Partnership in God’s Missions, Yahweh needs Spices


๐Ÿ“– EXODUS CHAPTER 35 : 8 Yahweh needs Spices๐ŸŒˆ โ›ฒ
Moses received the first hand instructions from the Lord to bring ” SPICES for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense “. โœ’Exodus 25:6. Now Moses , as a mediator, passes on the same instructions to the Israelites ( Exodus 35:8 ) . As a result the Israelites obeyed by bringing spicesโ€ฆfor the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense.( Exodus 35:28 ).
THEY HEARD THE INSTRUCTIONS and THEY OBEYED. ๐Ÿ™Œ
๐Ÿ“ James writes , ” Do not merely listen to the word , and so deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS. ” โœ’ 1:22

๐Ÿ“Œ WHAT ARE THESE SPICES โ“
The Lord required special spices i.e. myrrh, cinnamon, cane, cassia and olive ( Exodus 30:23-25) . The anointing oil are to be used to anoint the Tent of Meeting , the ark of the Testimony and other furnishings in the sanctuary, and upon those who are serving in the sanctuary. โœ’ Exodus 30:26-33.

๐Ÿ“Œ FROM WHERE THEY BROUGHT THE SPICES โ“
The Israelites brought the spices from Egypt on their way to Canaan. It needs perseverance and care to carry them in the wilderness.
โœ… The Egyptians never knew the real value of the spices , because they used them for earthly purposes. Now the Israelites are to use them for a heavenly purpose in God’s Sanctuary. ๐Ÿ™Œ
โœ… Yes , we are precious people bought with a price , and we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.

๐Ÿ“Œ WHO ARE THESE SPICES โ“
In Song of Songs 4:12-16 , the church of Christ is compared to a garden where all kinds of spices grows– calamus, cinnamon , myrrh..and all the finest spices ( v 14 ). When they begin to blossom, the sweet fragrance of mingled spices flows out, giving great joy to the ONE WHO WALKS IN THE GARDEN ๐Ÿ‘ฃ
” Let my BELOVED come into the garden – sings the BRIDE ” ( v 16b)

Can we sing :
๐ŸŽผ Into my heart , Into my heart ;
Come into my heart Lord Jesus .
Come in to stay , come in today :
Come into my heart Lord Jesus ๐ŸŽผ

๐Ÿ’• Beloved , our heart is His Garden , and if we are living a life pleasing to Him then like that GARDEN OF SPICES , we can give Him joy. Paul in his second letter to the church at Corinth writes , ” For we are to God the aroma of Christ..” ( 2:15).

๐Ÿ™ May the good Lord lead us how to gather the SPICES and how to serve Him in His Sanctuary ๐Ÿ›

๐Ÿ“– Exodus 35 , 36 & 39
Partnership in God’s Missions

The Lord God had commanded Moses and the people to build a sanctuary complex called the TABERNACLE. This sanctuary will move with them and will enable the presence of the Lord to dwell in the midst of the community . Moses was given the plan ( specifications, materials requirements etc )

๐Ÿ“Œ THE STRATEGY ( Exodus 35-36 )
( A ) Moses gathered the whole Israelites and calls for freewill offerings for the tabernacle and priestly garments ( Exodus 35: 4-9)
( B ) Moses then calls for skilled labourers to make the tabernacle and other items ( Exodus 35:10,25 ; 36:2)

๐Ÿ“Œ THE POSITIVE RESPONSE
All the Israelites , who were willing , brought their offerings for building the tabernacle, for the garments and for the on going services (35:20-29)

๐Ÿ“Œ COMPLETION AND INSPECTION ( Exodus 39: 32-42)
The Israelites finished everything exactly according to the Lord’s plan and direction ( 39:32,42 ) :
โœ… The Tent of Meeting ( v 33-34)
โœ… The ark of the covenant (v 35)
โœ… The table with its articles ( v 36)
โœ… The Lampstand ( v 37)
โœ… The altar of incense (v 38)
โœ… The altar of burnt offering and wash basin ( v 38-39)
โœ… The courtyard curtains ( v 40)
โœ… The priestly garments v 41)
๐Ÿ“Œ Moses inspects the work and finds that the work was perfectly done , and he blessed the Israelites for their obedience and hard work ( v 43).

๐Ÿ’• Beloved, today’s passages reveals that everyone had a role to play in building the tabernacle. ๐Ÿ‘ฃ ๐Ÿ™Œ
Paul while writing to the church at Corinth writes , “For we are God’s fellow workers; .. God’s field , God’s building ” โœ’ 1Cor 3: 9.
Yes , we need each other because We are the body of Jesus Christ ( 1Cor 12:27 ) . Our partnership in GOD’S MISSIONS ( through participation and prayers ) is the need of the hour ๐Ÿ™Œ

Glory to God ๐Ÿ™
โœ๐Ÿฝ Mark Boje, ArP ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