Reading these next few chapters of Exodus feels a little like dejavu. Like, didn't we already read this. It makes you feel like you lost track of where you were and somehow went backwards or started over again. And it kind of is. We have read it before. In a way...
In Exodus Chapters 25-31 God lays out the plan to Moses. He gives him the Blueprint for the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant and everything in between. God gives specifics on how to exactly do it all. And then In Exodus 35-40 we see the same thing except one Big difference ... It's not just a Blueprint...It's put into action. It goes from God saying Do this, to the People Doing it!
It goes from, Make the ark this size... to They made the ark exactly as the Lord commanded. From Build the altar like this... to They built it. Having the Blueprints is one thing. Doing it is another.
I live in blueprint land a lot. I love the vision. I love the ideas. I love when God whispers something big and bold into my spirit.
But there's a gap between hearing and doing.
Between God said and I did. And that's where most of us get stuck. We love the promise. We love the plan. We love the prophetic word.
But at some point you have to pick up the hammer and Do it. You actually have to do it.
They rushed ahead once before. They built something God never asked for. They got impatient and tried to do things their own way
and it led to disaster. But this time they slowed down. They listened to what God said to do and they obeyed exactly.
At our church, we've been talking about building a fellowship hall and a space for our kids. We've prayed about it. We've discussed it. We've gone over the plans. We even have the blueprints hanging on the wall.
As the Children's Pastor I have imagined our children in that space. As a church we've pictured fellowship happening around tables. We've dreamed about what God could do in a dedicated place for the next generation. And I love a good vision. But the glory doesn't fall on conversations and dreams....It fills what gets built.
At some point it has to move from, Wouldn't it be amazing if...To Let's do it!
Because at the end of Exodus 40, after all the measuring and cutting and building and all the work is done...Gods glory fills the Tabernacle. His presence came after they did it. Not while they were admiring the blueprint.
Not while they were debating it.
After......They......Did......It......
And I believe that is a word for so many of us, not just my Church.
Stop rereading the blueprint....Do it!
I want to see His Glory fill the room. This isn't about curtains and cubits anymore. It's about obedience. It's about doing that thing He told you to start. That calling you keep outlining but haven't stepped into. At some point "Lord, I will" has to turn into "Lord, I did it."
Love Pastor Mandy
Daily Reading Exodus Chapters 37-38
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