Parts of the Book of Exodus can be very “dry” spiritual reading. Of course, the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea can easily capture one’s attention. But as one progresses toward the middle and end of Exodus, the reader is seriously wondering why God would put so much detail into things like making the lampstand in the sanctuary. Does it really matter that the cups on the lampstands were to be shaped like almond flowers? Yes, we know that the Almighty is a God of detail, but why would it be so important that the craftsmen so closely follow His directions to perfection?
There is a phrase repeated quite often in the directing of building God’s sanctuary.
- “See that you make them (the lampstands) according to the pattern shown to you on the mountain.” (25: 40)
- Set up the tabernacle according to the plan shown you on the mountain.” (26: 30)
- It (the altar) is to be made just as you were show on the mountain.” (27: 8)
It would seem that “the mountain” is the common denominator in these verses. Moses had been told by God to come up to Him on the mountain—and Moses stayed on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. When he descended from his meeting with God, his face was radiant because he had been speaking with God (34: 29). Moses apparently understood the importance of following every one of God’s detailed commands after he had met with God on the mountain.
Fast-forward to the New Testament….The “mountain” is still our focus, but this time Moses is replaced by Peter, James and John. They climb the mountain with their Savior, and the same God that spoke with Moses is now telling the threesome to “Listen to Him.” This certainly sounds much like the Old Testament words to “follow what you are told on the mountain”. The time the radiance on Moses’ face is replaced by the radiance of God in the flesh (“He was transfigured before their very eyes, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light”. (Matthew 17: 2)
God still wants us to listen to Him. We may not ever scale a mountain to be told to follow His exact instructions like Moses, but we have His Word to read and to guide us. We may not ever scale a mountain and see our Savior radiant in His glory, but we know how important the command “Listen to Him” is.
Obedience to God is just as important to you and I now as it was back in Biblical times. In First Samuel 15: 22, we are told that “obeying is better than sacrifice”. God wants our hearts, more than He wants some ceremonious ritual. Jesus Himself said that he had not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5: 17). Let us together show the love of Jesus to our fellow man as we live out His plan for our lives.
Ed Rollmann