From Details Toward Authenticity

I’m reading through the Bible this year with women at my church using the Bible Recap. As we read through the Old Testament and the adventures of the Israelites, we are struck by God’s provision of dry ground when moments earlier it had been covered by the deep waters of the Red Sea. Not to mention all safely crossed.

Next we read about God’s  remarkable provision of manna and quail. But later, the scenes shift when the Israelites’ impatience waiting for Moses who (in their opinion) took too long talking to God on a mountain, led them to make a golden calf to worship.

Even in this, God loves and wants them as His chosen people. He has plans for worship and that’s where the pages turn from adventures to a series of instructions-or so it seems. On the surface, these are the chapters we want to read through quickly- sometimes even skip to get to the “good” parts.

God confirms His covenant. That is a really good part.

But the chapters from Exodus 25 on, offer specifics for worship and details for construction of the tabernacle and priestly garments. We tend to read quickly, but if we pause to think, we see there are hidden good parts. A few details:

• Told me God gave instructions with exact patterns and furnishings. There were dimensions, structure. and purpose. He has plans.
• Showed He wanted the Israelites to construct the tabernacle so He could meet with them. A wow moment there.
• Described how those who built the tabernacle, and made furnishings and priestly garments did so with God-given abilities and skills- -craftsmen, embroiderers, and perfumers.
• Indicated a need for math to weigh items and list their cost for accuracy.
• Were in blueprints for specific methods of construction. God gave direction.
• Gave a glimpse of the creative image of God poured into the creativity of the craftsmen.

God is also in the details of our lives. We meet mundane and routine experiences daily-like I did a few weeks ago making calls for a repair service. In a conversation with a repair woman who came to my house, I learned she was widowed. Before she left, I gave her a copy of my book, Hope for Widows to encourage her in her grief journey. An ordinary moment-one of those mundane events with dollar signs for my repair-became an extraordinary opportunity to minister.

God was in the details in Exodus and is in the details of our lives. He still keeps track of the hairs on our head.

Details matter. They create depth, and depth creates authenticity. Neil Blumenthal

Our details matter. They can be opportunities to go deeper in life- toward authenticity for real living and point to our authentic God.

What about you? How have you seen what may seem like an insignificant detail drive you to a deeper and meaningful experience?

If you are widowed or know a widow, consider taking a look at Marilyn’s latest release, Hope for Widows: Reflections in Mourning Living and Change. Sixty-five readings offer connections in your grief, guiding you to hope, grace, and friendship on an unfamiliar path.