We see Aaron's sons (priests) die when they approach God's presence with "strange fire", not the way they were just trained and instructed to do. What does this lesson hold for us, regarding the way we might approach God on our terms?
Look at the “Pattern”. There is a process to coming into HIS presence, it hasn’t changed. Nadab and Abihu didn’t follow the prescribed procedure, the “Pattern” and they came in with their agenda and their way. There is only one way to come into HIS presence. So what has been your approach, your pattern or “strange sacrifice”?? This picture is filled with Yeshua. The priests are given directions to make atonement; Yeshua is the atonement for us! We have the results if we don’t follow His procedures (“Choose Life”). Then we have directions for Kashrut, showing two things:
(1) The areas of physical “Clean” & “Unclean”. Tahor & Tamei
(2) The areas of Spiritual Tables that we eat from today of “Clean’ & “Unclean”.
The Sabbath before Pesach is called Sabbath HaGadol: “The Great Sabbath.” This is a great study of our “flesh nature” being a living sacrifice, offered up to Yahweh as His Witness and Bride. The actual understanding of Korban (Offering) is to be in His presence - “to come near."
This week’s study is a powerful picture of Yeshua. The five types of Korban (offerings) listed below are to bring us into HIS presence. We will always have a struggle with the flesh, even as Shaul (Paul) wrote in Romans 5; we continue to “do what we don’t want to do, and we don’t do what we should do.” Why? Our flesh is still alive and it is warring with our Yeshua Spirit in us. Thank Yahweh we have HIS Love, passion and the Korban of HIS flesh life, Yeshua.
This concept of a spiritual accounting plays an important role in this week's Torah portion, P’kudei. A major theme in the Parasha is how Moses gives an accounting of the materials used to build the Tabernacle. The close of Exodus gives us the full picture of Yahweh’s “Redemption.” Nachmanides (Ramban) mentions that “Redemption” should be the name of the book of Exodus. As man lost the right to be in YHVH’s presence at the Garden, it is now restored. Salvation, forgiveness, guidelines on how to live, how to worship, and when to worship are the major themes we’ll see in this week’s study, including HIS presence in HIS sanctuary—us. The Ark of the Testimony brings us into HIS witness.
Waiting on God... Still Waiting... Have you ever waited, and waited, and waited, wondering if He was still there, listening, caring? God's timing is perfect, but what do we do when His plan doesn't fit with our timing? Do we look for guidance elsewhere? Do we give up on Him? Consequences will follow each choice. He sets before us Life and Death, Blessings and Curses. What will we choose?
Ha Mishkan: The Tabernacle. This is where God dwells, and loves it, as in Psalms 26:8. In the beginning of Parasha Terumah (Exodus 25:1-7), God tells Moshe (Moses) to collect donations from all Israel for the building materials of the Tabernacle. He mentions the specific materials that they should bring such as gold, silver, copper, turquoise, & wool. Why must they bring specific materials?
Jethro is a man of the world, (just like us). Why does Jethro come to Moses? Because the whole world heard about the Red Sea (a disaster for Egypt), and then another nation destroyed - the Amalekites!! Jethro was a seeker of Truth, a man with a heart for God’s truth! He then gives his life to Yahweh, making an offering to Him, and becomes one of the First Fruits of the Gentiles. Yahweh gives us guidance; The Ten Words-Aseret haDevarim. (John 1) Yeshua at Mount Sinai-Horeb.
