What lessons on obedience can we learn from the construction in Exodus 36:38? Verse in View “and he made the five pillars with their hooks. He overlaid their tops and bands with gold, and their five bases were bronze.” – Exodus 36:38 Obedience Is Precise • The craftsmen did exactly what God had outlined in Exodus 26:37; nothing more, nothing less. • Scripture consistently praises careful adherence to God’s word (Deuteronomy 12:32; Proverbs 30:5-6). • True obedience pays attention to the small print, trusting that every detail matters to the Lord. Obedience Elevates the Ordinary • Acacia wood, common in the wilderness, became pillars overlaid with gold. • When we obey, our everyday tasks are clothed with divine purpose (Colossians 3:23-24). • God still takes “base” things and, through obedience, turns them into instruments of worship (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). Obedience Pursues Excellence • Gold over the tops and bands, bronze for the bases—nothing was slapdash or second-rate. • Giving God our best reflects His worthiness (Malachi 1:6-8). • Excellence in service is not perfectionism but wholehearted devotion (Psalm 33:3; 2 Timothy 2:15). Obedience Rests on a Solid Foundation • Five bronze bases supported the structure, keeping it stable in desert winds. • A believer’s obedience must stand on the unchanging character of God and His word (Psalm 18:2; Matthew 7:24-25). • Foundations are unseen yet essential; likewise, private faithfulness undergirds public witness. Obedience Builds Community • “Five pillars” hints at shared effort—multiple supports working together. • The tabernacle required many hands (Exodus 36:1-2); Christian obedience today is communal (Ephesians 4:16; Hebrews 10:24-25). • Serving side by side prevents pride and nurtures unity. Obedience Foreshadows Christ • The veil these pillars held back ultimately pointed to Jesus, the true “door” to God’s presence (John 10:9; Hebrews 10:19-20). • Every obedient stroke of the craftsmen’s tools anticipated the perfect obedience of Christ (Philippians 2:8). • As their work upheld the veil, His work tore it, granting us full access to the Father. Takeaway Exodus 36:38 shows obedience that is meticulous, transformative, excellent, firmly grounded, communal, and Christ-centered. Following God with that same spirit turns ordinary lives into golden testimony, steady and shining in a wilderness world. |
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