August 17, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in selections from Exodus and Galatians? Here’s today’s reading:
Exodus 40 (NIV)
Setting Up the Tabernacle
1 Then the Lord said to Moses: 2“Set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the first day of the first month. 3 Place the ark of the covenant law in it and shield the ark with the curtain. 4 Bring in the table and set out what belongs on it. Then bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps.……Continue Reading
We read this.
Exodus 40
Exodus 40
It’s amazing how the Lord instructed all the details to be done for His worship and what it meant when the cloud settled over the tent of meeting and the fire at night so the people knew that He was present with them. He loved His people and protected them. He continues to protect His people today, but in a different way.
The Lord told Moses to set up the tabernacle and everything that was in it including the courtyard that was around it. Also included the tablets of the Covenant law {The Ten Commandments} Then Moses was to take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything that was in it so it will all be holy. Then Moses was to bring Aaron and his sons and wash them with water. {hands and feet} Then Aaron and his sons were to dress according to their offices as high priest and priests. Then Moses was to anoint and consecrate them for their offices. After all this was done according as God had said; the Glory of the Lord covered the tent of meeting and filled the tabernacle. Moses couldn`t even enter it because the Glory of the Lord was there. It says in verse 36 that whenever they traveled the cloud of God`s Glory would lead them. The cloud was over the tabernacle by day, and the fire was in the cloud by night. So whenever the cloud moved Israel would move and whenever the cloud stopped; Israel would stop. Such care for His people Israel. This is the same God that leads us as Christians; only He actually indwells us. Why is it so difficult as believers to fully grasp that? And then we wonder why things don`t work out when we leave Him out of the picture. When we walk with Him and are fully surrendered to Him; He will lead and bless us.
How exciting it must have been, after all the work put into making the different aspects of the tabernacle, that they are finally put in place. There locations are directed by God and Moses follows the directions. And the place and the priests were to be set apart for God, ie holy before Him. What a central part this tabernacle would have in Jewish society and yet how different our lives are now because of the centrality of Jesus. Thank God He made the way and satisfied God once and for all.
Exodus 40
I appreciated reading through Exodus and being reminded how important details are to God. Details of our actions, our appearance, and even our senses. It also reminds us how similar we still are to these people in that when we feel and see God moving it is easy to trust but when He doesn’t act the way we want or expect we quickly doubt and try to control things ourselves.