Make upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle. – Exodus 26:15

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