Exodus - part 3

 Exodus 26-40

 The tabernacle has very specific instructions and very specific pieces of furniture that God wants built very specific ways.  This is God's dwelling place, where He will meet with His people.  All must be holy and perfect because He is holy and perfect.  If not, His presence will destroy whatever is not perfect.  All of these things are to point us to Christ - our need for Him, His intercession and atonement for us, etc.  God provided all that was needed so that the people could build the tabernacle just as God provided Christ so that we could be with Him eternally.  

 While Moses is getting the instructions for the tabernacle, the Israelites are very impatient and show the weakness of their faith.  This is a constant battle for them.  Without strong, godly leadership, they flounder.  Isn't this true today?  We need strong, godly leaders - ones like Moses - who hold the people accountable and also intercede for them.  Moses intercedes for the people, but also tells God his greatest desire - to know Him so that he can find favor in His sight (33:13).  God agrees to show Moses His back because His face is too much for a human to see and live.  He tells Moses of His character (34:6-7) and helps Moses to know Him more.  Do I want to know Him like that?  Lord, give me a hunger to know You, to love You, to be with You above all else.  Everyone could see on Moses' face that he had been with God. It literally glowed.  Being with God changes us. 

God provides everything needed for the tabernacle.  The instructions have been given in great detail.  God has blessed the people enough to be able to give generously for the materials  God has given people talents and the ability to work so that they can make the tabernacle.  All the people really have to do is cooperate and be obedient.  This is so that there is a place, a visible reminder, where the people can meet with God.  God gives us everything we need to meet with Him, too, in Jesus.  We just have to come.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I am not . . .

OK, it has been a while since I blogged, but today I am feeling a little inspired. I am struggling mightily, again. Guilt. All the mistakes of the past. All the mistakes of the present. Guilt. I was listening to some music this morning, trying to focus on praise, when a song came on talking about how much I was forgiven. And grace washed over me, again. I am forgiven. Right there in the laundry room, while folding to mountains of clothes, I said it, out loud - "Go away, Satan, and take your guilt with you! I am forgiven, and that is all there is to it!" Peace. Followed quickly by my usual need to find a friend of my childhood. I do some googling, again. Maybe success this time, maybe not. But why do I have this terrible need to keep looking to people of my past? What am I clinging to? What am I running from? This week is a restful break. Don't get me wrong, there is still work to do. But instead of having school, we are just going to do some cleaning and relax a little. Y
Read more

Crushed, but not broken

Anyone who really knows me (the few there are), knows that I love children's literature. One thing I love about really good, usually older, children's books is the parallels that God reveals about Himself to me through these timeless treasures. The more I study God's Word and commmune with His heart, the more I see these. Here is my most recent discovery: The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams is a great example. Hebrews 5:8 says "Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered." As I pondered this truth, and the truth that our own suffering is for our good and His glory, I was a little confused. Why do we have to suffer and what does that really mean? Then I read this book, and the Spirit spoke clarification to my heart. In this book, a young boy receives a stuffed rabbit for Christmas. The rabbit is beautiful and nice, however, not played with at first. Then, as the boy loves the rabbit, it becomes shabby and suffers because of its missha
Read more

Psalm 127

  127   (Biblical text in italics) This is a “wisdom psalm” written by King Solomon.   The ESV Study Bible gives a few helpful themes: “without the Lord’s blessing, human toil is worthless” and “diligence is neither greed nor restless anxiety.” 1 Unless Yahweh builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless Yahweh watches the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. When we try to do things ourselves, be it control things about our home or protect those we love, we end up failing.  We must trust the Lord to do all these things and be about the business of obediently following Him, no matter what He asks us to do.  We must work in faith, trusting God with the outcome of our labors. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early, That you sit out late, O you who eat the bread of painful labors; For in this manner, He gives sleep to His beloved. The Lord doesn’t want us to be focused strictly on busyness and “getting ahead” or even on protection of those around us.  He give
Read more