What can we learn about teamwork from the construction in Exodus 36:22? Setting the Scene “Each frame had two tenons for fitting one to another; he made all the frames of the tabernacle in the same way.” (Exodus 36:22) What We Notice Right Away • Dozens of individual boards, yet one holy structure • Identical measurements, identical tenons, identical purpose • No board left without a partner; every piece prepared to lock into the next Teamwork Principle #1: A Shared Blueprint • God—not Moses, not Bezalel—gave the design (Exodus 25:9). • When everyone submits to the same revealed plan, duplication and discord vanish. • Philippians 2:2 calls us to be “of the same mind,” echoing the one blueprint principle. Teamwork Principle #2: Purpose-Shaped Connections • Two tenons per board ensured a stable fit, picturing believers “held together” (Ephesians 4:16). • My gifts are intentionally shaped to interlock with yours; isolation makes us incomplete. Teamwork Principle #3: Uniformity That Protects Diversity • Frames were identical in size, yet positioned in different spots. • Equality of worth does not erase individuality of placement (1 Corinthians 12:18). • Each worker trusted that God decided where every board would stand. Teamwork Principle #4: Excellence Honors God Together • “All the frames” received the same careful attention—no shortcuts for hidden sections. • Colossians 3:23 urges us to work “with all your heart, as working for the Lord,” whether our task is visible or backstage. Teamwork Principle #5: Details Sustain the Whole • A pair of tenons seems minor, yet the tabernacle’s stability depended on it. • Nehemiah 3 lists even gate bolts by name; God records details because details uphold the mission. • In modern ministry, seemingly small roles (sound tech, nursery helper) secure the larger witness. Living It Out Today • Begin every project with Scripture-shaped goals, not personal agendas. • Identify how your “tenons”—skills, time, resources—connect to someone else’s. • Celebrate uniform faithfulness more than individual flair; the tabernacle stood because every frame matched. • Pursue craftsmanship; sloppy work undercuts God’s glory and the team’s effort. • Remember: when each member fits properly, God dwells in the midst (Exodus 25:8; 1 Peter 2:5). |
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