Sorry, no recording this week.
This week’s portion called va-vak-hel (translated “and he gather”) is from Exodus 35:1 – 38:20.
In this week’s portion, Vayakhel, Moses gathers the Israelites and relays to them all the details regarding the construction of the Tabernacle and its vessels. The actual construction is also described. This portion repeats many of the details described in the portion of Terumah, where God instructed Moses how the Tabernacle and its vessels were to be constructed.
Please stand with me as I read from the parsha:
Exo 35:2 Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.
Exo 35:3 You shall kindle no fire in all your dwelling places on the Sabbath day.”
Exo 35:4 Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “This is the thing that the LORD has commanded.
Exo 35:5 Take from among you a contribution to the LORD. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the LORD’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze;
Exo 35:6 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; goats’ hair,
Exo 35:7 tanned rams’ skins, and goatskins; acacia wood,
Exo 35:8 oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense,
Exo 35:9 and onyx stones and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece.
Exo 35:10 “Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the LORD has commanded:
The following is based on FFOZ Torah Club volume 5.
Moses prefaced his instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle with a reminder about the commandment of the Sabbath. The Torah here ties these two concepts closely together. The Tabernacle created a sanctuary in space, the Sabbath creates a sanctuary in time. The Sabbath is a mo’ed, an appointed time. The Tabernacle is called and ohel mo’ed, the tent of appointment or the Tent of Meeting. Like the Tabernacle, the Sabbath created a holy place. Specific, defined limits mark the beginning and end of the Sabbath. As soon as the sun sets the Sabbath begins and we enter holy time. In the same way, as soon as one set foot into the Tabernacle courtyard, you entered into holy space.
God’s presence dwelt within the Tabernacle and His presence lives within the Sabbath day. Worshippers went to the Tabernacle expecting an encounter with God. They entered His courts seeking His presence. Likewise, when we enter the Sabbath, we should enter with the expectation of encountering God on His holy day.
Having now equated the sanctity of the Tabernacle with that of Sabbath, Moses gives the instructions for the creative work of the Tabernacle to the children of Israel and they eagerly set to work on it. Moses harnessed the same spiritual impulse that had led to idolatry with the golden calf. Instead of contributing gold for the construction of an idol, everyone came and brought contributions for the work of the Tent of Meeting and all of it’s implements. They then busied themselves with the construction. They wanted to make Heaven on earth, a holy dwelling place for God in their midst.
Spirituality without Torah leads to paganism and idolatry. The Torah gives definition to man’s otherwise unchecked spiritual impulses. It creates a structure and a shape for spirituality to fill. Without the parameters of the scripture, the children of Israel had built an idol in an attempt to bring divinity into their camp. Rather than drawing themselves close to God, their efforts distanced Him.
So, the building of the Tabernacle provides a lesson for how to do life in general. The Sanctuary came with laws and measurements. In a similar way, the Scripture legislates and gives shape to our spiritual impulses and to direct us in paths that lead to God rather than away from him. One way for us to have a Godly encounter each week is to enter into the Sabbath that illustrates, in our day, the sanctity of the Tabernacle.
As disciples of Yeshua, we now labor together to build the ultimate Sanctuary of God on Earth, the body of Messiah. We are to be busy with the work of the Kingdom of Heaven. This work won’t be finished until His kingdom comes in its fullness. Then, in that day, and in every day after that, we will experience the Sabbath fully in the presence of the LORD.