The entire golden candlestick was one piece of beaten gold (Exodus 25:36).
For our Savior, Jesus Christ to become one with His church in showing light to the world, He had to take our beating. The hammer that fell on us, fell on Him. Isaiah 63:9 says: “In all their affliction he was afflicted.” Isaiah 53:4 says: “Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”
Gold can be shaped in various shapes by other means. It can be heated in a furnace and once it becomes liquid it can be poured into a mold of whatever shape the craftsman desires. This is the easiest way to shape gold or silver. However, it requires enormous skill, time, and patience to shape gold into an intricate design by beating.
It was easy for Aaron to make the golden calf. Exodus 32:34 says: “Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire and there came out this calf.” This golden calf was a false god. There was no light of any description in this golden calf.
However, it was a challenging and painstaking task to create the golden lampstand by beating. Jesus Christ, who is the true light of the world, shining out through the seven-branched candlestick, is made of beaten gold.
Fathers, we should teach out families that the necessary disciplines we all face in our lives are only for our good. Though these trials, temptations, and difficulties often feel like we are being beaten up, we must remember that God’s light is ordained to shine on candles that are made of beaten gold.
Our Savior Jesus went through many trials and beatings.
Even the apostle Paul suffered much. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 he writes of enduring “labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, inprisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren. In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.”
God knows exactly what He is doing and the object in view is a beautiful candle made of beaten gold.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell