Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 36:14-38
It is easy for humans to look at the differences between people and separate ourselves from one another. We tend to focus on our own needs, desires, and talents. Sometimes it is appropriate to think of ourselves as individuals. After all, each of us is a distinct person with our own set of skills. On the other hand, there is a concept throughout scripture that involves looking at multiple pieces as one unit. Sometimes we need to look at ourselves as one part of a larger whole.
In the 36th chapter of Exodus, the author began describing the work of building the tabernacle. God called Bezalel and Oholiab to lead the effort. They were joined by many others who had wisdom and skill. First they made ten curtains of fine twisted linen which were joined together to make one unit.
Ex. 36:14 ¶ Then he made curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle; he made eleven curtains in all.
The word “curtains” is plural, but the word “tent” is singular. The number eleven tells us there were eleven curtains. Bezalel made eleven curtains to form one tent.
Ex. 36:15 The length of each curtain was thirty cubits and four cubits the width of each curtain; the eleven curtains had the same measurements.
Ex. 36:16 He joined five curtains by themselves and the other six curtains by themselves.
Notice the word “joined”. Multiple parts were joined together to make one item.
Ex. 36:17 Moreover, he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the first set, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second set.
Ex. 36:18 He made fifty clasps of bronze to join the tent together so that it would be a unit.
Take note there were fifty clasps. Fifty clasps and eleven curtains is 61 pieces.
Look at the word “unit”.
The purpose of the multiple clasps was to join multiple pieces together so that they formed one unit.
This illustrates a principle we see in various aspects of life. A man and woman are two separate people, but when they come together in matrimony they become one. They form a unit.
When a man and his wife have children, all the people in the family are separate individuals, but they are joined together in one family.
All the people who believe in Jesus are separate people with their own unique backgrounds, philosophies, cultures, and skillsets. However, all believers are joined together by Christ to form one church.
It is easy for humans to focus on differences and be individualistic. American culture celebrates individualism. Being an individual is appropriate at certain times, but at the same time, sometimes we need to look at ourselves as being part of a bigger unit. In some areas of life, each person is one part of a bigger unit, just as each piece of the tabernacle was joined together to form one tabernacle.
Ex. 36:19 He made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red and a covering of porpoise skins above.
These two coverings added to the 61 pieces listed earlier brings us to 63 pieces.
Ex. 36:20 ¶ Then he made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright.
Take note that the word “boards” is plural.
Ex. 36:21 Ten cubits was the length of each board and one and a half cubits the width of each board.
Ex. 36:22 There were two tenons for each board, fitted to one another; thus he did for all the boards of the tabernacle.
Ex. 36:23 And he made the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards for the south side;
Ex. 36:24 and he made forty bases of silver under the twenty boards; two bases under one board for its two tenons and two bases under another board for its two tenons.
Add twenty boards and forty bases to 63 and we are now up to 123 pieces.
Ex. 36:25 Then for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards,
Ex. 36:26 and their forty bases of silver; two bases under one board and two bases under another board.
The current count of pieces is 183.
Ex. 36:27 For the rear of the tabernacle, to the west, he made six boards.
Ex. 36:28 And he made two boards for the corners of the tabernacle at the rear.
Ex. 36:29 And they were separated beneath, but were together at their completion at the top, at the first ring; thus he did with both of them for the two corners.
Look at the words “separated” and “together”. The boards were separate, and yet joined together into one tabernacle.
Ex. 36:30 And there were eight boards with their bases of silver, sixteen bases, two bases under every board.
Eight plus sixteen plus 183 brings us to 207 pieces.
Ex. 36:31 ¶ Then he made bars of acacia wood, five for the boards of one side of the tabernacle,
Ex. 36:32 and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the rear side to the west.
Ex. 36:33 And he made the middle bar to pass through in the center of the boards from end to end.
Once again we see the concept that there were multiple boards and bars which were joined together into one unit.
Fifteen bars added to all the other pieces brings us to 222 pieces.
Ex. 36:34 He also overlaid the boards with gold and made their rings of gold as holders for the bars and overlaid the bars with gold.
Ex. 36:35 ¶ Moreover, he made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen; he made it with cherubim, the work of a skillful designer.
Ex. 36:36 And he made four pillars of acacia for it and overlaid them with gold, with their hooks of gold; and he cast four bases of silver for them.
Ex. 36:37 And he made a screen for the doorway of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver;
Ex. 36:38 and he made its five pillars with their hooks, and he overlaid their tops and their bands with gold; but their five bases were of bronze.
Two screens plus nine pillars plus nine bases added to the 222 pieces mentioned earlier brings us to 242 separate pieces listed in today’s passage which were joined together to form one tabernacle.
It is easy for humans to look at the differences between people and separate ourselves from one another. Sometimes it is appropriate to think of ourselves as individuals. On the other hand, there is a concept throughout scripture that involves looking at multiple pieces as one unit, just as the tabernacle was hundreds of pieces that formed one unit.
A man and woman are two separate people, but when they come together in matrimony they become one. There were many Israelites during the Old Testament time period, but collectively, they were known as Israel. All the people who believe in Jesus are separate people with their own unique backgrounds, philosophies, cultures, and skillsets. However, all believers are joined together by Christ to form one church.
There is a time and place to be an individual, but sometimes we have to look at ourselves as being part of a larger whole.
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”