Do you ever find yourself reading all the instructions given in Exodus concerning the building of the Tabernacle and wondering what the significance of all the details is? How can this still apply to our lives now? I, too, wonder this as I muddle my way through, and something has struck me as I read.
It seems God is big on involving all the senses when He calls his people to worship Him. From the intricate designs with precise direction on inlaid gold and silver, blue, purple and scarlet threads, precious stones, fine leathers and costly wood to fragrant incense, spices and anointing oils, no expense is spared to ignite the people’s senses.
Why this extravagance? First of all, He is God and worthy of the honour. But the signs and symbols woven into the building of the Tabernacle, along with engaging all the senses, were God’s way of helping the people remember who He was, calling them back to Himself over and over. “They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.” Exodus 29:46 NIV.
Today, we don’t necessarily have the opulent churches described in Exodus, but God still engages all our scenes to remind us of his continuous love for us.
The colours cast across the sky in the evening sunset, the intricate designs in the summer garden, and the majesty of the craggy mountains are all a feast for the eyes, pointing us back to our Creator's faithfulness!
The sound of music, a conversation with a loved one, children laughing and the birds singing outside the window are gentle embraces of a creative Father God.
The smorgasbord of flavours we experience as food passes our tongue brings us back to thankfulness to God for the blessings.
The touch of a hand, the gentle caress that soothes the soul, is like the hand of God, reminding us of His love.
The fresh inhale after a summer rain, or the musky ripening of autumn grains reminds us of our ever-present Provider, without whom we would have nothing.
I love how God has provided us with senses to remind us of Him. We forget so quickly and need constant nudges to keep us looking to Him. How can we, as writers, engage our readers' senses to continually point them back to God's faithfulness and love?
Mary Folkerts is mom to four kids and wife to a farmer, living on the southern prairies of Alberta, where the skies are large and the sunsets stunning. She is a Proverbs 31 ministries COMPEL Writers Training member and is involved in church ministries and music. Mary’s personal blog aims to encourage and inspire women and advocate for those with Down Syndrome, as their youngest child introduced them to this extraordinary new world. For more inspiration, check out Joy in the small things https://maryfolkerts.com/ or connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maryfolkerts/
Thank you, dear Mary, for this lovely reminder of how much richness our senses add to life and our worship of the Creator of it. I recently "muddled" my way through Exodus. It's so tempting to skip sections, but I always find something to deepen my understanding of who God is.
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It’s true Wendy! Exodus isn’t the easiest but still it points us to a loving Father always calling us back to Him!💞
DeleteWhat a wonderful meditation on the senses God has given us, Mary! This is a real "keeper" for me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading Sandi! Our senses give us such a full and wonderful life! Thank God!!💗
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary, for this beautiful reminder of how God blesses us with the gift of senses. If I might add just one thought. Your post caused be to embrace a sense of wonder in my mind of the creative masterpiece God has scattered throughout His creation.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!! What amazing intricate design he created! He is the master creative and he put in us also that joy to create!💞
DeleteWe recently studied Exodus in our Bible Study Group and it is amazing! We delved into all the symbols and discovered their meanings and how they all point to Christ. Thanks for this wonderful post, Mary.
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