Monday, January 27, 2014

Down to the last detail...

And he erected the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys. (Exodus 40:33-38 ESV) Reading through the last third of Exodus, it seems like such a drastic change from the action adventure of the Exit from Egypt. Everything is about God telling Moses how the tabernacle is to be built, then repeating each and every detail as it is being built. Why the repetition and monotonous details? We find out if we are patient enough to get to the conclusion here: The Glory of The LORD came to dwell throughout all their journeys. This was God's tent. Whereas before God would come to talk to Moses at his tent, we are told here even he could not enter this ten because HOLY GOD came in. The point is that before Israel could go anywhere, the tabernacle had to be completed; this had to be done and be done right. For us to go on in our lives, on the journey God has planned, we need to stop, take the time to allow Him to work the changes He wants to, overwhelm us with His presence, and then let Him lead us forward. Details matter.

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