Daily Devotions
God Tabernacling With His People
Title: God Tabernacling With His People
Reading for January 31: Exodus 39-40
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Exodus 40:34
What is the book of Exodus all about?
Looking at Exodus' big picture, this is what you see: Abraham's family are suffering from cruel bondage in Egypt. God remembers the promises he made to Abraham and rescues them from slavery. God then brings them to a mountain to make a covenant with them.
But this relationship is not simple. God is transcendently holy. He's so holy that the people are afraid of him. An intercessor is used to "go up" to God and "go down" to the people. His role as intercessor is especially needed after the people break the covenant.
But the really difficult issue is this: How are these people going to have an ongoing relationship with this holy God? How will God dwell among them and be their God?
A tent is set up. And not just any tent--a special tent that must be built after a specific pattern that God lays out.
After the directions are meticulously followed, God shows his approval by descending upon the tent and filling it with his glory.
The next time you read Acts chapter 2, think about the book of Exodus. Is Acts 2 not the fulfillment of what we see in Exodus? (It also echoes the glory of the Lord filling the Temple that Solomon built.)
God is dwelling (literally "tabernacling") among his people today (Jn 4:20-21; 1 Cor 6:19-20; Eph 2:19-22; 1 Pet 2:4-5; Rev 21:3).
Father, what an awesome thought this is that you should dwell among us and be with us! Help us to live with the reality of this in our minds throughout the day.
