What can we learn about obedience from the instructions in Exodus 26:5? The Verse in Focus “Make fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the second set, so that the loops line up opposite one another.” (Exodus 26:5) Why the Details Matter - Fifty loops—not forty-nine, not fifty-one. - Loops exactly “opposite one another,” leaving no room for guesswork. - God is shaping a portable sanctuary; every measurement communicates His holiness and order. Lessons About Obedience 1. Precision Is Part of Worship • Obedience means following God’s instructions down to the smallest loop. • Genesis 6:22: “So Noah did everything exactly as God commanded him.” • Faithfulness in detail honors the God who is Himself precise and orderly. 2. Small Acts Support a Larger Purpose • Each loop joined curtains so the tabernacle could stand as one piece. • Our seemingly minor acts of obedience knit together God’s bigger kingdom plan. • Luke 16:10: “Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much.” 3. Obedience Cultivates Unity • Loops made two separate curtain sets function as one covering. • Obedience to God’s pattern unites His people in purpose and identity. • John 17:21 points to Jesus’ desire “that they may all be one,” a unity secured when we live by His word. 4. Love Fuels Obedience • Craftsmen followed detailed directions because they revered the LORD. • John 14:15: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • Love transforms careful compliance from drudgery into delight. 5. Obedience Brings Blessing • When Moses later inspected the finished work, he blessed the people (Exodus 39:42-43). • God’s approval rests on those who heed His voice—1 Samuel 15:22: “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” Putting It into Practice Today - Read Scripture attentively; assume every word is there for your good. - Resist the impulse to round off God’s commands to the nearest convenient number. - Seek faithfulness in daily “loops”: honest conversations, integrity at work, unseen acts of service. - Remember that your obedience strengthens the whole body of Christ. - Measure success not by size of task but by accuracy to God’s revealed pattern (James 1:22). Closing Thought The fifty loops remind us that God’s people best display His glory when they follow His instructions completely, trust His wisdom implicitly, and love His presence wholeheartedly. |
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