Happy Friday!

Hello, again! Can you believe we're almost done with the gospel of Matthew? After today's reading (which has to be one of the most intense chapters in the Bible), there's only one left. The chapters are flying by, don't you think?

Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Thurs, Feb. 5- How much silver does Judas receive to betray Jesus?
Matthew 26:15, “So they counted for him thirty pieces of silver.”

And here's the question of the day:
Fri, Feb. 6- What kind of wood (or tree) was the ark of the covenant made from?

And here's the reflection of the day:
Those of you who are wood workers or who like to sew might find these next couple chapters of Exodus to be pretty interesting. In Exodus 25 and 26, we read a lot about the details God commands to Moses concerning the Ark of the Covenant, the table, and the tabernacle (or tent), that will surround them. It's a little fascinating, trying to imagine what it all must have looked like once it was put together.

There are 13 chapters in Exodus that go on about the description of HOW to build the tabernacle as well as the chapters detailing the actual BUILDING of it too. And so as you're reading this, the question running through your mind may be this: WHY? Why does Exodus spend so much time talking about this stuff? What does this have to do with us? (Even if we had been living back in biblical times, would we really have thought it was interesting even back then?!)

Here's the thing: Exodus tells the story of God taking the Israelites from slavery to Pharaoh and freeing them for service to God. In Egypt, they were controlled and subdued; in God, they are free and liberated. God has freed them from restriction and limitation. They are now able to worship God. And to worship God, they need some place to do it; hence, the need for a tabernacle.

The Israelites who were once enslaved to make bricks for Pharaoh's buildings are now able to freely and enthusiastically build a tabernacle for God. It is their "glad and obedient offering of themselves for a building for the worship of God" (Fretheim, Exodus, 263). That's a pretty big deal. In light of all of this, I can understand why so much of Exodus is involved with building this tabernacle.

Certainly, there's more to it than that, and I'll explain some of the other important aspects of the tabernacle, but for now, let it suffice to say that this is the ultimate reversal of fortunes for the Israelites. This is one of the ways they are showing gratitude to God for their deliverance.

How can you show YOUR gratitude to God today?

Allison