January 15, 2021 – Exodus 35-40

The last chapters of Exodus detail the instructions for the building of the tabernacle and its contents, including the Ark of the Covenant and, also, instructions regarding the priests who would serve at the tabernacle. A great encouragement to know that God tabernacles, or dwells, among his people! Can’t help but think of great promises and assurances given to us: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14) & “Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

But here, also, is a strong reminder that we must come before God in the manner in which he has instructed us, as illustrated in the story of Nadab and Abihu: “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord” (Leviticus 10:1,2).

For Israel, “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” (40:38). “Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!” (Psalm 144:15)