Every seamstress, every contractor, every decorator can profit from a “pattern.” Patterns guide and get us to the place we want to be, be it the dress, the baby blanket, the building, or the beautiful room. Patterns are powerful and we can use them.

One of the dangers of chapters and verses in our Bible is we tend to read a verse or maybe two. If we compared this to the pattern, it makes this stitch, drives this nail, moves this chair over there . . . nice parts, but we’re still way off from what the pattern brings!

When we read the Word of God broadly, seeing the flow, there are powerful patterns. Here’s one to catch our eyes . . .

Let’s start with the building of the ark, Gen 6.13ff. We often get all caught up on the how long, how wide, details for certain, but . . . is there any pattern here?

The Pentateuch, Genesis to Deuteronomy, brings a powerful lesson when we read it broadly. There are three major construction projects, each significant it themselves, yet the combined “pattern” is what we want to see and learn.

Project one is Creation itself. God speaks, action unfolds, the instruction is carried out. This same flow also unfolds in the building of an ark, and the building of the tabernacle. Key is that each “project” concludes with God’s blessing, Gen 1.28; 9.1; Ex 39.43. It’s worth also noting that the second and third “project” end with a covenant with God!

So, what’s the “pattern” we learn from these three “projects” in God’s Word? It can’t be better stated that God himself says, Deut 30.2-3,

When you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul (i.e., your thoughts and lives) according to all that I command you today, then the LORD your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you.

God hasn’t written to us just about “projects,” even great projects. He has written to us to build “patterns” for our lives so we find all his blessing!

Set God’s “pattern” for your life today! The writer of Proverbs put it this way, Prov 3:5–8,

Trust in the LORD with all your heart (Entirely!) And do not lean on your own understanding. (Extensively!)
In all your ways acknowledge Him (Extensively!), And He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.

God’s “pattern” begins when you place your faith in Jesus. Read John 3.16 for it’s as clear of a word from God as you’ll ever get. With your faith in Jesus, the Apostle Paul writes about this “pattern,” Colossians 3:1–4,

Therefore if you have been raised up with the Messiah, keep seeking the things above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. When the Messiah, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

God and his Word are all about building his life, his life of blessing, in and through us as we bring glory to him! Set your “pattern” for your life today!