Think of that time in your life when you were a part of a huge project that needed to be accomplished.  You knew from the beginning of the project’s inception that it would take a small army of people to accomplish it.  You realized the project would require the accomplishment of several smaller, intricate pieces of the project by people of varying abilities.  In my experiences with work or church projects; I discovered that to be a part of the whole meant:

• I must put my complete focus on the leader who holds the Plan. 
• I don’t need to know or even understand the whole Plan to do my part. 
• My complete obedience to the directions given, while doing my best work, would be the key to the completion of the whole.
• I must concentrate on completing my part of the Plan; to busy to judge others completing their part.
• When I need advice with how to complete my part, I must go directly to the Leader for clarification.
• I must fully believe in the Designer of the Plan with complete trust in the Plan.
• A divided heart unduly questions the Plan, the Designer and all participants; which hinders completion.
• When the work is completed as directed by the Designer you are elated with indescribable joy with all who had a part in it!

The following is the greatest story ever of team work!!  Lets’ see what we learn…

Exodus 39

The Priestly Garments

From the blue, purple and scarlet yarn they made woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary. They also made sacred garments for Aaron, as the Lord commanded Moses.

The Ephod

² They made the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. ³ They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut strands to be worked into the blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen—the work of skilled hands. ⁴ They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached to two of its corners, so it could be fastened. ⁵ Its skillfully woven waistband was like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen, as the Lord commanded Moses.

⁶ They mounted the onyx stones in gold filigree settings and engraved them like a seal with the names of the sons of Israel. ⁷ Then they fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the Lord commanded Moses.

The Breastpiece

⁸ They fashioned the breastpiece—the work of a skilled craftsman. They made it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. ⁹ It was square—a span long and a span wide—and folded double. ¹⁰ Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it. The first row was carnelian, chrysolite and beryl; ¹¹ the second row was turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald; ¹² the third row was jacinth, agate and amethyst; ¹³ the fourth row was topaz, onyx and jasper. They were mounted in gold filigree settings. ¹⁴ There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

¹⁵ For the breastpiece they made braided chains of pure gold, like a rope. ¹⁶ They made two gold filigree settings and two gold rings, and fastened the rings to two of the corners of the breastpiece. ¹⁷ They fastened the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece, ¹⁸ and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front. ¹⁹ They made two gold rings and attached them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod. ²⁰ Then they made two more gold rings and attached them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod. ²¹ They tied the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband so that the breastpiece would not swing out from the ephod—as the Lord commanded Moses.

Other Priestly Garments

²² They made the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth—the work of a weaver— ²³ with an opening in the center of the robe like the opening of a collar, and a band around this opening, so that it would not tear. ²⁴ They made pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen around the hem of the robe. ²⁵ And they made bells of pure gold and attached them around the hem between the pomegranates. ²⁶ The bells and pomegranates alternated around the hem of the robe to be worn for ministering, as the Lord commanded Moses.

²⁷ For Aaron and his sons, they made tunics of fine linen—the work of a weaver— ²⁸ and the turban of fine linen, the linen caps and the undergarments of finely twisted linen. ²⁹ The sash was made of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn—the work of an embroiderer—as the Lord commanded Moses.

³⁰ They made the plate, the sacred emblem, out of pure gold and engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal: holy to the Lord. ³¹ Then they fastened a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Moses Inspects the Tabernacle

³² So all the work on the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses. ³³ Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent and all its furnishings, its clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases; ³⁴ the covering of ram skins dyed red and the covering of another durable leather and the shielding curtain; ³⁵ the ark of the covenant law with its poles and the atonement cover; ³⁶ the table with all its articles and the bread of the Presence; ³⁷ the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its accessories, and the olive oil for the light; ³⁸ the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tent; ³⁹ the bronze altar with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the basin with its stand; ⁴⁰ the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard; the ropes and tent pegs for the courtyard; all the furnishings for the tabernacle, the tent of meeting; ⁴¹ and the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when serving as priests.

⁴² The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ⁴³ Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God loves to work in and through individuals while pulling them together in holy unity as a team!  He always has and always will.  God’s Son, Jesus came to earth to demonstrate the power of team work as he chose, trained, and sent his disciples in teams to do even greater things on earth than He did because His time on earth was coming to a close in person. 

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. —Jesus, John 14:12-14

Our alone time is with God the Father, seeking His will, purpose and plan.  But the accomplish of His will and plan means that we will join with others who God has instilled with purpose in order to complete the work God has given all of us to be and do.  It begins with believing and trusting God who designed and holds the plan.  He is the One and Only who knows all the details as the plan is being completed.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

God will see to it that His work is completed.  One of God’s Team Leaders, Paul writes to the team in Philippi;

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6

JOY, UNSPEAKABLE JOY!

“The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.”  Imagine the overwhelming joy of the people who all had a part in completing the detailed, exquisite work God had commanded them to accomplish!  I can feel the joy that must have been overflowing in the team leaders of woodcrafters, embroiderers, weavers, stone cutters and setters, gold overlayers, and sewers—just to name a few mentioned here as they brought all the completed projects to Moses for his inspection!

Think about it!  This huge project was accomplished in the wilderness! But God, the Master Designer, had provided all they needed. God put together people gifted by Him to complete the work.  The people responded in obedience to God.  They believed God and trusted the details God have commanded them to accomplish for His glory and worship of Him.  Belief and relentless focus accomplished God’s Plan!  The reward is knowing you contributed to the plan that was now completed.

What this massive project also provided from God to His People was to bring them together in unity for their good while accomplishing the work.  We do not read of any complaining among them or arguing with Moses during this project while they were focused on their God and His Plan, do we?  They completed the work “just as God commanded” and they were blessed by their obedience.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy (joyful) in Jesus—but to trust and obey.

Lord,

What joy the people felt then.  What joy I feel now when I give myself to You and trust and obey what you say.

In Jesus Name