Exodus 14 The last part of the tabernacle - the Lampstand - Light - Wisdom

Here we go. We got through the Tabernacle. Today I was discouraged and asked God who will ever bare through this all. The details are so good! But then refreshed my heart in realizing this is God's house. The 1/2 acre of the entire universe He decided to dwell in. How can we miss out!

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:20

Hello, everyone. This is Barb from Biblically Wired. I'm super excited because we're going to talk about the menorah. And I have to tell you, this probably won't be as long because I did hours of studying and there's so much discrepancy. The menorah is such a huge part of the Jewish faith. And there are so many theories about what the seven flames represent. It would make your head explode. So what we're going to do is we're just going to get into some rudimentary straight facts. So today I was on a walk and I was praying and I'm like, Lord, is anyone gonna stick through this teaching? Is anyone gonna really want to get through your tabernacle? And it makes me sad. And I can't explain this, you guys, but one thing Exodus is doing is it is revealing to me God's desire to be near us and how much effort he goes into to be near us. So he does have a tabernacle, he does have sacrifices, there is prayers just like any other God, but he is amongst the people, wants to be as close as ever, and created this way. This is the God of the universe coming to earth and making a home somewhere. There's no reason for me to get bored with this. I just feel so overwhelmed looking at pages and notes and wondering what would be imperative to all of us now. Well, the main thing, guys, Jesus says he is the light, right? We know he fulfills this. We know that this light was seven large flames so that everybody in the camp could see that God was home. We know that Jesus never sleeps. We know there was a flame that never stopped being lit. If it was to stop being lit, and this is besides travel, of course, if it was to stop being lit, there was a flame on the bronze altar that was used to restart the Western flame. I don't know if it ever was, but there was a backup measure. But basically, Jesus is the light of creation, the light of the world. So in John, guys, Jesus is at the temple and he announces to the crowd, I am the light of the world. The world. This is crazy. Okay, we need to know something. 200, 300 years before Christ, something happened. They added to Yom Kippur, and what they did is they built these huge pillars over the woman's court. The woman's court was the largest court because the men could mix and mingle and get into lots of areas of the temple. But okay, so these four pillars reigned above the woman's court. On top, they each had four huge places for a wick to be, four huge circles filled with oil, and the priests' old clothes were wrapped up tight and used as wicks. So these are massive. It is said that all of Jerusalem could see this light. So picture Jesus standing there saying, I am the light of the world. We know that four corners represents the earth. We know there were four rivers in the Garden of Eden. So when Jesus is standing there amongst four huge flames, each one had four bowls. So there was in a nutshell 16 flames, he was promoting one of the most dramatic moments in the Gospels. And we can just read through that like, oh no, Jesus said I am the light of the world, and then blah, blah, blah. And interesting too, the way John placed this, I don't know if it was chronological. He places this after a blind man sees. What does the light do? It helps us see. Okay, so when it comes to this menorah, I just got to shoot from the hip. It's about five to six feet tall, it weighs 75 pounds. This was an item that God had to show Moses because Moses couldn't conceptualize it in his brain. So many of the rabbis feel like it was God's only drawing. Some people think it was a vision of it or whatever. I guess we don't know. But according to the rabbis, they feel when in Exodus 25, 31, it says, You shall make this this way, they say it can say, it shall be made, or you shall make it. So there's a discussion amongst the rabbis. Many of them feel God had to make this because it came from one piece of gold. These are not connected. There's no connections, there's no place of difference, there's no weak point. Also, the menorah is covered in almond motifs and olive motifs. And I like how the good old Douglas Stewart explains this. He is saying that because it's an olive tree and has almond blossoms, it symbolizes three things at once. God's provision, because what does God provide for the nation of Israel? Their best business is gonna be olive oil or almonds. Israel's nationhood and miraculous divine deliverance. So we know olive oil is the fuel, so it seems like common sense would be some olive motifs. We know the olive oil kept the lamps of the tabernacle burning continually as a reminder of his watchfulness or protection over Israel. But olive trees we know represents the nation of Israel. Remember, there is three trees that represent the nation of Israel. It's the fig tree, the olive tree, and the vine. We know Jesus is the vine, right? So this candle ombra type of thing, the way it's made, there's a central trunk. And all six flames come from that central trunk. So it reminds me of the vine, also. It reminds me of Jesus saying that apart from me, you can do nothing. Also, this is symbolized as the tree of life, and that is gone into later in the life of the Israelites. So we see so much communication