Exodus
chapter 40 is the final chapter of the book and it is filled with
accomplishment and hope. It begins, The Lord said to Moses, “Set
up the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting on the first day of the first
month“.
One of the reasons we celebrate New Years Day is because there is
hope for a new start, the year ahead is full of possibilities. One
of the most wonderful things about our God of mercy is that EVERY day
is New Years Day! Once we receive God’s forgiveness, spiritually we
are “born again”. 2 Corinthian 5:17 exclaims, “Therefore
if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new“.
God instructs Moses, “Place
the ark of the Testimony in it and shield the ark with the curtain.
Bring the table… bring the lampstand… place the gold altar of
incense before the ark… put the curtain at the entrance of the
tabernacle… Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the
entrance… place the basin… set up the courtyard… put the
curtain at the entrance of the courtyard“.
Again, we see God starts from the inside and works His way out, just
as He does with those that are drawn to Him today. Often people
think the have to “Get right first”, but God embraces us
just are we are and then by His Spirit gives us the ability to “walk
in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects,
bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of
God”
(Colossians 1:10).
Next,
Moses is instructed to “Take
anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it,
consecrate it… and it shall be holy“.
Consecrate means to set apart for a godly purpose. All of the
articles in the tabernacle are for serving God exclusively. Then we
read, “Bring
Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and wash
them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments and anoint
him and consecrate him so he may serve Me as priest“.
We read over and over throughout the chapter, “Moses
did everything just as the Lord commanded“.
The tabernacle is assembled “Just as the Lord commanded”,
and verse 23 says, “And
Moses finished to work“.
But as always, it is God that completes the work. After this we
read, “The
glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle“.
The book of Exodus ends with great hope, “So
the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day and the fire was
in the cloud by night in the sight of the house of Israel during all
their travels“.
As
believers, we were consecrated as well, the moment we asked God to
forgive us and His Holy Spirit filled us. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 tells
us, “God
has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through
sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth“.
And we have this hope and promise, “I
will never leave you, nor will I forsake you”
(Hebrews 13:5). Even when we stumble we remember Philippians 1:6,
“He
who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus
Christ“.
Amen!