Exodus 39:43 (NIV)
Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.
You may recall a game from years back called “The Telephone Line Game” or “The Telephone Game.” With all of the games out today this game has taken a back seat to others, but in its day it was fun. Basically, one person begins by whispering a sentence into the ear of the person standing next to them. Then that person, to the best of their memory, whispers that same sentence to the person they are standing next to. By the time it gets to the last person they announce to everyone what the sentence is. What makes it funny is that the original sentence could be, “John was very hungry so he ordered a cheese pizza and ate it during the hockey game.” The last person might say, “Joan went to the hockey game and ate cheese fries and a pretzel.” It always amazed me that the last person, or anyone in the line, could not correctly say one simple sentence.
In the Book of Exodus we find the ultimate telephone game. My guess is you never knew it was there. It’s actually quite amazing! To set the stage, Moses had rescued the Israelites from Egypt and they are wandering around in the wilderness. God has already given them His law as they had been subject to Egyptian law for over four centuries. As we begin chapter 25, the Lord is going to give Moses very detailed instructions on how He wants him to build the Tabernacle; their place of worship. Verse 25:1 is very short. The NIV reads, “The Lord said to Moses…” Your version may not use these exact words but the words are similar.
I encourage you now, if you haven’t already, to open your Bible to Exodus 25. You will notice that the Lord begins to speak to Moses in Ex. 25:2, and through chapters 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and all of chapter 31 except the last verse. In Ex. 31:18 (NIV) the Word reads, “When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sanai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.” God gave instructions to Moses over the span of 241 verses! These were extremely detailed instructions over an array of topics. How could Moses possibly remember all of these details? There were no tape or digital recorders. There was no Internet and an email from the Lord that Moses could read later. It was just the Lord and Moses. Indeed, this was the ultimate telephone game.
So, what happened? Beginning at Ex. 35:4, Moses relayed the instructions he received from the Lord to the Israelites. Chapters 35-39 of Exodus describe the work of the Israelites as they build the Tabernacle. Then we come across two key verses. Ex. 39:42-43 (NIV) reads, “The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.”
This is nothing short of a miracle. God spoke only to Moses, not the Israelites. Somehow, Moses remembered every detail. This is remarkable! God may not tell us to build a tabernacle, but He may tell us to go on missions. He may tell us to dedicate time at church or a soup kitchen. He may tell us to lead a Bible study. Will we be like Moses? Will we remember the fine details of a God-appointed encounter so we may share with others to encourage them so they may join us and be part of the Lord’s work? If you’re walking with the Lord, sooner or later He will engage you in the ultimate telephone game. It is simply a matter of time.
Copyright 2025 Michael Callahan Ministries, LLC
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