He is all about the details...

This week we read all about the Temple.

It's funny, Mackenzie was studying the temple for her Biblical Studies class at the same time.

I love how God does that, don't you?

Teaching you the same stories, the same lessons, in different places of your life,

but all at the same time!

Jeff and the girls built a model of the temple.

It was an extra credit project for Biblical Studies class.

The details involved were overwhelming.

God was very specific in His instructions.

God was very intentional in who he asked to craft all of the different parts of the tabernacle.

He purposefully gifted certain people to carry out these plans.

Moses was very careful when he shared God's plan and made sure each detail was carried out perfectly.

God cares about every detail of our life, doesn't He?

 The eastern gate of the Tabernacle.

The Alter of Burnt Offering stood in the center.

The Stands to prepare the sacrifice were to the right.

The laver (bowl) was used by the Priest to wish his hands and feet.

The interior structure was the Holy place, and the Holy of Holies.

The Holy Place contained the Alter of Incense, which was lit twice a day.

It also contained the Table of Showbread which held the

12 cakes representing the twelve tribes.

The Gold Lampstand with seven bulbs also stood in the Holy Place.

A curtain was drawn between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.

The Holy of Holies contained the Ark of the Covenant and the Atonement Cover.

Within the Ark was the Gold Jar of Manna, Aaron's staff, and the Testimony Tablets.

There were four layers involved in the roof of the tabernacle.

The first layer was a seraph patterned cloth.

Then a white cloth, a red ram's skin, and the exterior was actually sea cow skin.

The NASB used the word porpoise to describe it.

The Israelites were very involved in the process of gathering materials.

They did so willingly, sacrificially.

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 breastpiece. 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.

The Israelites were not guilted into giving their possessions. 

They gave willingly.  Sacrificially.

Worshipfully.

All of this makes me think about the church today, and how we build and maintain our houses of worship.

Is He involved in the details?

Do we give willingly, sacrificially,

Worshipfully?

Oh so long ago, God took the time to explain all the details.

Moses took the time to carry them out, and write them down.

The Israelites took the time to listen carefully and provide what was needed.

  

God is in the details, isn't He?