Day 43 – Exodus 39-40

Talking Points

• The work was finished. This very detailed, very specific, if not overwhelming work was finished — piece by piece. The Bible says, “So the sons of Israel did all the work according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses” (39:42). It is interesting that the finished product stood because of obedience. God could have built the tabernacle, and yet He used the obedience, exact obedience, of people in order to bring it into existence.
• The tabernacle is erected. What a sight it must have been to all! Can you imagine the response of the workers, those who gave the free will offering, the people, passers-by, even to Moses?
• The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Think about Moses and the process he goes through, here. He sets the ark of the covenant down and backs out. Next, he screens the ark with the veil. Further back, he places the table and the lamp stand. Then, the altar of incense and the veil to the doorway. Backing up further still, the altar of burnt offering is placed, and then the laver. The court is set up with a veil for the gateway to the court. Everything is anointed with oil — consecrated, holy. Then, Aaron and his sons are brought near and cleansed, anointed, and consecrated. “Thus Moses finished the work,” backing his way out of the tabernacle (40:33). And, then, the glory of the LORD filled it, and Moses can never go back in.
• Exodus ends with God’s presence visible through the tabernacle. The Bible says, “throughout all their journeys,” in this way, the presence of God would be visible to them (40:38). A reminder. A comfort. A guide. — All His grace! When we are saved, God is in us. Also a Reminder, a Comfort, a Guide. Also — all His grace!

Thoughts

“This is not sustainable!” I’ve heard people say this, often exasperated. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your Christian walk?

After all, all you have to do is be holy as He is holy, love as He has loved us, forgive as you have been forgiven, let the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart be pleasing to Him — and that’s just the start.

Here is the truth: our walks are to be a joy. They are actually a privilege and a blessing. And, just like the exhausting work of building the tabernacle, we do it piece by piece, act of obedience by act of obedience. And, one day, when we draw back, we can marvel — “Look what God has done!”