Burdens of Purpose

My Bible reading this morning was about the building of the beautiful things for the tabernacle. All the items were either made from, or overlaid with, precious metals. And it was all given by those whom the Lord had stirred to give. And not only did they give enough to complete the work, but they actually had to be restrained from giving because there was so much excess. 

Exodus 38:24-29
29 talents of gold (72lb x 29) = 2088lb
730 shekels (.4oz x 730) = 18lb
100 talents of silver (72lb x 100) = 7200lb
1775 shekels of silver (.4oz x 1775) = 44lb
70 talents of brass (72lb x 70) = 5040lb
2400 shekels of brass (.4oz x 2400) = 60lb 

Sometimes I read through these sections of scripture, and I am tempted to gloss over them because I can’t always picture in my head what is being made. I don’t know what everything means, and unless I plan to draw out the items (which I have never done in my life), I don’t always take the time to look up the definitions of the words (sockets, hooks, chapiters anyone?).

However, this morning the Lord showed me something. 

As I was researching the weight of these materials, and thinking of how they were acquired by the Israelites (from the Egyptians as they left slavery there) it dawned on me for the first time the weight of all they spoiled from Egypt. Just what was needed for the tabernacle was 14,440lbs!! And the scripture says they gave more than was needed, and still had plenty leftover. That’s a lot of weight! 

So what?

Well, what I learn from this is that God always has a plan. My word for the year is purpose. That popped into my mind as I was reading this section of scripture. 

When the children of Israel left Egypt, they probably didn’t care about gold, silver or brass at all. They had been slaves for 400 years! They hadn’t had the opportunity to think about riches or have to manage money in a long time. 

As they left Egypt, what they thought they needed was food and water, which they didn’t have, and yet they had to carry all this extra weight of riches around with them. Things they couldn’t eat or drink. It probably seemed useless to them. They didn’t know why they were carrying all of this. 

And then…the tabernacle. God had a purpose in mind way beyond just getting them out of Egypt. He gave them that heavy burden for a specific purpose. It was to become part of something beautiful. Something that brought them into fellowship with God. Something that allowed His presence to dwell among them. Wow.

I don’t know what burden God has given you to carry today. What I do know is that He wants to make something beautiful out of it. Even if it doesn’t make sense. Even if you think you need something else. He wants to use it to draw you into fellowship with Him, and allow His presence to dwell with you. 

Trust Him to fulfill His plan and purpose in your life. 

And just like Israel, your burden will still be there. The gold didn’t just disappear- it was transformed into something else. They still had to carry all the items for the tabernacle while they traveled. But maybe since they now knew it was for the glory of God, it became a little easier. And maybe that makes it a little easier for us, too.

P.S. God provided the food and water they thought they needed too, faithfully, for forty years as they wandered.