Parashat Vayakhel and Pekudei – Exodus 35 – 40

These last two parashat in Exodus we have the coming together of the Children of Israel in obedience to Adonai. As they focus on Adonai and the building of the Mishkan they form into a people. This Mishkan or Tabernacle is a model of Eden, a microcosm of Adonai dwelling with Mankind.

[Read Ex. 40]

What are some of the parallels?

  • Adonai, created a garden where He could walk with Man in the cool of the evening (Gen 3:8) vs.
    • The Mishkan was a place where Adonai could once again dwell with His people.
  • Man’s sin had caused a separation, by eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil (Gen 3) vs.
    • The sin of the people would be atoned for in this Tabernacle.
  • Adonai had covered the nakedness of Mankind with the life of an innocent animal. (Gen 3:21)
    • Once again the sin of the people would be covered by the blood of the innocent, and once again Moses would be clothed in the Glory of Hashem (Ex. 34:29-35)
  • Where the cheruvim held the sword at the gate of Eden after Adam and Eve had left (Gen 3:24)
    • Now they surrounded the tabernacle, on the covering, on the curtain and on the Ark of Testimony (Ex. 36:8, 35 & 37:8) Even these three separations that the cheruvim made are similar to the three separations that Adonai made during creation. Light & Darkness (Gen 1:4) Water below from above (vs.7) and Days from Night (vs.18). The major difference is that this time, they have no sword. They are not there to keep us out, but to invite us closer to Adonai.

Everything was done exactly “As Adonai had commanded.”

  • In Ex. 34:4, we see that Moses led the way.
  • In Ex. 35:20, 29 and 36:5 the people followed and obeyed with open hearts.
  • In 38:22 we see that the craftsman, Bazalel, made all that Adonai instructed.
  • This is followed ten times in Ch. 39 (Vs. 1, 5, 7, 21, 26, 29, 31, 32, 42, 43) with an additional eight times in Ch. 40 (Vs. 16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 32). All of this shows the obedience to Adonai and the desire to have His presence among/within them.
  • John the beloved says in 1 Jn. 2:3-6 that the our love is demonstrated to Adonai through our obedience. He goes on to say that when we live in this love, that Adonai with abide with us (4:11-16)

What do we see as the result of this love demonstrated through obedience?

[Read Ex. 40:34-38]