There’s a Pattern Here

The latter chapters in the book of Exodus are a blueprint and instruction manual given by God to the Israelites on how to set up a sacred tent for the Lord and offer their worship to the Lord. The structures, the symbols would have become very familiar to the worshipping people. We, too, have structures and symbols today that are familiar in our worship spaces. They evoke memories and feelings that remind us of our call to worship the Lord.

It is good to have some instructions, some guidelines, a familiar pattern. It keeps things orderly, running along smoothly. The very foundation of who we are as Christians is based on a set of guidelines that would direct us in our relationship with God and with one another. We have the Ten Commandments that the Lord gave us as that guide.

There is more here than just familiarity in the space and in the symbols. I pray that we would see the familiar stamp of God’s presence in creation, in our families, our neighbours and in the stranger, and we would be reminded of God’s call to love self and other.

Holy God, open our eyes to see your grand design, to take joy in the familiar and to marvel at the new and different. Help us to see you. Amen. — LH