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Parasha Vayakhel
by Rabbi Jack "Yaacov" Farber
The Scripture readings for the Shabbat of March 1/27 Adar I are: Shemot/Exodus 35:1-38:20; Melachim Alef/1st Kings 7:40-50; Ivrim/Hebrews 9:1-11. Mashiach and the Mishkan In Parasha Vayakhel we learn about the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle in the wilderness). The verses of this Parasha describe in detail all the different types of building materials used and their method of assembly. This brings me to the point I wish to discuss. Many people have asked if Yeshua the Messiah is mentioned or seen in the Tanach (Hebrew Scriptures). They ask because most Jewish people do not believe in Yeshua and one of the reasons they give for their unbelief is that He is not mentioned nor does He appear in the Tanach. However Yeshua is found throughout the Tanach! In this d'var Torah we are going to discover Him in the construction of the Mishkan, specifically in the materials used to build it. Here G-d has given us symbolism that cries out to us about the person and redemptive work of Mashiach (Messiah) Yeshua. From creation G-d has desired to fellowship with man. It has always been His purpose to dwell with us. The whole reason for Him creating us was for Him to live among us and for us to worship and glorify Him. G-d needs and desires us just as we need and should desire Him. However man sinned and was separated from G-d. Since that time the physical part of man's being took precedence over the spiritual part. G-d was no longer able to walk freely among His people because of their sin. So a suitable, holy place was need where G-d could commune with His people and where they could offer Him atonement for their sin. The Mishkan was just that place. Shemot {38:9} He made the court: for the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, one hundred cubits; {38:10} their pillars were twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. {38:11} For the north side one hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver. {38:12} For the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver. {38:13} For the east side eastward fifty cubits. {38:14} The hangings for the one side were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three; {38:15} and so for the other side: on this hand and that hand by the gate of the court were hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. {38:16} All the hangings around the court were of fine twined linen. {38:17} The sockets for the pillars were of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver; and the overlaying of their capitals, of silver; and all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver. G-d is holy and He cannot dwell with nor look upon sin. White linen is a symbol of righteousness. By surrounding the Tent Of Meeting, where His presence would dwell, with a fence made of white linen (righteousness), G-d separated Himself from sinful man with a barrier of righteousness. The pillars that supported the linen curtains we are told were made of acacia wood. Acacia is a desert tree that is capable of flourishing in arid places. It is a thorny tree with rough gnarled bark, not a very pretty tree to look at. However acacia wood does not rot, it is incorruptible. Acacia wood is a symbol of Yeshua's humanity. Consider what Yeshayahu (Isaiah) in his description of Mashiach says about Him: Yeshayahu {53:2} For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he has no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. The hooks, which attached the curtains of white linen to the pillars of acacia wood, were made of silver. Silver is a symbol of redemption. As you will recall from last week's Parasha, Ki Tisa, a half shekel of silver was collected from Israel as a redemption tax. The sockets sown into the white linen curtains to which the silver hooks were attached were made of bronze. Bronze is a symbol of the fulfilment of G-d's judgement as described in: Bamidbar (Numbers) {21:9} Moshe made a serpent of bronze, and set it on the standard: and it happened, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of bronze, he lived. Prior to Moshe making the bronze serpent people were dying from snake bites, however upon looking at the bronze serpent, a symbol of the completion of G-d's judgement, they lived. As the bronze serpent was lifted up in the wilderness as a symbol of the fulfilment of G-d's judgement for the sin of evil speech against G-d and Moshe, so too was Yeshua lifted up on a pole in fulfilment of the judgement of our sin. The combination of these three building materials; white linen, silver and bronze, as used for the construction of the outer court of the Mishkan have special significance. Through them G-d was giving us the gospel. Follow along with me on this: Righteousness, (the white linen) is secured by Yeshua, (the acacia wood pillars) through His fulfilment of G-d's judgement, (bronze) thus providing redemption (silver) from sin. Righteousness (the white linen) could not touch redemption (the silver hooks) without first having the fulfillment of G-d's judgement (the bronze sockets). Do you see it? Not everyone will and that is okay. It is not because they are ignorant; it is because G-d ordained it that way: Yeshiyahu {6:10} Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.Rabbi Jack "Yaacov" Farber is the spiritual leader of Congregation Melech Yisrael in Toronto, Canada. Copyright 2003
- Romans 1:16, NIV |