As we conclude our look at the book of Exodus this morning, the question I want to ask is this: “How in the world does this instruct us as to what we should do?” After all, though the Tabernacle serves as a foreshadow of the person and work of Christ (as the dwelling place of God and as the atonement for his people’s sins), we cannot look at the labor in these final six chapters and directly say that we should do as they did. That is to say, we are not to construct a huge tent in the parking lot so that God’s glory might dwell there, though that is exactly what is going on in the text. Therefore, I again ask the question: “What does this text instruct us to do as the church of God?”
I want to answer that question by first looking at the details and principles in the text. It is a beautiful scene to behold. Moses has interceded on behalf of the people, and God has determined to allow his presence to dwell in the Tabernacle in the middle of the camp. And now the construction of this structure takes place. It is this that is ‘beautiful’ to behold. For the people (as Moses requests) bring numerous contributions of their own in order to supply for the Tabernacle. In fact, they bring so much that the workers cannot use it all (36:7). And not only are people bringing supplies, but men are collectively laboring (each according to his own skill, as supplied to them by the Holy Spirit) to do all the work that is to be done, as their hearts are being moved to the task (35:21-22, 26, 29). Therefore, it is hard not to read this text with joy, picturing the hearts of men being moved to give of their belongings and of themselves as they construct a structure in which God’s presence will dwell and where they can make atonement for their sins. It is the fulfillment of a grace that had been foretold in Exodus 25:8.
Now there are many things that we are tempted to apply to ourselves from this text without second thought. But if we are honest, we must admit that much has changed from the period of history in which these chapters were written and to our own day. For example, as aforementioned, we would be misguided to think we should construct a tent for God’s presence to dwell among us. Also, we would be wrong to say that just as the nation of Israel were God’s people, so there is a nation today (such as the United States of America) that constitutes God’s people. Therefore, there is much that we cannot just superficially apply to ourselves.
However, with that said, I think the text supplies us with a picture of the church in two ways. I believe it is a reminder to us of who we are and how we should function. Also, we know there are some principles here that are definitely applicable in the church.
But how do we pull together these realities?
To answer this question, we see the text as Christians. That is to say, we realize that the Old Testament is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and therefore we look to the fulfillment of Christ displayed in the New Covenant to understand how these things are applicable. Therefore, we must walk through the storyline of the Bible to see the fulfillment of the things mentioned in the text. And of these things, let’s start with who God’s people are. That is, who is Abraham’s seed?
If we are simply to look at the words ‘Abraham’s seed’, we must say that it is those who have physically descended from Abraham, the Israelites. And many Israelites think this, despite their rejection of the one who is the Christ. But the New Testament shows us clearly that being a physical descendent of Abraham is not that which makes someone a child of God; it does not ensure one’s redemption from his bondage to sin and impending judgment of God. For this reason, when some of the Pharisees come to John to be baptized without first repenting, John responds, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham” (Matthew 3:7-9). And for this reason, also Paul writes in Romans 9:6-8, “For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; neither are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: ‘Through Isaac your descendants will be named.’ That is, it is the children of the flesh who children of God, but children of the promise are regarded as descendants.”
So who is Abraham’s seed?
The New Testament answers that it is Jesus Christ and those who are found in him. Paul writes to the Galatians, reflecting on the promises made to Abraham, “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as referring to many, but rather to one, ‘And to your seed,’ that is, Christ (Galatians 3:16). Then he describes how men enter the kingdom of God as God’s people, writing:
“But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:23-29).
Therefore, we see that those who believe in Christ are Abraham’s seed, the people of God. The people of God are not found in one nation, but those from every nation are to be found in Christ.
Secondly, let’s look at the Tabernacle in light of the unfolding of redemption that was not completely revealed in the day of Moses. First, we are reminded that the Tabernacle is seen as the dwelling place of God. When God had given instructions for the Tabernacle, he said to Moses, “And let them construct a sanctuary for me, that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8). Then as the Tabernacle is finally erected and set up, we read of the glorious display of God’s presence filling the structure (Exodus 40:34-38). It becomes the fulfillment of God’s promise to allow his presence to dwell among his people.
However, as we continue through the storyline of Scripture, we remember that the Tabernacle (a tent) was replaced by a more permanent structure, the Temple. David’s desire is to build it, as he expresses in 2 Samuel 7:1-7, but the privilege falls upon Solomon, who oversees its construction and beholds the glory of God filling the Temple as it had once done in the Tabernacle (2 Chronicles 5:11-14). But ultimately God’s glory is not beheld in a tent or a building, it is seen in his Son, Jesus. John writes, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). And Jesus calls himself the Temple in John 2:19-21, declaring that he is the very dwelling of God among men.
