At Mount Sinai, the LORD said to Moses: “Have the Israelites ‘make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.’” (Exodus 25:8).

This sanctuary was a portable temple called the Tabernacle. It needed to be portable because Israel spent forty years in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land.

The LORD commanded Moses: “Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.” (Exodus 25:9).

The LORD promised that for generations to come: “there . . . I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory.” (Exodus 29:43). . . . . Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.” (Exodus 29:45-46).

The Israelites did “all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them.” (Exodus 39:42-43).

Three things strike me about why the Israelites succeeded in building this portable Temple.

First, the Israelites succeeded because all the people gave.  (Exodus 25:1-2; 35:29; 36:5-7).

“All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings for all the work the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.” (Exodus 35:29).

Indeed, they freely gave more than was needed. Moses told them to stop giving “because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.” (Exodus 36:6-7).

Second, the Israelites succeeded because the Holy Spirit guided their work. (Exodus 35:30-36:1). Usually, I think of the Holy Spirit guiding us to produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit such as love, joy and peace.

In this situation, we learn that the guidance of the Holy Spirit extends to artistic creations. Of course, the effect of the artistic creations was to stimulate worshippers at the Tabernacle to produce the classic fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

There is no limit to the forms of artistic expression into which the Holy Spirit guides us. For example, architecture, furnishings, tapestries, incense, and music can all produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

However, as in all aspects of our lives as we walk the Labyrinth of Light, our purpose should be to produce fruit of the Holy Spirit that spread the “true light that gives light to everyone.” (John 1:9).

Third, the Israelites succeeded because the builders did everything exactly as God commanded them. (Exodus 36:1).

By doing everything exactly as God commanded when they built the Tabernacle at Mount Sinai, the Israelites were showing their desire to do everything that God commanded at Mount Sinai, including the Ten Commandments.

The Israelites were showing that they would have no other gods except the LORD and that they would live the way the LORD wanted them to live.

No wonder Moses blessed the Israelites. No wonder God dwelt among them.

More than three thousand years later, the recipe for success by the Israelites—and by any follower of God walking the Labyrinth of Light—remains the same.

All the people must give their support.

The Holy Spirit must guide their work.

And the people must do everything exactly as God commands them.

Then the Israelites—and every follower of God walking the Labyrinth of Light—will be blessed.

Then God will dwell among the Israelites—and among every follower of God walking the Labyrinth of Light.

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To learn about the Labyrinth of Light, please read my blog “The Labyrinth of Light”.

To learn about the Labyrinth of Darkness, please read my blog “The Labyrinth of Darkness”.