A Place For God to Dwell With Us – SWO26 Summer

Scripture

Exodus 25:1–9

“The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair, tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.”

Exodus 40

What’s The Point?

Before you get into today’s study make sure you read through Exodus 40. Moses devoted fifteen chapters of Exodus, chapters 25-40, to the building of the tabernacle. We are going to look at the initial command to build the tabernacle (Exodus 25:1-9) and what happens on the day the tabernacle is finally built (Exodus 40).

Usually, when we ask the question, What’s The Point?, the answer in the text is not obvious, but in Exodus 25:8 God tells us exactly what the point of the tabernacle is. “And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.” God wants his people to build a place so that he can dwell with them! Exodus 25-40 covers all the details of the tabernacle, and when we say, “All,” we mean all.

God goes into extreme detail of every aspect of his dwelling place, the tabernacle. There are specific instructions on tables, lamps, the priest’s clothing, washings, incense, oil, the altar, and more. If you’ve ever done a Bible reading plan you may have skipped over some of these chapters. It sounds bad, but let’s face it, the dimensions, material, and construction of curtains are not terribly interesting. However, if God commanded it, it must be important.

All of the detail in the instruction makes us want to revisit the question, What is the point? But we already answered that question; the tabernacle is built so God can dwell with his people. So, why do all these details matter for God’s dwelling place? Because God cares about the details.

It would take far too long to examine every aspect of the tabernacle, so we will only look at a few. Notice in Exodus 25:2 where the materials from the tabernacle come from—the people of Israel. God’s house would be made of the jewelry, fabric, and goods that his people provided. God’s people were included in the work he was doing. Could God have dropped a giant structure from the sky? Yes. Could he have made a building materialize while Israel was asleep, much like he did with the manna that fed them for forty years? Yes, but instead he includes them in providing the materials and constructing the building.

Exodus 40 is the fulfillment of the previous fifteen chapters. Everything the Lord told Israel to make or do concerning the tabernacle is all coming together. In this chapter the phrase, “as the LORD had commanded Moses,” or something almost identical to it is used seven times (Exodus 40:16, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 32). Moses was hyper-aware of following the Lord’s instructions even in the tiniest details. Details matter.

The Lord’s instructions to our lives should not be wasted words. Everything he has put in the Bible is for his glory and our good. We cannot choose to listen to some of it and ignore the things that are too hard or not what we want to do. Total submission is what God wants from us; not because he is an angry task master, but because he knows that we are quick to sin and fall away. Just like the details mattered in the tabernacle, the details matter in how we worship and obey God today.

The last thing we will look at is Exodus 40:34-38. This is the culmination of all the instruction and labor that went into the tabernacle. God finally comes to dwell with his people! “The glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34). Building the lamp stands, melting the gold, shaping the acacia wood, weaving the curtains, all the details of the tabernacle were worth the effort because God was now dwelling with his people! The other nations were led by a king; Israel was led by the one true God.

And if we keep looking at the text we see that God was not just sequestered to a tent as if Israel could contain him by putting him in a box and using him whenever they wanted. He settled over the tent in the form of a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 40:38). When God wanted Israel to move the cloud would move, Israel would take up the tabernacle and their tents and follow the Lord where he led. God was faithful and kind to make a way for Israel to dwell near him so that he could lead his people and make himself known to them.

Scripture Memorization

Exodus 29:45–46

“I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.

For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, that you have always made a way to dwell with your people. Thank you that I live under the new and better covenant. Thank you that you no longer dwell in a tent or temple made with human hands, but you dwell in the hearts of believers. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for dwelling inside of me and being proof of my salvation. Please, continue to change me more and more into the likeness of Jesus.

Reflection

1. We often say things like, if I saw the pillar of cloud or fire then I would not have any doubts? But this exposes our lack of faith. We doubt because of our lack of faith, not because of our lack of revelation.
2. Sit down and read through Exodus 25-40. It will take a little while, but imagine all the detail that goes into the tabernacle, followed by the overwhelming joy and fear that the Israelites had when God came and dwelled in the tabernacle.
3. The Holy Spirit dwells in us if we are believers. What details of your life do you need to submit to the Lord because he dwells in you?

Discussion Questions

1. What do you think is the craziest detail in the tabernacle instructions?
2. Details matter in how we worship. What are some of the non-negotiable details for how we worship the Lord? What are some of the negotiable ones?