Therefore, how shocking is it to the disciples ears when Jesus says it will be better for them if he goes away!? But this is exactly what Jesus says in John 16:7. Why? What could be better than beholding the Temple of God before our eyes as we look upon the Son? Jesus tells them (and us) as he finishes the statement, “For if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” It is to our advantage that Christ ascended from our presence, because he poured the Spirit of God into the hearts of his people (see John 14:6-7, Romans 8:9-11), so that we, the Church, are the Temple of God.
Thus, Paul writes to the Corinthians, “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
Therefore, having followed the Bible’s storyline to the New Testament, we see that it is the church itself who is the people of God and the temple of God.
So can we apply the principles in the text of Exodus 35-40 to us today? The answer is yes. For just as God gifted his people by his Spirit in that day, so Christ has gifted those who make up his church today. Ephesians 4:7 tells us, “To each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” As in that day, today each of us who have the Spirit of God dwelling in our hearts have been gifted by Christ to do the work of ministry.
And it is true as well, that just as the picture in Exodus 35-40 showed us a number of people supplying their part in the work of ministry given by God to his people, so each of us are to supply. Again, Ephesians 4:15-16, “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects of Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies …” (emphasis added). Each individual who belongs to the church is to supply a part in the work of ministry.
But finally, we must ask, “What is it that we are to do?” For it is fine to say that we are the people of God, that we have been gifted, and that we have a task to do, but what is our task? It obviously is not erecting a Tabernacle so that the glory of God may be beheld by men, for the Tabernacle is no longer the dwelling place of God. Nor is it the manner in which God’s glory is beheld. Rather, that is done through the church.
Therefore, the task of the church is to labor in the building up of the church itself so that God’s glory might be seen therein. Finishing Ephesians 4:15-16, Paul writes, “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects of Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (emphasis added).
Therefore, what this means for us today is the following:
1. We must realize that we have been gifted by Christ to supply in the building up of his church.
Just as God did not overlook the need to supply men who could do the work of plating in gold that which needed plating in gold or men who could weave thread to make the curtains, so he has not overlooked the needs that his church has for ministry. That is to say, everything that God has for us to do right now, he has supplied the necessary gifts of grace in us as individuals who make up this congregation. And he has specifically done this through many people instead of giving all the needed gifts to one or only a few.
What each of us need to realize is our value to the church and the work of ministry God has given us. Each of you who are members have signed the church covenant and said, “I believe God has called me to place myself among this local congregation.” If he has done that, then you need to begin to see yourself as a valuable piece that makes up the temple of God, the church. How God has gifted you specifically is a valuable gift to us as a church.
And let me add here that we do not have to feel guilty about the part that we supply. I’ll comment more on this as we address this second application.
2. We must contribute in order that those around might display the glory of Christ more clearly through our supply to one another.
Not only must we realize that God has gifted and ‘graced’ us so that we might supply in the work of ministry, we must also labor in our gifting. Let me give three reasons why as we close this morning.
First of all, if you do not supply as a part of the body, then the church will be either weak in its labor or lacking in fulfilling our purpose. That is to say either people will try to supply your part when they have not been gifted or called to do so. They will grow weak and ineffective in doing your supply as well as their own. Or, the church will simply lack the portion that you are to supply in the body.
But if you function correctly, supplying as Christ has given you grace, then you will see the body of Christ work effectively. For example, my mom is compassionate beyond what is normal. She works at a chiropractor’s office, and often I see grown men leaving there crying as they have seen compassion from my mom. She supplies that, and she supplies that well. In fact, a few weeks back my mom called and wanted me to come and visit a man in the office who had some theological questions. I came up there and the man’s heart was tender as he had seen the compassion of my mom. I talked to him and answered his questions, enjoying it (as my main supply is probably teaching, for I love it). This serves as a great picture to me of the body of Christ working together to carry out the work of ministry. And each of us enjoyed the work as we were laboring according to the grace supplied by our Lord.
Second, if you do not supply, then it affects the rest of the body. That is to say, it isn’t just about you. You may think, “Well, I just don’t want to make a big fuss and get involved.” But what if my liver said that it just didn’t want to make a big fuss and supply its part in my body. Much more than my liver would be affected. Such is the case with the body of Christ.
Finally, as you supply your portion, according to the grace of Christ, and I supply mine, then we will be able to behold a clearer picture of Christ through his church. For example, I see a great aspect of Christ when I think of my mom’s compassion, or another’s encouragement, or another’s teaching, etc. Therefore, as the church functions correctly, we begin to give a clearer picture of Christ to those who behold his church and he is therein glorified.
Therefore, I want each of us this morning to pray, renewing our minds to the reality that we are gifts of Christ to his church, and ask God to show us how we are to supply – as his church, for the building up of his church. Amen.