Mon.’s Devo - Work = Rest

Read Ex. 38: 21-24 Today we have a list of the names of the people who were key players in constructing the tabernacle. We’ve already talked about these men in Ex. 36 but I’ll add a little more. Ithamar was Aaron’s youngest son of four. Aaron’s first two sons Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu were killed by the Lord when they offered strange fire (Lev. 10:1,2). That left Eleazar and Ithamar. Their family were ordinary priests until Eli who became a high priest. Ithamar’s name means “island of the palm trees”. Palm trees symbolized someone flourishing and upright. So, Ithamar was a God-fearing man who stayed righteous during prosperous times. Bezaleel means “the shadow of God; God’s protection”. He worked with the metal, wood, and stone. I would certainly need God’s protection if I worked with those mediums because I tend to hurt myself. He worked with the “weightier” things while Aholiab, who helped him and was under him, had the charge of engraving and the textile fabrics. If you are reading from the King James, which is the only way to really study, you’ll see that the cost of gold reads: “twenty and nine talents, and seven hundred and thirty shekels” instead of 29 plus 730. It is because every number is important. “Twenty” means “holy”. “Nine” means “harvest”. This describes the talent. A talent is equal to about 3,000 shekels of silver but the word “talent” means a “circle”. It could describe anything that completes it’s orbit or mission. It could be your ministry or your life or just a project you are doing - It should be holy and reap a harvest. “Seven hundred” means “fullness of rest”. “Thirty” means “obedient”. This described the shekel. Everyone was to bring one shekel to the sanctuary so their obedience was required for them to enter into God’s rest. This was the amount of gold required. “Gold” stands for wisdom so God’s wisdom is holy; it brings a harvest of full rest to those who are obedient. Lord, may our obedient service to you be holy and reap fullness of rest.