If God is Your Co-Pilot, Then You Need to Switch Seats
Can you believe it, here we are at the last parasha of Exodus. The name of this parasha is Pekudei and it covers Exodus 38:21-40:28. We've taken a census of the people before, but now we are going to take a census of the Tabernacle items. The head over this census is Ithamar, the son of Aharon. Later, it will all be taken to Moses for his final approval. It's interesting to note here in chapter thirty eight, there is mentioned an offering of seventy talents of brass. Since we know brass stands for judgment, it's interesting to note we later had seventy nations. So if you look at those two figures, you see there was enough brass to cover all nations in judgment. There was not then, nor in our day, any righteous nation. We're all deserving of judgment. One nation may worship money and fame and another nation cows, but we're all guilty when the rubber meets the road. One fact we learned last week in the tidbits portion which I write is, you will notice the colors mentioned are always listed in the order of blue, purple and scarlet. Blue and red are distinct colors. No other colors are used to make them, they are forever separate. Blue stands for God and his majesty, kingship and his guidance. Just look at the blue sky! Red stands for man in his sinful state. Remember in Isaiah, it says man's sin is as scarlet (red). The word red is the root word in Hebrew for Adam (man).
So God, (blue) and man, (red) were forever separated, unless God had intervened. To alleviate this problem, He sent Yeshua, who was 100% God and 100% man. Purple is now between these two colors, made up of both blue and red. Yeshua is the intermediary between blue and red:. As I said, He was 100% of both. Now those colors can be reconciled! (God and man) The shoulder piece of the priest was made of fine linen of blue, purple, scarlet and gold. As we've said in our previous studies, there is evidence these ancient people knew how to fuse gold with wood and make them one. Most likely, if this is true, the gold threads were fused in with the linen. We cannot say for certain that is the fact, but it's possible. The stones on the shoulder garment of the priest were made of onyx stones set in gold. On them were the names of the twelve tribes. There were six on one shoulder and six on the other shoulder. The breastplate was done in four rows of three stones each. The twelve tribes were on these stones also. They were put on the breastplate in their birth order. They were also enclosed in gold. There were knit vestments made to wrap the Tabernacle items in during their journeying. They are listed in most translations as the clothes of service. There was a solid blue robe made of one piece, with the bells and pomegranates on the hem. Notice the pomegranates were again made of blue, purple, scarlet and twined linen. The turban was made of fine linen. It also says there were ornaments made on the turban of fine linen. I don't know about you, but I never saw that before, there were 'ornaments' made right into the turban. Also, there was a crown of gold, engraved upon it, Holy Unto YHVH. The crown was tied with three blue strings around the turban. There was a hole on each end of the crown and one at the top. The two end strings were wrapped around to the back of the priest's head. The other cord went over the top of the turban and all three were tied behind Aharon's head. Now all the work has been finished on the Tabernacle. It was brought to Moses who inspected every piece to make sure everything had been done as God ordered. Everything was done perfectly and Moses gave the people his blessing.
It is now time to assemble the Tabernacle. It was erected on the first day of the first month. If it was the first day of the month, then you know a New Moon has just occurred. Often times, in recounting the assembly of the Tabernacle, a miracle is overlooked. Notice it doesn't say anyone was helping raise up the Tabernacle other than Moses. It says, MOSES RAISED UP THE TABERNACLE! He fastened the sockets, he erected the pillars and he inserted the bars. Do you realize what a feat this would be for one man to do alone? The only partner he had in doing it was God. Of course, He's the best partner one could ask for! Who needs two men and a truck:? Not only did Moses erect the Tabernacle, but when it was finished, he lit the menorah and made an incense offering AND a burnt offering on the altar. Now, Moses was to wash Aharon and his sons for service as priests. He washed Aharon, put on Aharon's holy garments on him and anointed him. He also anointed Aharon's sons in like manner. Once again, this was not carried out as a physical bath, but a spiritual one. After this, Aharon and his sons would only wash their hands and feet in the basin designed for that purpose. After Moses had finished all the work of the Tabernacle, a cloud descended upon the Tabernacle and God's glory filled the Tabernacle. Moses was not even able to enter the Tabernacle when this cloud was upon it. In between journeys, the cloud rested upon the Tabernacle. Until that cloud lifted, Israel did not continue their journey. Some people have it pictured there was a big cloud up in the sky 'continuously' which they followed. The cloud was only elevated in the sky when it lifted off the Tabernacle. At night the fire was over the Tabernacle, not up in the sky. When Moses spoke with YHVH at the Tabernacle, the cloud was not upon it, for when the cloud filled the Tabernacle, no man, not even Moses was able to enter it. At times, Moses was summoned by God and he stood outside the Tent of Meeting to converse with God. We've now seen how the Hebrews left Egypt and how they messed up royally in creating the Golden Calf. But, we've also seen that God comes along and cleans up their mess! Often times, they made God their co-pilot, not their pilot:. If God is 'your co-pilot', then you need to switch seats:! Join us next time as we begin the book of Leviticus, just come wearing your hard toe shoes, because your toes are bound to get stepped on:!!!
