Today's Scripture Reading (October 13, 2021): Exodus 26
Acacia wood is a hardwood that is strong, durable, and resistant to insect infestations and weather changes. It is a robust wood, but it is also flexible and
easy with which to work. The wood appears to originate in Australia, but it also seems to have
quickly spread throughout the world. Although its hardness complicates working with the wood,
acacia wood possesses straight fibers, making it easy to cut and manipulate. Therefore, acacia wood
is valued by builders and artisans alike, especially for outdoor furniture and projects. It is incredibly robust and durable, yet flexible and resistant to rot and immune to fungi and
insects. And the wood can be cleaned and maintained with minimal effort.
For these reasons, the choice of acacia wood is
understandable as the
desired material needed to build the tabernacle's frame. It possessed all of the characteristics that were required for such an endeavor. In our culture, we might
have used some kind of metal alloy for the tabernacle's frame, but acacia wood is a great substitute
when metal is unavailable.
But there is another reason why acacia wood was used to build the frame of the
tabernacle. Not only did it fit the
purpose, but it was also abundant in the area into which Israel was moving. It was almost as if God had
placed the wood in the area that Israel would travel for just this purpose. The wood was plentiful in the wilderness, which meant
that Israel would not have to buy
it or trade for it. They would just have to step out of their community and cut it down. The frame they would build out of acacia wood
was durable enough to be repeatedly set up and torn down during the nation's time traveling in the wilderness. And if replacements were needed, the wood could be found growing close by.
Some may wish to attribute spiritual significance to
God's demand for the tabernacle frame and other items to be built out of acacia wood, but
the Bible makes no such claim. It was just the wood that was available in the
environment. But then again, maybe that is the spiritual significance. God has
always intended
for his people to intersect with
their environments. There, they would find everything that they would need, although not everything that they might
want. There they would both be sustained as well as be the sustaining force. And we are surrounded by our own version of acacia wood,
things that, if we manage it right, will be there to support us when we require it.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Exodus 27
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