Building God’s Kingdom: Insights from Exodus

In today’s discussion, we delve into the profound principles found in the book of Exodus, exploring the theme of kingdom building. This concept is not only vital for understanding our faith but also essential for engaging with the world around us. The wisdom of Rabbi Sacks provides a unique perspective that helps illuminate the significance of these ancient texts for contemporary believers.

The Importance of the Old Testament

Many Christians often focus solely on the New Testament, overlooking the rich teachings of the Old Testament. However, understanding the entirety of Scripture is crucial for grasping God’s intentions and purposes. Rabbi Sacks emphasizes that Exodus is about the birth of a nation, highlighting the importance of community, justice, and the sanctity of life. This foundational understanding is essential for building a society that embodies God’s principles.

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The Mission and Purpose of God’s People

When we study Exodus, we uncover God’s heart for the nations and His desire for His people to reflect His character. The narrative reveals that while the Israelites experienced God’s miraculous acts, their transformation into a cohesive nation required their active participation. They were not merely recipients of God’s grace; they were called to build a dwelling place for His presence.

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Understanding the Tabernacle

One of the key elements in Exodus is the construction of the tabernacle. This structure served as a physical representation of God’s presence among His people. Rabbi Sacks draws a parallel between the creation account in Genesis and the building of the tabernacle, suggesting that the latter is a recreation of what was lost in the fall. This connection emphasizes the importance of order, beauty, and glory in our worship and community life.

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Collective Responsibility in Nation Building

As we explore the themes of Exodus, we see that building a nation requires collective responsibility. The Israelites were called to contribute to the construction of the tabernacle through free-will offerings. This principle of voluntary participation is crucial for fostering a sense of ownership and commitment within the community. When individuals come together to achieve a common goal, they form a strong identity that transcends cultural and social divisions.

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Lessons from Multiculturalism

In today’s diverse society, the challenge of multiculturalism is prevalent. Rabbi Sacks points out that true integration comes not from ignoring differences but from embracing them. The book of Exodus provides a model for how to create a cohesive society that values diversity while promoting unity. By engaging in shared tasks, we can overcome divisions and foster a sense of belonging among all people.

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The Role of the Church in Society

The church plays a critical role in shaping culture and society. As we build the kingdom of God, we must remember that our mission extends beyond personal salvation; it encompasses the transformation of our communities. The church is called to be a light in the darkness, offering hope and healing to a broken world. This mission requires a deep understanding of Scripture and a commitment to living out its principles.

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Engaging in Kingdom Building

Kingdom building involves active participation in God’s work. It requires us to seek revelation from Scripture and to ask the right questions about our lives and communities. When we approach God’s Word with curiosity and a desire for understanding, we open ourselves to transformative insights that can guide our actions. This process is not merely academic; it is a relational journey with a living God.

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The Power of Collective Action

Throughout Exodus, we see that collective action leads to unity and purpose. When the Israelites focused on building the tabernacle, their complaints and quarrels ceased. This principle holds true today; when we engage in meaningful work together, we strengthen our bonds and grow in love for one another. The act of serving alongside one another fosters a spirit of cooperation and mutual support.

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Building the True Temple

As believers, we are called to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4 reminds us that each member of the body of Christ plays a vital role in building up the church. Our gifts and contributions are essential for the health and growth of the community. When we recognize our value and the importance of our participation, we can work together to fulfill God’s mission on earth.

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The Relationship Between Love and Service

At the core of kingdom building is love. Our service to others flows from our understanding of God’s love for us. When we experience His grace, we are compelled to share that love with others. This dynamic is foundational for creating a community that reflects Christ’s character and advances His kingdom. The more we embrace our identity in Christ, the more we can impact the world around us.

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Conclusion: Embracing Our Role as Kingdom Builders

As we reflect on the principles found in Exodus, we are reminded of our calling to be active participants in God’s kingdom-building efforts. By understanding the significance of community, collective responsibility, and the transformative power of love, we can engage with the world in meaningful ways. Let us commit ourselves to building the house of God, utilizing the gifts He has given us, and living out the principles of His Word in our daily lives.

