Mark Call

This week we wrap up the teachings for the Book of Shemot or Exodus with a double portion, parsha Vayakhel, and then Pekudei (Exodus chapters 35 through the End of the Book.)

“And assembled [vayakhel] Moses,” the portion begins, all of the congregation of the sons of Israel. And, AGAIN, he tells them about the importance of keeping the Sabbath of YHVH. And that, too, is followed up by more detail that sound like things we’ve heard before. Why?

The Erev Shabbat telling of the whole story at least BEGINS to answer that question. Part of the answer, as we see in the details, is the repetition, and words which make the point, over and over again even, that it has to do with willing hearts, skillful work, done in accord with His instruction, for a purpose that also leads to Him:

The parallels between the Genesis story, and the terminology used in Genesis 2, with the building of the Tabernacle or Mishkan, have been a subject of study for centuries. YHVH builds a place for us, in His universe, and describes that. Later, within the camp, a people who have fallen short but seek to ‘return to Him,’ build a place for His presence in their midst. An “inside-out” version of a mini-universe, if you will, described in ways that are too identical to be coicidental.

But it’s not the degree of detail alone that outline the importance of those who are described, again and again, as wise-hearted, willing-hearted, and able to follow His directions IN that effort, being able to build together.

Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship as he does a bit of ‘compare and contrast,’ too, with warnings that Yahushua gave us in places like John 10:10. The Enemy has now made undeniable what we have seen for some time: that he comes but “to kill and to destroy”.

“Vayakhel-Pekudei: Do NOT confuse ‘Build together’ as Yah commands with ‘build back better’!”