Vayakhel-Pekudeil
Torah scroll
Shabbat Shalom John!
Welcome to Vayakhel (And He Assembled)-Pekudei (Accounts), this week's Parsha(Torah Portion).
This portion of Torah will be read around the world in synagogues during thisweek's Shabbat (Saturday) service. We invite you to read along with us.Enjoy!
VAYAKHEL (And He Assembled)-PEKUDEI (Accounts)Exodus 35:1ÔÇô40:38; Numbers 19:1ÔÇô22; Ezekiel 36:16ÔÇô38; I Kings 7:51ÔÇô8:21;
Hebrews 8:1ÔÇô12, 9:1ÔÇô11
In the last few Parshiot of Terumah, Tetzaveh and the first part of Ki Tisa,God instructed Moses regarding the making of the Mishkan (Tabernacle, dwellingplace), its vessels, and the priestly garments.
Holding up the Torah scroll at the Western (Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem
Because of adjustments in the Parsha cycle to achieve the needed number of
readings, this year the Torah reading includes both Parsha Vayakhel and Parsha Pekudei.
In addition, the section for Shabbat Parah (Sabbath of the Red Heifer) is alsoread, in preparation for Passover (April 6-14, 2012).
This Torah passage, which details the laws of the red heifer used inpurification rituals (Numbers 19), is read because every Jewish person had tobe in a state of ritual purity to bring the Passover offering to the Temple.
Since rituals related to the Temple for Passover cannot be fulfilled inpractice because the Temple no longer stands, spiritual preparation for theholiday is accomplished by studying this Torah passage.
The ashes of the Red Heifer were used in ritual purification ceremonies in theHolyTemple. Numbers 19:2 specifies that the Red Heifer had to be withoutspot or blemish, and must not have been used to perform work.
Completing the Temple
"How lovely is your dwelling place [Mishkan], Lord Almighty [Lord of Hosts]!My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my fleshcry out for the living God." (Psalm 84:1ÔÇô2)
In this week's readings, the glory of the Lord filled the Temple when thework of building the Temple was completed.
Vayakhel records the actual implementation of God’s instructions on how tobuild the Mishkan recounted earlier in Parsha Terumah.
Indeed, Vayakhel is almost a repeat of Terumah. The same details that inTerumah are prefaced with the words “and they shall make” are written here with“and they made.”
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness, 1890 Holman Bible illustration
The Tabernacle and the Sabbath
"For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day,a day of Sabbath rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it is to be put todeath. Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day."(Exodus 35:2-3)
When Moses summoned the people to build the Tabernacle, he began by remindingthem to keep the Shabbat (Sabbath).
The people stood prepared to begin the construction of the Tabernacle, but evenas important as this work was, it is brought to their attention, yet again,that they must not work on the Sabbath.
The holiness of the Sabbath was not to be violated even for the sacred purposeof building the Tabernacle.
The Shabbat, which is kept diligently by ultra-Orthodox Jews, is a festive daythat offers opportunity for spiritual pursuits such as prayer and reading theHebrew Scriptures, and for spending time with the family.
Building the Tabernacle: A Community Affair
Regarding the building of the tabernacle, God stirred up the hearts of thepeople to bring their offerings for the work of the Lord.
Each one contributed what they could from their material resources for theLord's work.
Moreover, it was not just Moses' private project; it was a community affair.Some prepared the holy garments, while others prepared the anointing oil, thesacred vessels, etc. Everyone worked together toward this common goal.
Similarly, none of us can do the work of the Lord alone.
Building up the body of Messiah must be a communal work, with each one whosehearts are stirred by the Lord giving what they are able. Some use theirtalents and others give their material resources. Many give both.
A Jewish boy is ready to give his best gift to charityby depositing his coins in the pushka (offering box).
A Joyful Outpouring of Resources
"The people have given more than enough materials to complete the job the Lordhas commanded us to do!" (Exodus 36:4)
The Israelites were so overjoyed to give to the building of the Mishkan(Tabernacle) that they gave enthusiastically.
So generously did they give that they actually had to be restrained from givingmore (Exodus 36:3-7)!
God responds to the cheerful giver with love and generosity, and He multipliesthe seed sown so that there is no lack.
"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, notreluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God isable to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having allthat you need, you will abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9: 7ÔÇô8)
If everyone whose heart was stirred by the Lord gave what was in their heart togive, there would be more than enough to meet every need.
The Hebrew word on the pushka (offering box)depicted above is tzedakah, which literallymeans righteousness, but is commonly used tosignify charity.
The Widow's Mite
It's not so much the amount of the offering but the amount of sacrificial lovewith which it is given that counts to the Lord.
In chapter 21 of the Gospel of Luke, Yeshua (Jesus) observed the rich puttingtheir gifts into the Temple treasury. He also witnessed a poor widow puttingin two leptons, which are called mites in the King James translation of the Bible.
In Yeshua's day, a lepton (Greek for small or thin) was the smallestdenomination of coins. Like pennies today, they would hardly be consideredworth the effort of stooping to pick one up off the street.
A bronze lepton is estimated to have been worth about six minutesof a day's wage. The term lepton has survived in Greece tothis very day, it’s 1/100 denomination of the official currency.
