Title: Moses Wrote the History / Exodus 40
So far, God has commanded Moses to make the tabernacle and its utensils, and to set up attendants and priests in it, and to make holy garments for the priests to wear (Exodus 26-39). God now commanded that the tabernacle be erected and all the utensils put in their place. God's greatest concern was for us, His people, to build tabernacles, temples, or churches, set up worshipers, and sanctify them so that they could offer sacrifices or worship to God. God wants to receive our worship and to bless us.
1. "The LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Build up the tabernacle" (1-33).
God commanded Moses to build the tabernacle on the first day of the new year, that is, on January 1 of the second year after the Exodus, to sanctify the offerings and offer sacrifices. It is meaningful to devote ourselves to worshiping God in a holy way on the first day of each year. Moses did just as the Lord had commanded. It was a blessing. “Moses did so, just as the LORD commanded him” (16). “In the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected” (17). “And it was as the LORD commanded Moses” (19). “It came to pass as the LORD commanded Moses” (21). “And it came to pass, as the LORD had commanded Moses” (23). "And it came to pass, as the LORD had commanded Moses" (25). “And it came to pass, as the LORD had commanded Moses” (27). “It came to pass as the LORD commanded Moses” (29). “And it came to pass, as the LORD had commanded Moses” (32). “So Moses wrote the history” (33). What will we build and fill in our lifetime?
2. "After that the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD was full" (34-35)
The tabernacle and the temple are places where God dwells. The church is a blessed place to meet God. When Solomon offered sacrifices after building the temple, the glory of God was abundantly present. "When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering, and the temple was filled with the glory of the Lord, and the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not enter it. And when they saw the glory that was before them, they fell to the ground and worshiped, and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “Good is his love, for ever” (2 Chronicles 7:1-3). The Holy Spirit was present like the wind and like fire in the Jerusalem church where 120 people gathered together to offer the sacrifice of prayer.
3. "When the cloud rose, the children of Israel issued it" (36-38)
After the sacrifice of the people of Israel and God's presence, the future path of the children of Israel became a smooth path that followed God's guidance. “When the cloud rose over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went forward in all their journeys; and when the cloud did not rise, they did not go forth until the day when it rose” (36-37). And "the house of Israel saw with their own eyes, in all their ways, that the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night" (38). what a blessed life A life that follows God's guidance and is protected by God is the most blessed life. A worship-centered life is a life blessed with God's presence, guidance, and protection.