This week’s Pastor to Person is written by Pastor Caleb Beller.
[Num 8:2 NKJV] 2 “Speak to Aaron, and say to him, ‘When you arrange the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.”
Many who grew up in the church may remember the jingle, “this little light of mine” immediately as you sing the song in your head you finish the next line, “I am going to let it shine!” Many can find reading some of these OT books like reading an instruction manual; these chapters can seem dry or disconnected from our personal life. What I find interesting though is the intricate details that God makes sure to describe for Moses. Here in chapter 8 God is detailing the use of the lampstand.
Later in the book of Hebrews and Revelation we see how these items in the tabernacle served as pictures of the things to come. In the book of Revelation, the lampstand is used as a picture of the church. I see two things that can help us as the church fulfill our role like the “lampstand”
First, the lampstand does not produce the light. The lampstand is the place you come to see the light and hold the light. The lampstand without any oil is of no use. The church without the oil of the Spirit is just a building. Our role like the lampstand is to be that place that makes the light more visible. That place you come to see more clearly.
Second, I find it interesting that these lamps were to be in front of the lampstand; this would have cast a large shadow. The book of Hebrews tells us that these things were shadows of heaven (Heb 8:5). How can our church help remind people that the best of earth is just a shadow of Heaven.
-Pastor Caleb