Ex 39: As Commanded: Recovering the Rhythm of Creation

Ex 39: As Commanded: Recovering the Rhythm of Creation

"And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it. And Moses blessed them." (Exodus 39:43)

As we journey through Exodus 39, we are met with a recurring refrain, echoing like the great unison of an orchestra: "as the Lord commanded Moses." Repeated no less than seven times, this phrase carries a weight far heavier than the opulent priestly garments or the intricate holy vessels. For the editors of the Pentateuch, etching these words into the scroll amidst the gloom of the Babylonian exile, the glory lay not in the external grandeur of the temple, but in this profound rhythm of obedience.

We often view the construction of the Tabernacle as a monument to strenuous human labor. Indeed, the chapter is saturated with the sweat of twisting thread, weaving fabric, and hammering gold. Yet, the true heart of this chapter lies not in the volume of labor, but in the fulfillment of the Word. Interestingly, the conclusion of this work mirrors the Creation narrative of Genesis with striking precision. Just as God looked upon all He had made and saw that it was good, resting on the seventh day, so too does Moses look upon all the finished work, confirm it was done "as commanded," and bless them.

Building the Tabernacle was no mere architectural feat. It was an act of 'New Creation'—re-establishing the divine order of creation in the midst of a chaotic wilderness. Thus, the phrase "as the Lord commanded" transcends simple compliance. It is the only key to entering the original rhythm the Creator fashioned, that holy order of life.

When our own thoughts, plans, and zeal take the lead, we become weary. But when we act "as commanded," our labor leads not to exhaustion, but to completion. If the heart of the Pentateuch is the Decalogue, and the crown of the Decalogue is the Sabbath, then this persistent repetition in chapter 39 is the signpost guiding us to rest. For at the end of the path commanded by God—at the end of obedience—awaits the true completion of creation: Sabbath. Today, I reflect on whether my busyness is the labor of building a Tower of Babel for my own desire, or the holy construction of a Tabernacle, restoring the rhythm of creation by following His command.