Have you ever watched an artist paint, or sculpt, or compose? It's is attentive work that is at times painstaking. It cannot be rushed. It takes as long as it takes.
The historian walks us around the camp, and shows us that work going on around the tent. There are people carving, weaving, scuplting. What the historian wants us to notice, is the care with which people are working - how they are following God's instruction to a tee.
A philosopher once said that Christians pretend Scripture is hard to understand, because if they admit to understanding it, they would have to change how they lived.
Scripture doesn't have much to say about many things in life. Instead, God gives us his core values and he allows us to apply them with our own creativity and ingenuity. But there are places where God is clear about some things. And he expects us to do what he says to a tee, to the best of our abilities, with his help.
Just like the Hebrews are doing, to the best of their abilities, with God's help.
Write
Think about your faith story: how seriously do you take God's instructions? How authentically do you live out God's values and isntructions?
Presently, what situation or relationship in your life do you hear God instructing you what to do? What makes it hard for you to do what God asks?
Who do you know is struggling with doing what God wants?
Pray
What
is God saying to you today? What's Good News to you?
Talk to God about your experience in doing what God wants. Thank God that just as he is generous to instruction you, he is generous to forgive, generous to start over with you, and generous to receive your obedience..
Pray about the relationships and situations where you feel challenged in doing what he wants. Ask God for the faith and wisdom to comply, and trust God for his wisdom.
Pray for your friend who is struggling to do what God wants. Pray for the wisdom and opportunity to support them in obedience.
Pray for an experience of God's love, grace and mercy in the way he wants the best for you, and the ways he instructions you and your friends to the best.