Real Hope: A Study in ExodusSample

The Direction of Every Detail

There’s a TV show called Grand Designs and every time I read this part of Exodus I think of it. In Exodus 35–40, we discover more about the building process of the tabernacle, the sources of the building materials, who donated them, and who crafted them. In Grand Designs they often go into detail about what materials they’re using and why. There’s a reason for every decision.

In Exodus 38:8 it says, ‘the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting’ were used to create the bronze basin. The bronze basin sat between the altar of sacrifice and the entrance to the tabernacle. To prepare themselves for coming into God’s presence in the tabernacle, the priests had to wash in the bronze basin first. It was important in preparing themselves to enter the presence of God. But they were not just washing in any old bronze basin, but in a basin of mirrors. Extremely valuable, highly polished mirrors, gifted by faithful women. How fascinating that that part of preparing to enter the presence of God involved looking into a mirror. How interesting that each piece of material meant something significant. Even today as we prepare to take communion, we often take a moment to reflect and wash ourselves clean with the cleansing blood of Christ before we enter His presence.

The tabernacle foreshadowed all that was still to come to fruition as God’s masterful plan continued to unfold throughout history. God’s love is weaved into every detail of every part of His plan to restore us back to Himself and, when we look closer, we cannot fail to discover that every detail points back to Him.

Written by LUCY WEIL