Exodus 40

Exodus 40

After construction had been completed, God instructed Moses to actually erect the tabernacle itself. He also commanded him to put all of the different pieces inside so that it would be ready for worship and service. Part of this process was placing Aaron and his family in the correct position as well so that they could serve as the priests. Finally, the tabernacle was anointed with oil, consecrated all to God. They had all followed God’s instructions carefully and had completed the tabernacle. So on the first day of the second year of their escape from the hands of the Egyptians, the Israelites put it all together.

It is hard to imagine that they had only been out of Egypt for a year. During that time they had seen God do countless miracles, mainly in His provision for their basic needs. They had also met with God at the base of the mountain, receiving the Ten Commandments. They also spent 80 days total in Moses’ two trips to meet with the Lord on the mountain. During his first visit, they turned away from God and created the golden calf, making the calf their new “god.” After Moses interceded for them, they finally decided that they would obey God’s commands and had now completed a major construction project for God, the tabernacle.

Upon completion, God indwelt the tabernacle by allowing His cloud to inhabit it. This cloud had led the Israelites from Egypt to Sinai (a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of cloud by night). It had always been used for their direction, and with the tabernacle’s completion, that did not change. God now indwelt the tabernacle, and as long as His presence was inside, the Israelites were not to leave. But when He allowed His glory to go outside the tabernacle again, He would once again lead the Israelites to their next location. God’s presence was still with the Israelites, and He continued to guide them in the way that they were to go.

So Exodus comes to an end without the promise of the Promised Land being fulfilled. Although God had not yet fulfilled this promise, He had met several others. He promised Jacob and Joseph in Genesis that the Israelites would not always be in Egypt. One day He would take them back to Canaan to inhabit the Promised Land. But it was over four hundred years later before the Israelites saw this promise come to pass. God then promised to protect them and be with them all the way. Since He had not yet fulfilled His promise to return them to their land, He made sure to protect them along the way so that they could inhabit it one day. God never failed in taking care of His children, protecting them from dehydration, hunger, and war. Now He had a system of worship developed and expected complete obedience from His children as He continued to lead them home. God’s promise still remained, and at the end of Exodus, the Israelites are still in the process of traveling to the Promised Land.

Matt