The Lampstand

Numbers (NIV)

8The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the lamps, see that all seven light up the area in front of the lampstand.’”3 Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the Lord commanded Moses. 4 This is how the lampstand was made: It was made of hammered gold—from its base to its blossoms. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern the Lord had shown Moses.

The same verse another pausing moment with “hammered gold”. The lampstand was made of hammered gold. This time 1 Peter 1:7 came to my mind, “… the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, …” Does that mean we are the lampstand? That was my first question. The point that came to my mind was as God chose us to show the light, Jesus, we should pass through trials to become pure like gold. This thought allow me to think deeper and read more about the Lampstand. Before explaining that, I would like to put forward the following verses. 

“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10

“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.” Proverbs 17:3

“See, I have refined you, though not as silver; 
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” Isaiah 48:10

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17

“But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:13

Reading these verses and exploring more about the lampstand helped me to understand how much we are loved so that elected to be part of God’s plan to shine the light to the darkness. The trials do not make us gold but make us worth greater than gold.

1. The Lampstand unraveled

“Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. …, The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.” Exodus 25:31&36

2. Christ is the middle of the Lampstand

Jesus is the light as well as the middle/center of the lampstand where all other branches come out. Jesus is the first one who humbled Himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross. (Phil. 2:8) Tested and proven to be gold. The only source of our good work is Him. We are shining Him in our life when we abide in Him and Him only. Act 17:28 (NIV) says “For in Him we live and move and have our being.” And 2 Corinthians 2:7 says “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

3. Hammered out of pure gold

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 (NIV) As it is mentioned in Numbers 8 the Lampstand was made of hammered gold form its base to its blossom, which makes it made for a special purpose. “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” 2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NIV) We are the lampstand attached to the center of the Lampstand, Jesus Christ. He shone His light while He was on earth by obeying and doing his Father’s will. Now we are the one who shine His light by abiding in Him. Jesus said “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NIV)

1 Peter (NIV)

1 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.