So God, (blue) and man, (red) were forever separated, unless God had intervened. To alleviate this problem, He sent Yeshua, who was 100% God and 100% man. Purple is now between these two colors, made up of both blue and red. Yeshua is the intermediary between blue and red:. As I said, He was 100% of both. Now those colors can be reconciled! (God and man) The shoulder piece of the priest was made of fine linen of blue, purple, scarlet and gold. As we've said in our previous studies, there is evidence these ancient people knew how to fuse gold with wood and make them one. Most likely, if this is true, the gold threads were fused in with the linen. We cannot say for certain that is the fact, but it's possible. The stones on the shoulder garment of the priest were made of onyx stones set in gold. On them were the names of the twelve tribes. There were six on one shoulder and six on the other shoulder. The breastplate was done in four rows of three stones each. The twelve tribes were on these stones also. They were put on the breastplate in their birth order. They were also enclosed in gold. There were knit vestments made to wrap the Tabernacle items in during their journeying. They are listed in most translations as the clothes of service. There was a solid blue robe made of one piece, with the bells and pomegranates on the hem. Notice the pomegranates were again made of blue, purple, scarlet and twined linen. The turban was made of fine linen. It also says there were ornaments made on the turban of fine linen. I don't know about you, but I never saw that before, there were 'ornaments' made right into the turban. Also, there was a crown of gold, engraved upon it, Holy Unto YHVH. The crown was tied with three blue strings around the turban. There was a hole on each end of the crown and one at the top. The two end strings were wrapped around to the back of the priest's head. The other cord went over the top of the turban and all three were tied behind Aharon's head. Now all the work has been finished on the Tabernacle. It was brought to Moses who inspected every piece to make sure everything had been done as God ordered. Everything was done perfectly and Moses gave the people his blessing.
It is now time to assemble the Tabernacle. It was erected on the first day of the first month. If it was the first day of the month, then you know a New Moon has just occurred. Often times, in recounting the assembly of the Tabernacle, a miracle is overlooked. Notice it doesn't say anyone was helping raise up the Tabernacle other than Moses. It says, MOSES RAISED UP THE TABERNACLE! He fastened the sockets, he erected the pillars and he inserted the bars. Do you realize what a feat this would be for one man to do alone? The only partner he had in doing it was God. Of course, He's the best partner one could ask for! Who needs two men and a truck:? Not only did Moses erect the Tabernacle, but when it was finished, he lit the menorah and made an incense offering AND a burnt offering on the altar. Now, Moses was to wash Aharon and his sons for service as priests. He washed Aharon, put on Aharon's holy garments on him and anointed him. He also anointed Aharon's sons in like manner. Once again, this was not carried out as a physical bath, but a spiritual one. After this, Aharon and his sons would only wash their hands and feet in the basin designed for that purpose. After Moses had finished all the work of the Tabernacle, a cloud descended upon the Tabernacle and God's glory filled the Tabernacle. Moses was not even able to enter the Tabernacle when this cloud was upon it. In between journeys, the cloud rested upon the Tabernacle. Until that cloud lifted, Israel did not continue their journey. Some people have it pictured there was a big cloud up in the sky 'continuously' which they followed. The cloud was only elevated in the sky when it lifted off the Tabernacle. At night the fire was over the Tabernacle, not up in the sky. When Moses spoke with YHVH at the Tabernacle, the cloud was not upon it, for when the cloud filled the Tabernacle, no man, not even Moses was able to enter it. At times, Moses was summoned by God and he stood outside the Tent of Meeting to converse with God. We've now seen how the Hebrews left Egypt and how they messed up royally in creating the Golden Calf. But, we've also seen that God comes along and cleans up their mess! Often times, they made God their co-pilot, not their pilot:. If God is 'your co-pilot', then you need to switch seats:! Join us next time as we begin the book of Leviticus, just come wearing your hard toe shoes, because your toes are bound to get stepped on:!!!