Thursday, April 28: Exodus 40- God arrives.

The phrase as the Lord commanded continues eight more times in this morning’s chapter, indicating that Moses set up all the furnishings and consecrated all of the holy things of the tent of meeting, Tabernacle, and outer courts exactly as the Lord directed. The people of Israel had their focal point, their central hub and their place of worship… At this point, Moses finished the work (33). There was nothing more for Moses or Israel to do.

Now what would God do? Would there be a sign setting this place apart?

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle (34-35).

I don’t know what the people expected, but I suspect that this was more than they expected.

What a testimony… the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. The Lord God in a visible, palpable presence arrived.

I sat and marveled. The infinite majestic God who created all things allowed a representation of His presence to dwell in a solitary location among His people.

As I typed this last sentence, my thoughts shifted immediately to Jesus who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:15-20).

Israel had the tabernacle, but we Christians have the Son, God in human flesh!

They had the pillar of cloud and fire; we had the living Word of God and we have the indwelling presence of God, the Holy Spirit in us.

I find myself marveling and praising God for being with me, with us. I am not alone. You are not alone. We are not alone.  God is with us.

Oh my, my heart is pounding at this thought…

Joy… praise… thanksgiving… humility… awe…

Lord, God, my heart is full. You are with us. Your voice echoed among us. You came. You entered. You saved. Blessed be Your name… Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, praise be to You, my God! Halleluiah. Amen.