Workmanship

       This week's Sabbath reading portion not only gave me more information about the construction of the tabernacle in the wilderness, but for me it also reflected the building of each believer in Christ, and the building of the spiritual entity known as "the Church". The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Ki Tissa, which means "When you take". This title comes from Ex. 30:11-12: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 'When you take the (*Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) census/sum of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom (koper/kapar - redemption price, price of a life, as a covering [of asphalt or pitch], henna plant used for a dye, ransom/atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, merciful, cleansed, pardon, cover over) for himself/for his soul to the LORD, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them." 

     This instruction is given in the middle of the commandments for the furnishings of the tabernacle. This gives me the thought that the redeemed people of God are included in the concept of the furnishing of the tabernacle. The "ransom" is directly related to redemption and atonement covering. The including of the henna plant in the meaning of "ransom" is very meaningful to believers in Messiah/Christ because the leaves of the henna plant/tree, when crushed to powder are used to produce a bright red pigment called lawsone. When the lawsone pigment/dye ages it darkens to a brownish red color just as blood darkens as it oxidizes. The dye from pure, natural henna adheres to a living surface, like skin or hair, because of a reaction to proteins found there. This bright red to reddish brown dye reminds us of the blood of Jesus covering over our sins in atonement.

     The New Testament tells us that the spiritual house/temple of God is built of living stones or people, both Jew and Gentile. (1 Pet. 2:4-5, Eph. 2:19-22). We can be built into this spiritual house/tabernacle/temple because Christ paid our redemption price for us: "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence." (Eph. 1:7-8). Also: "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Gal. 3:13-14). Psalm 107:2-3 says: "Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south."

     We can again see a parallel between the construction of the tabernacle and the building of the Church of believers as the LORD appoints a master builder: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: "See (ra'a - perceive, see by revelation, foresee), I have called by name Bezalel ("in the shadow/protection of God", protection from the sun in the shadow of branches, shaded,  to sink down into, to be hidden, to perish, buried) the son of Uri (fiery, flame, light of fire, revelations, to give light, break of day, to become light, shine, glorious) the son of Hur (white cloth, fine linen [see Rev. 19:7-8, assoc. with the Bride/Church], be splendid, noble), of the tribe of Judah (Praise, give thanks, confession, confess the name of God, to cast down). And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship (melaka/malak - occupation, work, deputyship, ministry, messenger, angel, prophet, priest, teacher, ambassador, king), to design artistic works. to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship." (Ex. 31:1-5).

     When we look at the meaning of Bezalel's name above, we see the idea of sinking down into, even being hidden within or perishing. We are told in the New Testament to "put on Christ". (see Rom. 13:14, Gal. 3:27). "Put on" is the Greek word endyo, meaning to sink into. We are to immerse ourselves into Christ, even as we have died with Him and have been buried with Him, even as we have been raised with Him (Gal. 2:20, Rom. 6:4, Col. 2:12).

     The Hebrew meanings associated with "workmanship" above are even more powerful as they relate to the Church. Paul wrote: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:10). The meaning of "workmanship" is rooted in the terms of "ministry, messenger, angel, prophet, priest, teacher, ambassador, king". These terms are also connected with the offices gifted to the Church by God as Paul mentioned in Eph. 4:11-13, not for the purpose of building a physical building but a spiritual one in the measure and image of Jesus Christ. (see also Eph. 2:19-22). Jesus addressed the heads of the churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 as "angels" or messengers. We have already seen in previous studies that the fifteen elements used to construct the tabernacle depicted an image of Jesus Messiah/Christ. The master builders assemble these elements into the (spiritual) tabernacle and its furnishings.

   Paul wrote that he was called to be an apostle, which from the Greek word apostolos means: a delegate, messenger, ambassador, eminent teacher of the Gospel. Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth as an ambassador for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20-21). He also refers to himself as "a master builder" concerning the Church, as Belzalel would have been considered in connection with the tabernacle, writing: "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it...For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear...Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Cor. 3:9-13, 16).

     Bezalel from Ex. 31 was gifted by God with His Holy Spirit to be able to take the hasab design of God for the tabernacle and turn it into mahasaba artistic works. This is also the definition of faith as taught to the Church: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." (Heb. 11:1-3). Our whole walk as believers in Christ, and the living temple that we are becoming, is built upon this understanding of prophetic faith. If we step away from this, we step away from Christ and our own resurrection in Him. (Col. 2:6-7, 2 Cor. 5:6-8).

     Bezalel was not appointed by Moses, but by God. Paul wrote the same of his apostolic calling: "Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me..." (Gal. 1:1).

     Above, Paul also mentions that he is including the brethren with him in addressing his letter to the Galatians. Paul is not alone. Bezalel was not alone either. Named specifically by God to work with Bezalel in the construction of the tabernacle was Aholiab: "And I, indeed I, have appointed with him (meaning Bezalel) Aholiab ("Father's tent/tabernacle/dwelling/covering/to be clear, to shine, to be bright) the son of Ahisamach (brother or kindred of support, uphold, establish), of the tribe of Dan (judge, plead a cause, contend, execute/strong, firm, Lord, to rule); and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they make all that I have commanded you..." (Ex. 31:6). The LORD emphasized that Aholiab was being appointed by Him, and his name is synonymous with the tabernacle of God and shining brightly, as we are also called and appointed to be and to do.

     As we can see, there is a magnificent spiritual edifice being built which is called The Church, the Body of Christ, with master builders having been appointed by God to bring forth this spiritual structure. "Brethren of support" have also been appointed to help establish this structure. I think that the case has also been established here that the pattern or design of this structure as well as its construction has been established by God and is patterned after the construction of the tabernacle in the wilderness.

     While the master builders have the vision that they are appointed to bring into manifestation, often, as the Book of Hebrews says, they are hindered by the members of the Body who do not understand this pattern, or the expected end result: "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food...a babe...Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection (teleiotes/telios/telos - moral and spiritual perfection, completeness, more intelligent/lacking nothing necessary to completeness, full age, mature/finish, end, purpose), not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works..." (Heb. 5:12-6:1, excerpt). 

     The spiritual edifice being constructed is not to our glory, but, like the tabernacle, it is the dwelling place of Jesus within us and of His salvation, redemption, and atoning work to the glory of God, the Father. Let us move on to the vision of the completed workmanship and accomplish it!

     If you would like to walk in this workmanship of God, you can pray with me: "Father, You have given the vision for Your spiritual temple and the manifestation of Your Holy City.  This vision is of a living temple that conforms to the likeness and Person of Your Son, Jesus Messiah/Christ. Fill us with the Holy Spirit and wisdom, helping us to fulfill Your purpose in us individually and as a body together. I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.