Vayak'hel (He Assembled)

Parashah 22: Vayak'hel (He Assembled)

In regular years read with parashah 23, in leap years read separately.

Learn more about what a parashah is here. The heart behind this Bible portion blog is to help you develop your own daily reading habit, a daily renewing of your mind. We do this to know and love Adonai further, and to know His love for us. We share what the portion is for the week, what we took note of, and what spoke to our heart. We hope that this will help you study the Word of God and hide it in your heart, and soon you can teach someone else to do the same.

Torah (first 5 books of the Old Testament): Exodus 35:1-38:20

Haftarah (section from the Prophets): 1 Kings 7:40-50; 7:13-26

B'rit Hadashah (New Testament): 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; Hebrews 9:1-14; Revelation 11:1-13

Our Notes

In this reading, we get to see the beginnings of the tabernacle coming together, and what it was like to have specific plans of God meeting the hands of men and women. Something that kept jumping out of the pages was how people who wanted to, really had the chance to take part in the building. Everything from donating resources to actually making the components. The heart's willingness seems to be the emphasis. In one paragraph alone, verses 20-29, it says as much 5 times: "whose heart stirred him", who had "willing hearts", "whose heart impelled him to", and "whose heart impelled him".

And the heart of these people was more than enough. The text reads that the craftsmen had to actually leave what they were doing to tell Moses that they didn't need any more supplies, in fact that they already had more than they needed. What a lovely problem to have.

It's interesting to see how Bezalel in 35:30 was singled out. He was filled with the Spirit of God (WOAH!) and was given wisdom, understanding, and knowledge concerning artistry. 

Our Heart

The connection between intent/heart and action is getting my attention. And the voluntary nature of the giving in this portion is precious. There are times when obedience is commanded in the Bible, and then there are times, like in making the holy garments, that over and over a willing heart and voluntary work is emphasized. It's clear the Lord has always desired man's heart, a trusting relationship with Him, and Him alone. Everyone's heart is on a different timeline. I admit there have been times I have given out of a cheerful heart, other times because I'm just obeying, and other times out of shame, fear, or a desire for a multiplication miracle. One act, such as giving, can have so many different roots. It looks like a trusting, eager, lovely child-like root is the best one, bearing the best kind of giving fruit. That's the fruit the Lord wanted to make the holy garments. The Lord's heart is more tender than I ever realized. How fortunate we are to be apart of His kingdom. Oh to dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of one's life. 

What happened to Bezalel was incredible. How he was even able to house the Spirit of God, even before Yeshua Jesus' blood could make him clean is beyond my understanding. But the beauty and majesty of Adonai is glowing in the passage. Adonai is the Creator, and He makes incredibly beautiful things. On a recent trip to the coast, I was looking at endless structures that were built to transfer the oil from the ocean to trains. It was not beautiful. I guess it was functional, but it got zero points for aesthetics. It left me thinking that there must be a better way to do the job while also maintaining beauty. I wonder if those builders and designers were filled with the Spirit of God if they would have been able to do the project well in all regards. 

The reality that we are the temple of God still just is beyond comprehension, but it still so true! And though we may get temporarily destroyed, the Lord will actually destroy anyone who destroys His temple. Oh to dwell on the reality of things to come would surely make us throw fear out the window and completely submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit within us.

"Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple." 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 

Music ministering to us:

Zion

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A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years approached him from behind and touched the tzitzit on his robe. For she said to herself, “If I can only touch his robe, I will be healed.” Yeshua turned, saw her and said, “Courage, daughter! Your trust has healed you.” And she was instantly healed.

Matthew 9:20-22 (CJB)