What can we learn about obedience from the construction described in Exodus 38:15? Text of Exodus 38:15 “Likewise, for the other side — both sides of the entrance to the courtyard — he made curtains twenty cubits long, with three posts and three bases.” Context Snapshot • The tabernacle courtyard is nearing completion. • Every measurement and material comes straight from the blueprint the Lord gave Moses (Exodus 25:9, 40). • Bezalel and his team carry out each step “just as the LORD had commanded Moses” (a phrase repeated throughout Exodus 39). Key Observations About Obedience • “Likewise” signals faithful replication; nothing new is invented on the second side. • Exact lengths: twenty cubits. Not nineteen, not twenty-one. • Exact supports: three posts, three bases. Stability depends on precise placement. • Symmetry honors God’s order; obedience is not random but structured. • No shortcutting: the lesser-noticed side of the gate receives the same care as the front-facing side. Lessons We Learn • Obedience includes the smallest details. – Deuteronomy 12:32: “Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to it or take away from it.” • God notices consistency. Doing a task well once is good; doing it the same way each time shows enduring faithfulness. • Hidden work still matters to God. The “other side” of the courtyard was less prominent, yet required equal precision (see Colossians 3:23). • True obedience resists personal flair when God’s instructions are clear. 1 Samuel 15:22 reminds us that obedience outranks impressive offerings. • Obedience brings stability. Three posts and three bases give the curtain firmness; in life, following God’s word anchors us (Psalm 119:105). • Love fuels obedience. Jesus: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). The builders’ meticulous work reflected devotion, not mere duty. • Faithfulness in little things prepares us for larger trust (Luke 16:10). Practical Takeaways for Today • Approach every task — public or hidden — as if the Master Craftsman is watching. • Check motives: am I aiming for God’s specification or my own flair? • Refuse shortcuts that ignore God’s stated boundaries. • Cultivate consistency: where God has spoken once, keep following even when no one applauds. • Expect stability: life anchored to Scripture’s exact “measurements” stands firm against shifting trends. |
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