Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church

Exodus 25-31

So many details. So many rules. Here are the measurements for the tent, the furniture, and the decorations. Make them out of these materials. Only these men will work on them. Here are the requirements for the priests' clothing, the high priest's clothing, even down to their underwear. Here is the food provided for the priests, the sacrifices required twice a day, the payments necessary to redeem a child's life, the recipe for sacred oil, and requirements for the Sabbath.

I look at these chapters and think, "Too many details!" How could the Israelites ever remember them? How could they ever carry them out? I wonder how many threw up their hands and gave up.

The truth is, no one could remember them all and carry them out perfectly. God taught his people two key lessons. First, God expects and demands perfection, nothing less. He wanted his house and everyone who served there to give their all to serve him. Second, God's people would need someone to rescue them when they fell short of the Law's demands.

Can you see the Savior foreshadowed in all these details? Just look at one of them:

^{"When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them." (Exodus 30:12).}

God demanded a ransom be paid for the lives of all his people. No one could pay for their lack of perfection, no one except Jesus,

"^{who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." (Titus 2:14).}

Not too many details--just enough for our Savior to fulfill!

To God alone the glory!