.  And he made fifty clasps of bronze to couple the tent together that it might be a single whole. And he made for the tent a covering of tanned rams' skins and goatskins.

If you are like me in wanting to know who the “he” is referring to, it seems God's Word is silent on that fact.  It was one of the workers, but is that what one should get for a deeper understanding of how to live life on planet Earth?  

Could it be the obedience of each person God has called for a task to honor His holy name?  First, they needed a man who brought them the word of God, and that was Moses.  Then they needed what verse one tells us: “Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.”  

Then they needed the resources to do the work, and God put the same desire in the people's hearts, to do this with a generous heart.

You and I also need these same things each day, if we hope to walk in victory.  God has not changed, but we are so blessed to have the veil of the Temple torn, and no longer need anyone but Jesus and the Holy Spirit to look to, to run to when the world system tries to mold us into its patterns.

Jesus makes this clear in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

My prayer is that you and I will not worry about the “he” in Scripture, but we will be doers of Truth, for Jesus is the Truth, and the Holy Spirit will lead us into Truth.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Talent given by God

 

 

 

Exodus 36:1-8

 

November 11, 2024

 

“Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.”

And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work.  And they received from Moses all the contributions that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning,  so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing,  and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.”  So, Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So, the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.”

People often are given credit for things they have done or talents they have.  But the Scripture makes clear that it was not Bezalel and Oholiab and the craftsmen, but God who gave them the skill and intelligence to do what was needed for the construction of the sanctuary.  Have you ever been guilty of taking credit for the skills, talents, and intelligence God has given you?  The sad thing is that often people who go by the title of Christian, almost worship singers, football, and baseball players for the skills and talents God has given them, and give no credit to the Lord.  We do see a few both in sports and singers who do give credit to the Lord.

 

Next, do you have a heart to give with a cheerful heart to the work of the ministry?  Rees Howells, the Intercessor, was a man who lived for God. Norman Grubb met Rees in 1928 as a young missionary at the Bible College of Wales.  After reading about how this man was used by God, I told my friend Carroll Ray Jr. that on our trip to England to do what we called a trip to explore the faith of our fathers, great men who had been used by God to be world changers.  Carroll called the Bible College and found out his son, Samuel, now eighty, was the President of the College and was doing much like his dad, in that he had taken two months off to be along with the Lord, but would be back in time for our visit.  After a tour of the College, we had High Tea with Samuel Howell, and after a wonderful visit, I asked Mr. Howell​ how we could help in any way with the finances of the school.  I will never forget his reply; Young man, we've been looking to God for our resource. I believe we will keep doing so.  As we left, I told my friend he was not a Baptist; they would have asked how much.  When we got home, Jan and I sent him a thank-you card for the time he spent with us, along with a nice check.

 

I told that story to share that both Jan and I had our hearts in the right place, and yet need to be told that, unlike some in ministry in the USA, Mr. Howell knew the source of who they had looked to for resources for the life of the College.  Moses had to tell the people to stop giving. I have never witnessed that in my lifetime.

 

From our Back Porch,

Bob Rice

My True Identity In Christ

 

My True Identity In Christ

 

Romans 3:24   “And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”  

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

The willingness of God to send His Son to redeem me by taking my punishment by dying on the cross; His blood has cleansed me in God's sight as if I had never sinned.

 

Romans 6:7, “For one who has died has been set free from sin.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

Because the blood of Jesus is covering my sins, I now have to choose not to let sin have any power in my life.  I am free to choose!

 

Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

What does that verse mean to me?

 

No matter how badly I mess up, God will not reject me because Jesus paid for my mistakes on the cross. He has also given me a desire not to disgrace His name.

 

Romans 15:7: “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

What does that verse mean to me?

 

Because Christ has accepted me, I should have the same attitude.

 

 

1 Cor. 1:30, “He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

 My source of life is in Christ Jesus; He alone is my wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. He is life!

 

 1 Cor. 2:16, “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?  But we have the mind of Christ.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

God has placed the mind of Christ in everyone who has entered into a personal relationship with Jesus.  Like our brain, we have it, but we often use only a small part of its capacity.

 

1 Cor. 6:11, “And such were some of you.  But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our Lord.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

 It matters not what I was before entering into Christ, because His Spirit has washed, sanctified, and justified me by our Lord's blood.

 

1 Cor. 6:17, “But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

My spirit shares a kinship with the Holy Spirit.

 

1 Cor. 15:22, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

My spirit was dead because of Adam, but now that I’ve entered into Christ, I have a living spirit, and it communicates with the Holy Spirit.

 

2 Cor. 2:14, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

When Christ is leading me, it is always in triumph, but often it may not appear so to others or to me.  Anytime He leads, we are light to those around us.

 

 2 Cor. 3:3, “And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on the tablets of human hearts.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

His word is written on our hearts.  All wisdom is centered in the written word.

 

 

2 Cor. 3:14, “But their minds were hardened.  For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

Jesus Christ has removed my inability to understand and have fellowship with the Father; you might say I’ve had a mind transplant.

 

2 Cor. 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

Because of Christ, I am not under punishment; I am now eternal and blameless in the sight of God, and adopted into His family.

 

2 Cor. 5:21      “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

Jesus took my punishment, and by the faith and grace Jesus extended to me, I have become righteous.  No matter what – I cannot get more righteous.

 

Gal. 2:4, “Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in – who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we might bring us into slavery.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

My freedom is found in obeying Christ; it is not a feeling; it is knowledge of the Truth.

 

Gal. 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

The ground at the cross is the same for all.  No one is inferior.

 

Gal. 4:7, “So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

                        WOW! I’m family

 

Eph. 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

My bank of blessings is full of every spiritual blessing.

