I don’t know about y’all, but after reading a couple chapters of measurements and directions, I woke up with building something on my mind. I guess I actually woke up thinking about something someone once built for me – a high jump! Sad part is, I can’t remember if my Uncle Bill built the thing or if our neighbor Turk did. I’m guessing it was Turk because he was handy like that, and Uncle Bill … not so much. Turk also built me a rabbit cage once, but that’s a different story. This high jump was presented to me sometime in the sixth or seventh grade. At least that’s about the time I got interested in high jumping. I hated running, and track was mandatory, so high jump it was! I wasn’t that great at it, either, but I wasn’t horrible, and whoever gave me that high jump must have seen some potential, or else they just wanted a project, and that seemed like a good one. I probably mentioned high-jumping to Turk during one of my visits, which always included eating cookies while watching a game show and playing with Applejack, the smelly, not-so-friendly, yet lovable poodle. Turk was the kind of guy who went out of his way to put a smile on my face. Both he and his wife, Ruby, did actually. They were what my dad called “good people.” And that high jump did put a big smile on my face. Dad set it up in the back yard, and Turk got a long piece of PVC pipe at the hardware store to use as a bar. The only problem was I didn’t have a “pit” or mat to jump on, so I had to scissortale it instead of flopping like we did in track meets. I didn’t love that, but it did improve my jump!
It took a little teamwork to get that ol’ high jump built. Turk led the way, yes, but he had help from dad and the guys at the hardware store (and probably got some moral support and plenty of cookies and Kool-Aid from Ruby while he worked). Building the tabernacle and everything in it was no different. Sure God gave the instructions to Moses, but Moses couldn’t do all these things by himself. He needed weavers and seamstresses, blacksmiths, metalworkers, farmers, sculptors, architects and people to keep things running like a well-oiled machine. We read in past chapters how God bestowed gifts and talents to the ancestors of the Israelites. Looks like those gifts and talents were passed down and expanded upon, giving each and every person a unique value and worth – all priceless in their own ways. Never feel small in your giftings. It takes all kinds of “little talents” to complete all tasks, both monumental like the Tabernacle and small like a high jump.
Writing prompt: meat forks
My NLT version graciously converts ancient measurements into feet and other measurements and objects I can understand better in ‘Merican than what I might when reading the KJV. I had a little giggle at verse 3 when God directs the Israelites to construct meat forks. I really don’t have anything to say about the meat forks, except I thought it was a humorous translation, so let’s have a free day. You can write about meat forks – or anything else on your heart today. Spend some time with God. Pray. Enjoy!
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