with the menorah. Okay, remember, guys, I said that when an Israelite prayed with his feet pointing to the north, he was praying for provision. So, what they did, you guys, is they stood three times a day reciting the Amida. The Amida was an 18-part prayer that I described in the podcast I did on prayer. And you can get more information there. It's super cool. So they would do this standing. So they faced that veil, but they would rotate either their feet slightly to the north or their chin. So they would be facing the veil, but they would slightly rotate their chin or feet to the north for provision and protection. When they did this to the south, which was towards the menorah, they were going for wisdom. The light of the world brings wisdom. So the almond tree, what is so fabulous about almonds? Well, almonds will definitely bring them back to their deliverance from Egypt. We know that Aaron God or Moses' staff, it was one staff. We know that it was made of almond wood. So that staff was so important to the history of Israel's faithfulness in its covenant relationship with God. It was included in the contents of the Ark of the Covenant, and that is in Numbers 17 and Hebrews 9. So that staff was made of almond wood. Also, an almond tree is the first to blossom in the spring in this area. So the almond tree was also bringing a picture of new life or spring. And we know Jesus fulfills bringing us new life. So look at Acts 2 for a second and think about being an Israelite when the Holy Spirit falls upon them on the day of Pentecost. Guys, that is the pillar of fire from Exodus. That is the pillar of fire that falls upon the tabernacle where God's foot is placed on the ark. It is his footstool. So now we have that pillar of fire going on each person as we become that tabernacle. Christ completing all these things allows us to be his home. And what does Jesus say? That he remains in us and we remain in him. So this menorah is no small deal in the life of Jesus, and it was a foreshadow for what God was going to bring about. Why did God choose these pieces of furniture and make them in solid gold and insist they be carried by poles so no one touches them? Why would you carry the light, the same reason you carry the ark and the showbread table? All of it should be carried and handled carefully as a reminder that ultimately we are to take Christ out into the world back to that great commission, the great commission of Jesus Christ to go out amongst the nations, baptizing them in the Father, in the Son, and in the Holy Spirit. So beautiful. I think we just need to take a minute in closing and remember what this is all about. This is about our salvation. This is all about Jesus fulfilling these things so he can live in us. And it's so powerful that we just can't skip through this. We can't. So what we see here, you guys, in a metaphorical way, is Mount Sinai. So remember, there were people saved at the foot of the mountain outside the courtyard. Okay? They are watching God, they are listening, they are going into covenant with him, but they could not be on the mountain. So who are the first people on the mountain? Those are the elders that are allowed into the courtyard because God sees their righteousness. Then, part way in, and what we picture to be the holy place, is Joshua. He is Moses' protege. He is the next leader of the Israeli people, and he is obviously more righteous than the 70 elders. Remember, 70 is also a demonstration of the world. But then we have Moses in the Holy of Holies in that smoke and fire and thunder at the top. All right, I want to challenge all of us, and I said this in another teaching. I want to challenge all of us to say, where have I been since I've been born again? Have I hung out in the bottom of the mountain? Have I been afraid of the angry God instead of in awe of God? Have I been in the courtyard as one that understands I am righteous because of the blood of Christ? And I want to be bold and I want to hang with people who are learning things about Jesus. Or am I in the holy place? And better yet, have I taken what Jesus provided for me? Have I entered the holy presence of the Holy of Holies and sat at the feet of God? Have I done that? How much time have I spent there? How much time have I spent there? Is it a lot more fun to be with the crowd? And this is me talking to me. Is it a lot more fun to be with the crowd? How much time do I spend with people who are excited about Jesus Christ? How much time do I spend with people who are so serious? They are dedicating time in the Word and dedicating time in mission or on mission for Jesus. And best yet, how much time have I walked in to the glorious throne of God? I just think that absolutely inspires me every time I think of it. It gives me chills. So this tabernacle, as they left Mount Sinai with all that special stuff that went on, this tabernacle was this miniature Sinai that they could bring and set up. And Moses would go in and etc. Super, super cool stuff. All right, we're gonna get into the courtyard next, you guys. Why? Because God set it up this way for a reason. And because if we were Israelites in the day of Jesus, our mind would go here. Here. So how can we see him more fully? We can see him more fully by seeing this. So good work. We did it. This was a quick one. We did it, and good for us. May God get the glory. So keep your chin up out there, guys, as we keep studying. Keep your heart pure in your intentions to get to know God and this romantic, amazing story. Checking out here in Minneapolis. Have a great day.