Seeing Clearly With God

The third piece of furniture mentioned in the Tabernacle Israel was to manufacture was the Golden Lampstand.

Exodus 25:31–33 (ESV) “You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. 32 And there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it; 33 three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand.

The place where Israel was to meet with God was to be filled with light. Light brings information. Light illuminates. Both the scriptures and science agree that the Universe began with light. Light leads and guides. 

The Israelites were to know that not only does God's presence bring nourishment and fellowship with God in the bread of presence. They were to know that time in God's presence also brings understanding and perspective on our reality. God's presence brings illumination to the darkness of our lives!


Proverbs 4:18–19 (ESV) the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. 19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

We all have difficult decisions to make, some make them all day and some make them everyday. What will guide us? Our vision. We all make decisions based on how we interpret our reality. Unfortunately, we misinterpret our reality when we do not draw near to the One who created us and wants to guide us in the RIGHT way!

Do you want make better decisions led by a God who loves you and wants it to go well with you? The only place to be is in God's presence, in the tabernacle and worshipping Him! It will illuminate your eyes and minds to the dangers of sin which may seem so appealing. It will show you the minefields others cannot or will not see and lead you to prosperity. God is FOR you. He did not create you to stumble and grope your way through life. He is the one, Peter says, "who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9.

We have a personal promise from Jesus:

John 8:12 (ESV) “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Time with Him is clarifying and eye opening so that our lives can be strengthened and protected and blessed and prosperous to the glory of His name for He is the LIGHT of life!

Now... one more caveat to this passage. Did you notice that the lamp stand was in the shape of a tree with descriptions in the terms of a tree? It mentions branches and blossoms and flowers. This is not your average ancient lamp stand. God is speaking through the shape. It points us to the TREE where we finally and truly come into the light. That tree is the CROSS on which our Savior died!

You don't understand the scriptures until you bow the knee to Jesus and confess your sins and trust Him for your salvation. Apart from Christ people are blinded by the god of this world! 

Paul says, 2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV) "the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

Once again the tabernacle is pointing us not only to God, but the WAY to God, and that way is always the Cross! Jesus came, died and rose again. He did this to bring you and I back to the true Light where there is no darkness at all!

Amen.