Her two mites were hardly going to make an appreciable difference in the upkeepof the Temple, but Yeshua took special notice of this tiny offering and gavethis widow a great honor.
What might be considered an insignificant offering by some has been recordedand is still read about two thousand years later! Yeshua actually valued thispoor widow's offering more than the generous offerings of the rich.
"I tell you the truth," Jesus said, "this poor widow has given more than allthe rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she,poor as she is, has given everything she has." (Luke 21:3)
Women praying at the Western (Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem
Offerings of Time and Talent
"whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)
It wasn't only financial offerings that the people gave to complete the workof building the Tabernacle. They also gave of their gifts and talents.
In some individuals, such as Betzalel(see Parsha Ki Tisa), God placed HisSpirit of wisdom and understanding for a specific artistic gifting to completea certain aspect of building the Mishkan.
Likewise, God gives each one of us gifts that are to be used for His glory.
Just as God gave explicitly detailed instructions for the building of theTabernacle, and not just a general outline, we may also seek the Lord forspecific instructions on what He wants us to do for Him.
Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle, by James Tissot
John, click here if you feel led to support our ministry work in Jerusalem
According to God's Plan
"And so Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting,and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle [Mishkan]." (Exodus 40:33ÔÇô34)
In the Pekudei section of this week's Torah reading, the construction of theSanctuary is completed.
That work was finished exactly as God had commanded Moses:
"And so at last the Tabernacle was finished. The Israelites had doneeverything just as the Lord had commanded Moses." (Exodus 39: 32)
The Israelites did not veer off from the plans given to them by God to do theirown thing. They faithfully carried out His directions.
Moses did only according to the Heavenly pattern that was shown to him onthe mountain.
Model of the Tabernacle in Timna Park, Israel
Likewise, we need to make sure that our works are what our Father is asking usto do, the way He is asking us to do it, and that we are not just doing our own thing.
Hearing from God and receiving His Divine guidance comes out of a close,intimate relationship with Him and no other way. And a relationship with God,like any other relationship, requires time and meaningful communication.
Yeshua invested time in His relationship with the Father, and like Moses, dideverything according to His Father's will.
"So Yeshua explained, 'I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself.He does only what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Sonalso does.'" (John 5:19)
"For I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Himwho sent Me." (John 6:38)
In the end, our works will be judged and the fire will test each work. Onlythose done in accord with the will of the Father will endure and be rewarded.
Preparing to read from the Torah scroll in a synagogue in Israel
Receiving the Blessing
"And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord hadcommanded, even so had they done it. And Moses blessed them." (Exodus 39:43)
When the people completed the work, Moses blessed them.
It's as if Moses looked at all that had been accomplished and said to thepeople, "Well done, good and faithful servants."
Notice that the blessing didn't come when they began the work, but when theycompleted it.
Beginnings are easy. When we are fired up by enthusiasm and zeal, we canundertake almost anything, but it takes endurance to make it to the end.
Completions are both difficult and rare. Nevertheless, it's when we completethe work that we receive the blessing.
Orthodox Jewish men walking on a road next to the surrounding wall of theold city of Jerusalem.
Priorities and Procrastination
"Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, whilethis house remains a ruin?" (Haggai 1:4)
Incorrect priorities and procrastination in doing God's work can result inspiritual stagnation.
The Book of Ezra provides a powerful picture of this.
In 538 B.C., King Cyrus decreed that the Jews could return to their belovedcity of Jerusalem and begin the work of rebuilding the Holy Temple, which theBabylonian armies had destroyed.
All too soon, however, they forgot their purpose and lost sight of theirpriorities. Opposition and apathy brought this important work to a standstill(Ezra 4: 4ÔÇô5).
The people languished because they were more concerned with their own personalneeds than with doing God's will.
Young man reading the Torah scroll at the Western (Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem
Bringing our Work to Completion
"Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire todo so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may bematched by your completion of it, according to your means." (2 Corinthians 8: 10ÔÇô11)
In the same way Moses completed building the Tabernacle, Solomon completedbuilding the Temple, and the Jewish exiles of Babylon rebuilt the Temple, wemust bring our work to completion.
In John 17: 4, Yeshua said that He had finished the work that the Father hadgiven Him to do.
When He said that there still remained so much that still needed to be done!People still needed to be saved, healed, and delivered.
Completing our work doesn't mean that all the loose ends have been tied up orthat there is nothing left to do; it means that we have done what Godspecifically commissioned us to do.
Israeli youth
We know from this week's Parsha that once the work is finished, not only doesthe blessing come, but also the glory, since the glory of God filled theTabernacle when Moses finished building it!
In that same pattern, after Yeshua declared that He had completed his work, Hethen went on to speak about the glory.
"And now, Father, glorify Me in your presence with the glory I had with youbefore the world began." (John 17:5)
In the end, after we bring our works to completion, may we receive the blessingand hear those words "Well done, good and faithful servant."
May we be able to declare, like the apostle Paul, "I have fought the goodfight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)
John, there is still so much work to be done. We ask that you partnerwith us today to help us produce the Messianic Prophecy Bible.
Please click here to support Bibles for Israel and Make a difference for Eternity!
Shabbat Shalom from all our ministry staff!
"The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Micah 4:2)