The wilderness is where you get to know the God of the promise before you receive what has been promised.

A fake relationship only works when two people are in the same circumstances or physical place. Otherwise, there is no actual relationship. For instance, if you are in a building on Sunday and then leave, this is a situationship.

A relationship is a connection between parties.

When Israel came out of Egypt, they came out as a mixed people. They arrived at Mt. Sinai and saw lightning and thunder. God wants to dwell among His people. He wants to be the focus of HIS people to develop a relationship and to become the center of who they are. God wants to walk with man. This was the purpose of the tabernacle.

The lampstand was the primary source of light. It lights the way back to the presence of God.

Exodus 25-27

The creation of the light stand involved melting down gold and hammering out a design from a single piece of gold. The light could not be placed in the tabernacle until the hammering was complete. In this way, the body of Christ can be compared to the central shaft of the light stand, with us representing the branches. Jesus serves as the staff that supports us as the branches.

There are almond blossoms on the lampstand. The almond tree blossoms in the winter. It means that winter is about to come to an end. There is about to be a seasonal change. Winter represents death, and spring represents life. The almond can come alive in the season of death. When we die to ourselves and Christ lives, this is representative of a spiritual life with God. We become a new creation. Our highest calling is to look like Jesus.

As a branch of the lampstand, we undergo a process of being shaped and then lit. The branch must be ignited with fire fueled by olive oil. This oil is derived from olive trees, which are harvested and then heavily pressed to extract the oil. This oil serves as fuel to sustain the flame.

The almonds and the oil symbolize the church, guiding the way for others.