Exodus 40:16, “This Moses did; according
to all that the LORD commanded him, so he did.
(17) In the first month in the
second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected…..(34)Then
the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the
tabernacle. (35) 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. (36) Throughout all their journeys, whenever the
cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set
out. (37) But if the cloud was not taken up, then they
did not set out till the day that it was taken up. (38)
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 began with the nation of Israel in distress, enslaved and their
spirits broken. All the covenant promises seemed far off, a distant and
unlikely reality. But then as the chapters of this book unfolded we read of God’s
work of salvation, saving His people out of slavery and bondage. God has not
only saved them out of slavery, He has also sought to forge them into a nation.
He has given them His law, a means of worshipping Him and He is leading them to
the land that will become their very own. Thus far in their journey God has
led, guided and provided for them, even when the people have grumbled and
complained. God has demonstrated incredible patience, mercy and grace towards
them when they rebelled against Him and committed idolatry.
Greatest of all God has sought to reveal Himself to the people,
drawing near to them and He has entered into a covenant relationship with them.
They have seen His presence in the thunder clouds and lightning bolts, in the pillar
of cloud and the pillar of fire. They have felt the earth tremble at the sound
of God’s voice, they have had a sense of God’s holiness and power, they have
known the nearness of God. God makes His desire known to them, that they should
be His people, a people for His own possession and a people for His glory, who
live for and display His glory. They are given these special privileges and
this unique position among mankind.
In the passage above we see this special privilege and position once
more. The tabernacle is completely assembled, and worship at the tabernacle has
now commenced. At the commencement of it all, the glory of God’s descends upon
the tabernacle, once more symbolising the presence of God with and among His
people.
While Exodus began with the people laid-low, in slavery and distress,
Exodus ends with the people standing before the presence of God over the
tabernacle. They stand before God as free people, no longer enslaved, no longer
in distress. They have a relationship and fellowship with God, they have God’s
Word, God’s presence, God’s provision, God’s protection and God’s constant
mercy, patience and grace. Thus Exodus ends on a high note, the people are
free, being prospered by God, on route to the Promised Land, with the presence
of God going before them, leading them to the land.
For those of us who are believers in Christ, while we make look on
with a measure of envy as to all that which this generation of Israel enjoyed,
our blessings and privileges in Christ far exceed. Our journey has been
similar, we were once enslaved to sin, laid-low and in deep distress, facing
the certainty of death and the eternal condemnation of God. God has worked in
power so as to save us, so that God’s judgement might pass over us. Through the
death of the His Son, through the shedding of the Lamb of God, we have been
saved. God has entered into a covenant with us, a binding and eternal one,
secured by His grace and held by His power.
Now we know the presence, provision, guidance, protection, grace,
mercy and salvation of God to a much greater and more abiding sense than this
generation did. We are the very people, children of God, and we are being led
by God’s Spirit, to the promised, eternal Kingdom of God. We do not need to
look outwardly to see in what direction we are being led, we don’t need to look
for a cloud or a pillar of fire. The presence of the living, eternal God lives
within us, God’s Spirit resides within us and shall never be taken from us
until we safely reach God’s Kingdom. We are God’s people, saved by God’s grace,
set free from slavery to sin, death and eternal judgement. We are filled with
God’s Spirit, and we are being led by God to God’s Promised Land, His eternal
Kingdom of glory. All this is ours because of Christ!
All-gracious God we exalt Your great Name
today, for in Your grace You have redeemed us and made us Your very Own. We
thank You for filling us with Your Spirit and applying to us all the precious
promises of Christ. We rejoice in the fact that You are leading us into Your
eternal kingdom, into Your presence and rest. Thank You for all the rich
blessings and unique privileges that are ours because of Christ. May we not
take any of them for granted, but rejoice daily in them and declare the joy and
salvation of Christ to all those around us. Amen.
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