Tag: Parashat Vayaq’hel

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Through the Tabernacle door: How Messiah opens access to God’s presence (Exodus 38; Romans 7; Hebrews 8)

Through the Tabernacle door: How the Messiah opens access to God's presence (Exodus 35-38; Romans 7; Hebrews 8). Artwork shows a dark room with happy and sad smileys on the walls, and an open door shows light and clouds outside.

What can all the meticulous Bible detail on the architecture and interior design of Israel’s Tabernacle teach us about Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus)? In this study of Torah reading וַיַּקְהֵל Vayaqhel (“and he assembled,” Ex. 35:1–38:20), we’ll focus on the door of that Dwelling Place of God. As the living Tabernacle (Jn. 1:14), Yeshua is the way for native-born (Jew) and foreign-born (Gentile) believers to move from where we all started as “other” from God toward the Presence to see His glory.

Yeshua is the perfect high priest who offers the true sacrifice, the goal toward Whom the essential patterns of the Tabernacle/Temple direct us (Hebrews 7-8). Without Yeshua’s atoning work, memorialized annually on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), there is no other means of salvation — to have access to God (Heb. 10:26-27). The Torah, as “every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Mt. 4:4; Dt. 8:3), reveals the reality of life apart from the Creator and that there is a Way back — Yeshua.

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Discussions Torah

‘I will give you rest’: God’s blueprint for His dwelling among humanity (Exodus 35–40; 1Corinthians 3)

"I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28; Exodus 33:14): God's blueprint for His dwelling among humanity (Exodus 35-40; 1Corinthians 3)

Every believer is a mobile temple — dwelling place — to God. As we build our trust in Heaven’s Anointed One, Yeshua (Jesus), God will test that foundation from time to time. If we are building our faith with strong materials, the building will remain standing. If we are building our faith with weak materials, the building will fall. That’s a key lesson from the parable of the Tabernacle, brought to a crescendo in Torah reading וַיַּקְהֵל/פְקוּדֵי Vayakel/Pekudei, (“and he assembled”/“accounts,” Exodus 35:1–40:38).

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Discussions Torah

Swiss cheese boundaries: Danger of hole-y gates in our house for God (Exodus 35-38)

Swiss cheese boundaries: Danger of hole-y gates in our house for God (Exodus 35-38)

Why is the Tabernacle so special? When you look at this reading as it’s presented, the events of the Torah reading ויקהל Vayaq’hel (“and he assembled,” Exodus 35:1–38:20) are set in the aftermath of the golden calf (Exodus 32). While the Tabernacle architectural and interior design details in this reading make it seem identical to prior Torah readings before the golden calf incident, the key lesson of these passages is that the primary function of the Tabernacle was to establish the presence of HaShem (“The Name,” i.e., the LORD) in the midst of His people.

The LORD has desired to dwell with people since the foundation of the world (Eden), has taken steps to reestablish that relationship. God created is Israel, instructed Israel to build the Tabernacle and sent the Messiah as the Tabernacle made flesh. Then God plans to bring that to ultimate reality (New Jerusalem). God’s desire to dwell with His people has never changed.

A key first lesson of the Tabernacle is its gate, its door. That teaches that something important must change as a person moves in from the realm outside the Presence of God.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Exodus 35:1–36:7: Can you handle the truth about God’s love?

God doesn’t explain everything, largely because our search for the answers is key to God’s revealing them to us. As paradoxical as that sounds, it’s a key takeaway from the Torah reading ויקהל Vayaqhel (“and he assembled,” Exodus 35:1–38:20). It’s a repetition of the Tabernacle elements, but it does reveal what the LORD really has always wanted — our heartfelt connection.

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Discussions Torah

Exodus 35:1-40:38: Rebuilding your life after Heaven’s Pattern

What did Jerusalem look like in Yeshua's time? When did God show His glory there? (Computer animation by www.LumoProject.com)

Why did the LORD call for the building of the Tabernacle? What are we supposed learn from it? How are we supposed to apply the lessons to everyday life today? These are questions answered in the double-header reading ויקהל Vayakhel (“and he assembled”) and פקודי Pekudei (“accounts”), covering the last six chapter of the book of Shemot (Exodus 35:1–40:38).

It’s a second telling about the construction of the Tabernacle, but it’s not just the world’s most lengthy non-IKEA instruction manual. When God repeats Himself, it’s for a good reason. When we look at these plans and compare them to the construction of Solomon’s temple, Solomon’s Temple certain had more and bigger items than what the Tabernacle had. One might ask if bigger always better? Herod’s Temple was even grander than that, but which one had more of God’s glory?

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Discussions Torah

Exodus 35–40: Enter God’s rest before building His home

Everything in the Tabernacle is both functional and beautiful, just as the LORD made mankind at the beginning. God made humanity to appreciate beauty, because He appreciates beauty. But He doesn’t want us to worship beauty. Worship belongs to Him alone.

None of the components of the Tabernacle are identified by their looks but by their works — what they do. Humans also are primarily defined by their works, not their looks. We know who Yeshua is the Messiah, not by His looks but by His actions and how they align with the pattern shown Moshe on Mt. Sinai.

In the Torah reading ויקהל Vayakhel (“assembly,” Exodus 35:1–38:20), the people were united in their desire to build the Tabernacle for the LORD, assembling so many donations for it that Moses had to turn donations away. In the Torah reading פקודי Pekudei (“account,” Exodus 38:21–40:38), these donations are accounted for and used to create the Tabernacle. The section culminates in God entering His new home.

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Discussions Torah

Exodus 35:1–38:20: A weekly reminder from Messiah Yeshua to ‘enter His rest’

"We would not buy it of them on the sabbath." (Nehemiah 10:31)
Public domain drawing posted on TheBibleRevival.com: "We would not buy it of them on the sabbath." (Nehemiah 10:31)

We don’t want to get into the trap of making God’s rules rote and mechanical, rather than considering His counsel something that is deep in the heart and coming out in our actions. That’s what’s behind the Torah reading Vayak’hel (“and he assembled,” Exodus 35:1–38:20). The focus on the seventh-day Sabbath and construction of the Tabernacle are closely connected to Messiah Yeshua and the Spirit of God.