 

Eph. 1:4          “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

Chosen, holy, blameless before God, because of the blood of Jesus that covers my sin.

 

Eph. 1:7, “In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

Made in right standing with God – totally forgiven

 

Eph. 1:10-11, “As a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.  In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

My inheritance is in heaven.

 

Eph. 1:13, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

My past is history, and my future is sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. He is my God, Father, Redeemer, and Friend, my provider & the Protector of my eternal life in Christ.

 

Eph. 2:6, “And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

Right now, I am seated with Christ in heaven.  Because I am in Christ, it is not some position truth – I am seated in heaven (now), not my earth suit but the real me.

 

Eph. 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

 

What does that verse mean to me?

 

God's plan from before time was to create me for good works.  Works that He would do through me.

 

My prayer is that this will bless you as it has me; my friend Bill Gillham, who is now enjoying heaven, taught Jan and me much of this.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Construction of the Tabernacle

  Exodus 35:30-35

 

November 10, 2024

 

Construction of the Tabernacle

 Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship,  to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze,  in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft.  And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan.  He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer.

 

Has the Lord called you for some special calling to teach others the skills to further His kingdom on Earth?  If so, never forget God gave you the skill, intelligence, and knowledge to do so.  

 

As you reflect on how you learned the things you now are able to teach others, have you reflected on how you got to that point?  My Mother and Dad did my brother, sister, and me a great service, teaching us the value of work.  Now, at the time, I would have rather been playing ball with my friends.

 

Next was Burt Thieme, the manager of H.E.B. on Leopard Street in Corpus Christi.  I was 12 years old, and Burt hired me to sack groceries.  Mr. Thieme was a teacher, and I knew how to work, but he taught me the value of knowing people's names and the names of their children.  Also, how to never be idle; if there were no groceries to be carried, there were other things that always needed to be done.  What Burt taught me has served me well in my business and ministry, and my business was my ministry.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Materials for the Tabernacle

 

 Exodus 35:4-29

 

November 9, 2024

 

Materials for the Tabernacle

 Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded:  From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze;  blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair;  ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;  and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breast piece.

 

“All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded:  the tabernacle with its tent and its covering, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases;  the ark with its poles and the atonement cover and the curtain that shields it;  the table with its poles and all its articles and the bread of the Presence;  the lampstand that is for light with its accessories, lamps and oil for the light;  the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle;  the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the bronze basin with its stand; the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard;  the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, and their ropes;  the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary—both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests.”

 

Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence,  and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.  All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings, and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord.  Everyone who had blue, purple, or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red, or the other durable leather brought them.  Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the Lord, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it. Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun—blue, purple, or scarlet yarn or fine linen.  And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair.  The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breast piece.  They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.  All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the Lord, through Moses, had commanded them to do.

As I read this Scripture, I began to think about what is happening at Oakwood.  The following are my thoughts.

 

Have you ever witnessed such a movement of people with generous hearts?  We, the body of believers at Oakwood in New Braunfels, have watched that happen.  Our present facilities are not meeting the needs; we have been for a long time running over 80% on most services, and need to build a much larger building for 29 million dollars.  That is a lot of money, but as a community, we have had unbelievable growth, and we have a school and apartments, and housing being built at the very back of our facilities.

 

The plan was to begin the building at about the time of COVID, and we all know what took place at that time.  So, I’m not surprised that the cost has increased, but what has been amazing is how the Lord has moved on the hearts of our body, the Church, to engage this challenge.  

 

First, it is leadership; our pastor never talks about money or asks people to give, but of late, he has talked a lot about the bold mission of preparing for a future generation to have a place of worship, and many in the leadership have joyfully given to the project.  We are witnessing a willing spirit of giving, and Jan and I have been giving to the Bold Mission Fund before it became a fund.  I say that only to tell you how the Lord has been moving in our hearts. As of this day, we have felt led to increase our monthly gift three times, and we are committed to giving not for the three years but till the Lord tells us to stop.  That makes it impossible to fill out an amount or a pledge, for Scripture is very clear that one is not to be a fool and promise something they are not able to do.  “When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.  It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.” Ecclesiastes 5:4-5

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Sabbath Regulations

 

 

Exodus 35:1-3

 

November 8, 2024

 

Sabbath Regulations

Moses assembled all the congregation of the people of Israel and said to them, “These are the things that the Lord has commanded you to do.  Six days' work shall be done, but on the seventh day, you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.  You shall kindle no fire in all your dwelling places on the Sabbath day.”

 

We have come a long way, as the American people, in many ways, some good and others not so good.  Remember to set aside a day, just one day, to worship the God who is, not the one you may have designed.

 

So, the question to the Church is not a building or denomination but the people who, by faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross.  Is Sunday a day of worship and rest for you?  Or is it just another day to work, mow the yard, and if so, when is your day of rest?

Western Christianity: The Sabbath is observed on Sunday, the first day, and is called the "Lord's Day". This is the majority practice of Christians. (Taken from the internet)

 

We do have Scripture to give us direction on how we should worship and rest. Often, the one who has the hardest time is the Pastor and his staff, for them, Sunday is a very busy day.  And if you have not allowed your Pastor and staff time to rest, like a day off, you have done them a great injustice.

 

In Colossians 2:16-17,  “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” Is that telling us all about Jesus, and how we look to Him as our life?

 

What about a day of rest?   In Exodus 20:11, “For in six days, the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”  Blasé Pascal lived in the 1600s, so being too busy to sit and rest is not a new thing; it has been man’s problem for many years.  “All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.”  I would add to Blasé's quote: that most men’s miseries come from not finding time to be still before their Creator and give him thanks for His many blessings.

 

From our Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice