This week's portion, Terumah תְּרוּמָה, brought to my mind the many connections between the construction of the tabernacle in the wilderness and the construction of the body of Christ in the world. Even in the words themselves we can clearly see this connection. Knowing that the events in the history of humanity mirrors and foreshadows future events in God's plan, we can make the interrelation of these events that are isolated by thousands of years (see Colossians 2:17).
Let's begin with the words themselves... Tabernacle (Mishcan - מִשׁכָּן) in Hebrew was the temporary dwelling place of Adonai during the pilgrimage in the desert. Sometimes called the Tent of Meeting or Ohell Moed אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד as seen in Exodus 33:7, the Israelites understood that this was the place where God's presence dwelled amongst them in a holy or Kadosh קָדוֹשׁ set apart place. The temple (Bait Mikdash - בֵּית מִקדָשׁ - means holy house), later erected by Solomon around 1200 BCE, was simply a future iteration of the same desert and nomadic version given by God to Moses (see Exodus 40:18).
Both of these were temporary dwellings because God explicitly expressed that He doesn't dwell in temples made by men (see 2 Samuel 7:4-17 and Acts 17:24-28 amongst other witnesses in Scripture.) So where does God dwell, in this reality? He dwells in His people. Yeah... I'll let that sink in for a bit: The CREATOR of all things lives, or wants to live, in YOU.
We see this clarified in the בְּרִית חָדָשׁ Brit Hadassah (New Testament) in several passages like Hebrews 8:5, 9:24 and more explicitly in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Christ desires to live in you and work through you. That is why He is knocking at your heart, waiting for your invitation to enter. Because our Father gave us the gift of free will, He will not enter uninvited (see Revelation 3:20).
How does this affect my life today? What is the lesson behind the portion? Well, as I stated above, the portion is called Terumah. Not Mishcan or Bait Mikdash. What exactly is Terumah?
Terumah is a specific and unique type of offering. This word was only used during the construction of the tabernacle or later mentioned in similar context in Proverbs. It is unique because no percentage or stipulation was given to the congregation. It wasn't enforced as a law or command. It was encouraged to have full participation and as it was recorded, the hearts of the people burned to comply because they understood the enormity of the act. They were building a place for the Almighty to dwell. The drive was so overwhelming that Moses had to turn away people and their offerings (see Exodus 36:6). Something we have never seen again, yet.
So, what is Terumah and how can we enact it today? The best translation would be a "love offering", but not just any love offering. A love offering given to build the dwelling place of God on earth. Don't confuse this with a "building fund" from your local church. No... no. It is building the living body of Christ. The people.
Every act you do, financial or otherwise, to build up the body of Christ is a Terumah. When you honor God with your life as a living sacrifice you are giving Terumah. Because each or us is a stone being prepared, lapidated and shaped to fit in God's eternal tabernacle. Where we will dwell forever! (see 1 Peter 2:4-12)
1 Peter 2:4 "Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people as worthless but chosen by God as valuable. Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ"
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