Exodus 25:9
[God speaking] “Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.”
Hebrews 8:5
They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
Exodus 25:31-33, 36-37, 40
“You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. And there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it; three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand...Their calyxes and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the whole of it a single piece of hammered work of pure gold. You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it... And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.”
[God speaking] “Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.”
Hebrews 8:5
They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
Exodus 25:31-33, 36-37, 40
“You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. And there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it; three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand...Their calyxes and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the whole of it a single piece of hammered work of pure gold. You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it... And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.”
The menorah is not a man-made invention! Its shape, its unique design, was revealed to Moses by God Himself; it is a shadow of what Moses was shown in Heaven. Moses (via Bezaleel) simply duplicated the thing he saw, and at God’s instruction, it became the Tabernacle’s source of light within the Holy Place. Note! The menorah is God’s pattern for giving light. Again, the menorah is God’s pattern for giving light. Spiritual truth is light, so whenever we––as tabernacles of God’s Spirit––welcome spiritual truth into our life, it’s important that we measure it against the pattern of the menorah.
Also notice, the arms are held together by a central stalk that not only distributes the weight perfectly, it actually connects the branches and unifies the structure. Balance and unity are achieved through the central stalk. Who acts as the central stalk of the Bible? Jesus! In fact, He's the central stalk of the first verse in the Bible! Being the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, we find in the middle of Genesis 1:1 a two-letter word spelled aleph+tov, the first and last letter of the Hebrew alphabet:
The importance of the menorah cannot be overstated. When I hear certain groups argue two opposing truths, I can’t help but think they are playing checkers while God is playing chess. Each group is 100% correct, but representing only half of the whole. As a result, this group struggles to hold up their side, and the other group struggles to hold up their side, but if both groups would stand back and accept the two truths together, each group would at last experience rest! Because the matter as a whole will stand alone. Again, God’s pattern for giving light is the menorah, and spiritual truth is light. Thus truth is properly measured in terms of the menorah. Some examples that come to mind are free-will and predestination; young earth and old earth; mercy and judgment; rights and obligations. These Scriptural truths appear to oppose one another, when actually they are balancing sides that shine light on each other.
Here is a wonderful menorah:
Solomon says, “Consider the ant you sluggard! Observe its ways and be wise. Having no chief, officer or ruler, it prepares its food in the summer and gathers its provision in the harvest” (Proverbs 6:6-8).
Jesus says, “Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them...Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are” (Luke 12:24-27).
Jesus says, “Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them...Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are” (Luke 12:24-27).
These passages are the same in that they both ask us to consider something in nature for our own benefit. Both teach principles meant to bring comfort: the ant finds comfort in its working ahead; the ravens and lilies find comfort in their total reliance on God. These passages, though, seem to contradict. Ants are self-reliant, without a ruler, hard working, and toiling for tomorrow. Ravens and lilies are dependent on their ruler, not concerned with toil, and not troubled about tomorrow. So which passage do we abide by? Both! They come together to form a menorah. A person’s life will find balance when both truths are exercised fully. I’m not saying this will be easy either.
Balancing truth is often not easy. Building a menorah into one's life or understanding takes time. Notice how it is constructed. Exodus 25:31 & 36: You shall make a menorah of pure gold. The menorah shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it...The whole of it a single piece of hammered work of pure gold. The menorah, being a picture of truth, is a hammered work! It is not arrived at quickly. Rather it is formed slowly, with one swing of the hammer after another. Compare this process to the creation of the golden calf. The golden calf was created in one afternoon. It was quick and easy; not a lot of work was required. The truths of idolatry are always quick and easy. But to build a balanced menorah, with all of its components and details, is quite the opposite. It requires a skilled eye and a disciplined hand. It requires study. Imagine the craftsman hammering into a solid piece of gold once, twice, thrice, then stepping back and studying it. Stepping forward again: hammering here, hammering there, then stepping back and studying it. Like Michelangelo said of the slab of marble, “I chip away everything that doesn’t look like David.” The student of truth must chip away everything that doesn’t look like God’s Word.
Suffice to say, the menorah is more than a mere candlestick. It is a replica of something that is in Heaven as we speak. It is not intrinsically Jewish just as Heaven is not intrinsically Jewish. The menorah is the design of all spiritual truth. It is God’s pattern for giving light. All spiritual truth ought to be made to fit the pattern of the menorah before it is welcomed into our soul (as symbolized by the Holy Place). Only then do we experience a full amount of light, and enjoy the balance and rest it has to offer.
