Exodus 28:6 – 14 “They are to make the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. It shall have two shoulder pieces attached at two of its corners, so it can be fastened. And the skillfully woven waistband of the ephod must be of one piece, of the same workmanship—with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen.
Take two onyx (lazuli) stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: six of their names on one stone and the remaining six on the other, in the order of their birth. Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings. Fasten both stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear their names on his two shoulders as a memorial before the LORD. Fashion gold filigree settings and two chains of pure gold, made of braided cord work; and attach these chains to the settings.”
One of the most incredible parts of the Bible is the records of names. Throughout the Bible, God lists all kinds of men and women, both good and bad, who have either excelled or have failed. As God is describing the priestly garments, one of the things that stands out is the inscribing of the names of the tribes of Israel on precious stones that the high priest will wear into the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. this means that no matter when the priest comes before God, he will always bear the names of all of the tribes of Israel on his shoulders so that God will remember His chosen people.
Jumping ahead to Exodus 35, we find that as God is giving Moses instructions about the tabernacle, He has already selected those who will direct the work.
Exodus 35:30 – 35 “Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezaleel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship, to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every artistic craft. And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and as weavers—as artistic designers of every kind of craft.”
APPLICATION: Today we don’t wear ephods; however, those of us who pray for others are bearing their names before God just as much as did the priests in ancient Israel. When we come to God in prayer for friends, for family, for colleagues, for our nation, and for concerns throughout the world, we are entering into the Most Holy Place just as the high priest did. Calling these names in prayer and begging God to work His perfect will in the lives of those people is a holy calling.
When the high priest entered the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, he did so with quiet awe and reverence. So we too should come before God with our hearts and minds focusing on His goodness, on His mercy, and on His everlasting love. We lift up all those for whom we pray, knowing that God knows their needs better than we do.
A visitor to Mother Teresa’s orphanage once watched her praying and was bemused because she seemed to spend so much time not saying anything. When asked about these silences, Mother Teresa said simply, “Oh, those are the times that I am listening.” Let us listen and hear what God wants to teach us.
PRAYER: Father God, open our hearts so that we can listen to you and hear your will for our lives. Help us to never stop bringing those around us to you in prayer. And thank you for answering those prayers. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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