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Kingdom Building

(Sermon Outline)

1. The Book of Exodus
   1. Exodus is about the birth of a nation, described variously as an am (people), goy (nation), kahal (congregation), and edah (community). No sooner do we see this than we understand what the Jewish project was intended from the very outset to be. It is about politics, society, and the principles on which a people can come together to form associations. It is about justice, freedom and the rule of law. It is about the sanctity of life and human dignity. Ultimately it is about the use and misuse of power.[1]
   1. My experience of the OT
   1. The Shadows and Substance – we learn what God intends to do through His people.
   1. Questions and concerns lead to revelation.
   1. I remember reading through Exodus and wondering why it seems to be a bunch of unorganized material – it is not unorganized at all!  The book is about building a nation!
2. Rabbi Sacks and Tony Blair
   1. On a plane – read the bible nightly – curious about the book – bible studies
      1. Books and Conversations vs. “reading the bible”
   1. “The boring bit” – the tabernacle – “it does go on, doesn’t it?”
   1. Answer – it is about building a home for the divine presence.
      1. Recreation account – a shadow of restoring what was lost in the fall.
      1. Satisfied Tony Blair but not a Rabbi – QUESTION – why was the story in Exodus and not Leviticus?
3. CONCERN – Multi-culturalism
   1. Having embraced multiculturalism – the idea that there should be no dominant culture in the ethnically diverse societies of contemporary Europe – these countries discovered that far from mitigating social conflict, the new doctrine exacerbated it. Far from promoting social integration, it was leading to segregation. It did not make societies more tolerant, but less so. The Dutch put it well. Tolerance, they said, ignores differences; multiculturalism makes an issue of them at every point.
   1. REVELATION – Was there – people began to ask – a way of moving beyond multiculturalism without sacrificing the idea of an inclusive society? It was then that my mind went back to the unanswered question about the place of the story of the Tabernacle within the book of Exodus. If the theme of Exodus is nation-building, then this is the book to which we should turn if we would seek biblical insight into the contemporary fragmentation of society. Moses’ challenge was precisely this: how to turn a group of escaping slaves into a cohesive nation.
   1. If you want to create a group with a sense of collective identity, get them to build something together. It is not what happens to us, but what we do, that gives us identity and responsibility . What transformed the Israelites is not what God did for them but what they did for God.
   1. Until the making of the Tabernacle, the story of the Israelites is a sequence of events in which God acted for the people. He liberated them, divided the sea for them, gave them water from a rock and food from heaven. During all that time, they quarrelled and complained. Yet throughout the construction of the Tabernacle, there were no quarrels, no complaints.
   1. It was now clear to me precisely why the story of the Tabernacle belongs in Exodus, not Leviticus – because it is a story about nation-building. The most effective way of transforming individuals into a group is by setting them a task they can only achieve as a group. This cuts across all other divisions, tribal, social and cultural. A nation does not depend on shared ethnicity. It can arise simply from the sense of collective responsibility that emerges from the performance of a shared task.
4. Building the tabernacle
   1. Exodus 35:4–5 (NKJV) — 4 And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying: 5 ‘Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord.
   1. Exodus 36:3–7 (NKJV) — 3 And they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of making the sanctuary. So they continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. 4 Then all the craftsmen who were doing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work he was doing, 5 and they spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the Lord commanded us to do.”
5. Building the Temple
   1. 1 Kings 5:13–17 (NKJV) — 13 Then King Solomon raised up a labor force out of all Israel; and the labor force was thirty thousand men. 14 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts: they were one month in Lebanon and two months at home; Adoniram was in charge of the labor force. 15 Solomon had seventy thousand who carried burdens, and eighty thousand who quarried stone in the mountains, 16 besides three thousand three hundred from the chiefs of Solomon’s deputies, who supervised the people who labored in the work. 17 And the king commanded them to quarry large stones, costly stones, and hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the temple.
6. Building the True Temple
   1. Ephesians 4:15–16 (NKJV) — 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

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[1] Sacks, Jonathan. Exodus: The Book of Redemption (Covenant & Conversation 2) (p. 4). Kindle Edition.