THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #196 | THE LIFE OF MOSES #177
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3882
THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #196
THE LIFE OF MOSES #177
MOSES AT MT.SINAI#76
THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES ( Part 35)
THE MENORAH #5
MORE REVELATIONS FROM THE MENORAH
Here are three more Revelations from our study of the Menorah:
1. THE MAKING OF THE MENORAH
The Menorah had to be carved from one solid block of gold; no welding, no bolts and no dovetail joints.
"You shall make a Menorah out of pure gold … three branches on one side of the Menorah, three branches on the other side … all hammered out of a single piece of pure gold” (Exodus 25:31-36).
However, the Menorah had seven lamps, not just one.
This aspect of the Menorah signifies the diversity of God's people — seven branches, from the far left to the far right.
The fact that the Menorah was made of one block of gold emphasizes the fact that despite the diversity, in essence we are all one.
2. THE FLAME OF THE MENORAH.
The second revelation concerns the flame of the Menorah.
A burning flame consists of three things: the fuel (olive oil), the wick and the flame itself.
A.The wick represents the physical body.
B.The flame, striving ever upward, represents the spiritual radiance achieved by the person in their daily life.
C. But in the case of the lamp, the wick needs fuel (olive oil) to replenish the flame.
Likewise in the life of a believer: the fuel for the flame is the observance of God's Word with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Without the fuel of such observance ( oil being a symbol of the Holy Spirit ) we cannot achieve its task of bringing spiritual illumination to the world through God's Word of Truth that is being banned, ridiculed or distorted by ungodly nations.
Jesus Himself said He is the Light of the World ( John 8:12-20). He was anointed by the Holy Spirit to "enlighten" the whole world lost in the darkness of sin, death and the devil.
We as His disciples are to share His ministry of the Word ( the good news of the Gospel ) to the world at large.
Isaiah 60:1 encourages us to:
“Arise (from spiritual depression to a new life), shine (be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the LORD); for your light has come, And the glory and brilliance of the LORD has risen upon you." ( Amplified Bible )
3. THE LIGHTING OF THE MENORAH
A third point concerns the lighting of the lamps.
This job was carried out by a priest (kohen) every day in the Temple.
His task was not complete until the flame burned properly of its own accord.
Thus it was not enough just to touch the wick and let a nascent flickering flame struggle for survival.
The lesson here concerns our relations with others.
Each of us has, at times, the role of a "priest", giving light to someone else.
When helping a person find his or her feet in both material and spiritual matters, it is not enough merely to be of momentary aid.
Help should continue until the person can stand on their own feet.
For this reason the highest mode of giving charity to the poor is to set the needy person up in his or her own business, while in spiritual matters the goal is to ignite the flame of the person's "lamp" so that he or she can then ignite and inspire others.
Conclusion
The Menorah is a teaching aid not just a historical or antiquated lampstand.
It holds so many wonderful revelations that are yet to be perceived.
Glory to God that in Christ the Light has come...as Jesus is the personification of the Menorah in our lives. He truly lights up our lives with the unction of the Holy Spirit to spiritual truths that set us free from spiritual blindness and wilful ignorance.
It is perhaps wise to heed the dire warning of the prophet Hosea about rejecting the Word of God.
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children (Hosea 4:6).”
