Building the Tabernacle
Exodus 35–40What happens in Exodus 35–40
After the golden calf disaster and the renewal of the covenant, Israel now has a second chance to respond rightly to God. And respond they do, with overwhelming generosity. Moses invites the people to bring offerings for building the tabernacle, and they give so abundantly that Moses must actually tell them to stop. Gold, silver, bronze, fine linen, animal skins, precious stones, oil, and spices pour in. The people give not from obligation but from willing, joyful hearts.
Bezalel and Oholiab, filled with God's Spirit for artistic craftsmanship, lead the construction. Every detail follows God's precise instructions: the ark of the covenant with its mercy seat, the table of showbread, the golden lampstand, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering, the bronze basin, the courtyard, and the priestly garments. The repeated phrase as the LORD commanded Moses appears seven times through the construction, strongly emphasizing obedience. That pattern also echoes the seven days of creation.
When everything is complete, Moses inspects the work, blesses the people, and erects the tabernacle on the first day of the first month of the second year after leaving Egypt. Then the climactic moment arrives: the glory of the LORD fills the tabernacle, so powerfully that even Moses cannot enter. The cloud of God's presence covers the tent, and from this point forward, God's cloud guides Israel's every move. The book of Exodus that began with Israel groaning in slavery ends with God's glorious presence dwelling in their midst. The Creator of the universe has come home to live among His people.
Key takeaways
- Generous, joyful giving is the proper response to experiencing God's grace, the Israelites gave so much that Moses had to ask them to stop.
- God values skilled work as a spiritual calling, Bezalel and Oholiab's craftsmanship was empowered by the Holy Spirit.
- Obedience to God's instructions matters, the repeated phrase as the LORD commanded Moses shows the importance of doing things God's way.
- God keeps His promise to dwell among His people, the glory filling the tabernacle is the climax of the entire book of Exodus.
A verse to carry
When the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys; but if the cloud wasn’t taken up, then they didn’t travel until the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of Yahweh was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.Exodus 40:36-38 (WEB)
Exodus ends with God's presence guiding every step of the journey. The cloud and fire are visible to all, God's guidance is not hidden or uncertain. He leads; they follow. This is the rhythm of the faithful life.
Something to sit with
The Israelites gave so generously for the tabernacle that Moses had to tell them to stop. When have you experienced that kind of joyful, overflowing generosity, either giving or receiving? What makes giving a delight rather than an obligation?
Did you know?
The tabernacle materials, gold, silver, bronze, fine linen, colored yarn, animal skins, came largely from the plundering of Egypt (Exodus 12:35-36). Egypt's treasures, given by God's providence, were returned to God's purposes.
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