The Law of Sacrifice

Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as we discover new insights and new perspectives from a very old book.

Exodus 39

I'm reading Young's Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

I was struck by the final two verses of Chapter 39.:

42 The Israelites had done all of the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 43 When Moses saw that they had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded, he blessed them.

This episode began in Chapter 35  with a call for the people to donate their luxury items of precious metals, fine fabrics, etc to be used for the tabernacle.

I'm reminded of a concept called the Law of Sacrifice. As described by Mary Morriseey in her Prosperity Plus III course, "The Law of Sacrifice requires you to let go of the lesser to make room for the greater." Morrissey was writing in the context of self-development, but it suggests more.

Imagine you have a beautiful painting in your home, a family heirloom. Then you discover that the long-deceased artist who painted it was being rediscovered as a genius and was posthumously gaining fame.

Do you want to keep the painting in your home? You have every right to do so. But what if a museum wanted to display it, so everyone could see it?

And what if others also "let go" of their beautiful paintings, so they could be seen by everyone in the museum?

You no longer have the painting, but at the museum you can still see it  and many more beautiful works of art that previously you couldn't see because they were in the homes of others.

A work of art in a  museum is "greater," than if it is hidden from the public in a private home.

Likewise, the Isrealites saw that their small individual amounts of, say, gold, could be donated to the tabernacle, a public place, to be used as part of something far more beautiful and grand than any individual could produce or display. The beauty of the tabernacle is greater than the beauty of the home, because everyone can see.

When we give, we benefit everyone, including ourselves.

James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, JL Cells, and The MVP Chase. Thanks for your subscriptions and support!

(Photo credit: TyshkunVictor)