Are we paying attention how we’re building a home for Yeshua the Mashiakh (Jesus the Christ) and the Spirit in our lives? The care and attention to detail that went into the Tabernacle that the LORD instructed Israel to build and what that teaches about the Holy One and Heaven’s plan to transform us is central to the lessons in the Torah reading וַיַּקְהֵל Vayaqhel (“and he assembled,” Exodus 35:1–38:20).
The story of Israel’s partying around the golden calf at Mount Sinai may seem ancient and completely out of touch with modern sensibilities. But the golden calf incident didn’t happen in a vacuum, and Israel’s repeated dalliances with golden calf deities throughout its history before the Babylonian exile weren’t coincidental either.
In this study on the Torah reading כי תשא Ki Tisa (“when you take”; Exodus 30:11–34:35), we delve into the construction of the Tabernacle and golden calf calamity, Moses’ plea for forgiveness, and the theme of repentance.
Moses asked to see God’s glory on Mount Sinai, and God revealed His character to Moses in his lovingkindness and steadfastness. Moses spoke with God face to face as one speaks to a friend. This close bond between Moses and God and the Tabernacle home for God’s Presence that traveled prefigure Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ), Who lived among us as God in the flesh and fully revealed God’s character (John 1:14; Hebrews 1:3).
We also draw upon the accounts of Jonah’s warning to Nineveh, and the Elijah’s stand against the Baal prophets on Mount Carmel. They teach us the importance of faithfulness to God’s commands amid societal pressures to go along with what’s popular or promoted by those in authority. Ultimately, this study underscores the importance of the Tabernacle as teaching spiritual connection and anticipates redemption through the Messiah’s return and the transformation of Jerusalem along with all the world.
What is the “different gospel” Paul is excoriating the congregations of Galatia? This study from the
This week’s Torah reading is called כי תשא Ki Tisa (“when you take”), covering Ex. 30:11–34:35. The Torah reading shows us how Messiah Yeshua represents His people before His Father as Aharon walks through the sacrifices and prayers on the Day of Atonement.
We also see Messiah Yeshua in Moshe’s response to the sinful spectacle with the Golden Calf. Moshe’s simple confession of Israel’s sin to the Lord and his willingness to pay the price himself are all echoes of our Messiah Yeshua’s heart. God rejected Moshe’s profound offer of atonement because He has already prepared for Messiah Yeshua to make the atonement Moshe wanted to make for Israel.
Why is there so much ink in the Torah devoted to the design of Israel’s Tabernacle? As we see in this study of Torah reading תְּצַוֶּה Tetzaveh (“you shall command,” Exodus 27:20–30:10) and parallel passages on Ezekiel’s temple and Hebrews 13, the emphasis is God’s dwelling among His people, who are to be a lifeline for humanity. The architecture, offerings and rituals of the Tabernacle (and later temples) are essential, enduring blueprints for the atoning work of Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) and believers’ personal transformation through God’s Spirit to be continual “living sacrifices” (Rom. 12:1–2) in how they behave.
What does is mean that Yeshua (Jesus) is our “high priest” (Hebrews 4:14)? We can learn a lot about that role from the inauguration of the first high priest of the people of God, described in detail in this week’s Torah reading, תְּצַוֶּה Tetzaveh (“you shall command”), covering Exodus 27:20-30:10.
What’s so important about the meticulous detail in the instructions for the Tabernacle? These pictures are like the résumé for the Mashiakh, the Christ. This week’s Torah reading, Terumah (“heave offering”), covering Ex. 25:1-27:19, foreshadows the work of Yeshua (Jesus).