By Kyle Beshears
Instructor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
His Presence
Exodus 39:42–43; 40:1–4, 34–38
Finished (39:42–43)
With the golden calf incident in their rearview mirror, Israel turns to a precious act of obedience to God. The Lord is not an ill-natured despot. No, He is “a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion and sin” (Ex. 34:6–7).
He cannot tolerate sin but He also offers us the chance of repentance. By God’s grace, Israel got this one right — they worked diligently to obey the Lord’s command. They did everything it took to build the tabernacle.
It is important to note that Moses “inspected all that Israel had accomplished” and not just what they made. Moses took notice not only of Israel’s excellent craftsmanship but also the heart behind their work. Earlier their hearts were bent toward gods and their work resulted in a golden calf. Now, however, their hearts are bent toward God and their work results in a place of worship. Blessing comes when our hearts are tuned to God’s will and our hands are placed to God’s work.
Assembly Required (40:1–4)
Israel is commanded to set up the tabernacle — the portable location where people could worship God in His presence — near the anniversary of their redemption from Egypt. That the tabernacle could be set up in just one day demonstrates God’s priority for worship, which is the most important feature of Israel’s life.
His directions for setting up the tabernacle are specific. God does not merely demand worship without offering guidance on how. He wants His people to succeed so He gives them clear instructions. Yet again we see God’s compassionate concern for His people.
Glory Shown (40:34–35)
At last, God’s presence dwells with His people. Earlier in God’s story of Israel we saw His presence in the cloud — in the exodus, the wilderness and on Mount Sinai. In those episodes, the presence of God was always before, behind and above the people.
Now the presence of God is among the people. Indeed the same cloud that led Israel out of slavery is now dwelling with them in freedom (Ex. 13:21–22). God is present with them. But this moment, as precious as it was, did not satisfy God’s desire to dwell among His people. No, that desire would take another step in the sending of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is no surprise that John should open his Gospel by declaring that the eternal Word, the one who is God and with God, dwelt among the people (John 1:1, 14). Just as God dwelt among Israel, so Christ came to dwell in the world.
While Israel enjoyed God’s presence in the tabernacle, we enjoy God’s presence in us by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you?”
God Led (40:36–38)
Why would God desire to dwell among His people? We are told that one reason is guidance and we can still experience the confident assurance of God’s present guidance today. The Holy Spirit guides us (John 16:13) and His Word shields, protects and sanctifies us (Prov. 30:5; Heb. 4:12; 1 Tim. 4:5). These two sources of guidance, the Spirit and the Word, will never disagree because they have the same goal. The Spirit and the Word bring glory to God by making His words, works and promises known to all. Will you be led by them?
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