Title: The Great Turning Point of Blessing
Exodus (113) The great turning point of blessing (Exodus 40:1-38)
<Keep the word close>
Exodus 40 is divided into three parts. Part 1 describes the part where God commands Moses to build the tabernacle (verses 1-16), Part 2 describes the actual construction of the tabernacle according to that command (verses 17-33), and Part 3 describes the phenomenon that occurred after the tabernacle was dedicated. One part (verses 34-38).
When the tabernacle was completed, the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle, and a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire appeared to protect and guide the Israelites. How much comfort did you get when you saw the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire? Still, don't focus too much on the pillars of cloud and fire. The focus of the saints should be on the tabernacle and the ark in the tabernacle. The pillars of cloud and fire are only visible symbols of God's presence. Therefore, we must pursue a deep encounter with God beyond the pillars of cloud and fire. The Word was given as the channel of that meeting.
One day, a letter from a longing father arrived to a son who loved his father. As he read the letter with joy, he missed his father even more. So I lamented. "Ah! Wouldn’t it be great if I could touch my father’s hand?” As I lamented over the longing to touch my father like that, this thought suddenly popped into my head. "okay! Do you have a letter my father wrote in his own hand? If it was your father’s handwriting, wouldn’t it be like your father’s hand?” So, it is said that he comforted the longing by holding the letter and reading it from time to time.
< Great turning point of blessing >
When we think of the blessings given after the completion of the tabernacle, we can see how precious God was to the tabernacle. As such, God will grant the protection and guidance of the pillar of cloud and fire to those who love the church. When God saw the Israelites working to rebuild the ruined temple, God promised, “I will bless you from this day on” (Haggai 2:18-19). Those words also show how much God values the church.
There are times in your life when you encounter a landmark turning point in your life. There are times when a good life suddenly tumbles to a halt, resulting in accidents, sickness, business bankruptcy, loss of loved ones, and devastating natural disasters. On the other hand, a dark and difficult life suddenly turns into a Cinderella life. The Bible reveals that such a landmark life-changing point is deeply connected with the love of the temple.
At the time Haggai was active, the Israelites who returned from captivity in Babylon left the ruined temple in Jerusalem unattended, no matter what. He sown a lot but had little income, ate and was not satisfied, drank without getting tired, wore clothes but did not get warm, and even though a worker received his wages, he did not accumulate money as if he put it in a pocket with a hole in it (Haggai 1:6). Also, I hoped for a lot, but it was rather little, I saved something, but God blew it away, and all my labor was in vain due to a natural disaster (Hag 1:9-11).
Then, under the leadership of Haggai, Zerubbabel, and Joshua, they started rebuilding the temple, and God made a promise to them. “From today on, I will bless you!” Blessings are not the product of chance or luck, but the product of God's will. When the Israelites were indifferent to the temple, all blessings ceased, but when they returned to the temple, all blessings began. The great turning point of blessing is deeply related to ‘a life that cherishes the church’.
Love the church more. That devotion is never in vain and there is always a reward. The rewards of believers are not all equal. The glory of the sun is different, the glory of the moon is different, and the glory of the stars is different (1 Corinthians 15). Among salvation, there is salvation through shameful fire, and there is salvation in glory by putting on splendid linen (1 Corinthians 3). God will surely remember and repay you for the devotion, tears, sweat, and devotion you poured out for God's holy will.