Terumah (Offering)

(I originally wrote and posted this commentary on the Torah portion, Terumah, in my previous blog on 02/25/2007.)

TORAH: Shemot (Exodus) 25:1-27:19

HAFTARAH: Melakim Bet (2 Kings) 5:12-6:13

KETUVIM NETZARIM: MattithYahu (Matthew) 5:33-37; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

A friend of mine who is a gold prospector said he read that the estimated amount of gold used in the building of the Mishkan (tabernacle) was 1.25 tons. He told me that at today's prices that amount of gold would be worth about 50 billion dollars! And that doesn't include all the silver, bronze, wood, linen, wool, leather, etc. If that is the mere material value, can you imagine the spiritual value of such a dwelling place?

In contrast, the material value of the elements that make up the human body is only about $4.50!

1Co 3:16 Do you not know that you are a Dwelling Place of Elohim and that the Spirit of Elohim dwells in you?

Why would the King of the universe choose such a humble abode?

Mat 10:29 "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground without your Father.

Mat 10:30 "And even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

Mat 10:31 "So do not fear, you are worth more than many sparrows.

Mat 10:32 "Everyone, therefore, who shall confess Me before men, him I shall also confess before My Father who is in the heavens.

Just as He prescribed and attended to every detail in the building of the Mishkan, He knitted each of us together with the same careful attention to detail.

But even more awesome than that is that we were bought with a price (1 Cor. 16:20), and that price was His precious blood. Since that is how much we are worth to Him, how could we possibly love Him any less extravagantly?