Slices
Prepare
‘Are we there yet?’ A long car journey for a child can seem like an eternity. The people are not yet at their destination of the Promised Land, but the journey has now properly begun. Where are you on your journey?
Bible passage
17 So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year. 18 When Moses set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in place, erected the frames, inserted the crossbars and set up the posts. 19 Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, as the Lord commanded him.
20 He took the tablets of the covenant law and placed them in the ark, attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover over it. 21 Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain and shielded the ark of the covenant law, as the Lord commanded him.
22 Moses placed the table in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tabernacle outside the curtain 23 and set out the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord commanded him.
24 He placed the lampstand in the tent of meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle 25 and set up the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord commanded him.
26 Moses placed the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the curtain 27 and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord commanded him.
28 Then he put up the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. 29 He set the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered on it burnt offerings and grain offerings, as the Lord commanded him.
30 He placed the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing, 31 and Moses and Aaron and his sons used it to wash their hands and feet. 32 They washed whenever they entered the tent of meeting or approached the altar, as the Lord commanded Moses.
33 Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work.
The glory of the Lord
34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
36 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out – until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.
Explore
It is around a year after the Exodus from Egypt (v 17). It has been a year of fear, drama and false starts, but a time of deep learning, with much more to come. The tabernacle is portable, meaning that the people are on a journey with a destination.
Missionary theologian Lesslie Newbigin said this of the church: ‘The Church is the pilgrim people of God. It is on the move – hastening to the ends of the earth to beseech all men to be reconciled to God, and hastening to the end of time to meet its Lord.’* In this, Christians continue what Moses began, only our journey ends at the gates of heaven.
For Moses, even though he would not enter the land of promise himself, he knows that the way is now marked out. The glory of God descends upon the tabernacle in a cloud, such that even Moses can not enter. He must have been delighted! He can die knowing that God’s promise to be with the people is secure.
*L Newbigin, The Household of God, Friendship Press, 1954, p18
Respond
‘Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’ (Matthew 28:20). Thank God for Jesus’ great commission, and for his promise to be with us throughout.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Ezekiel 30,31; Psalms 123–125
Pray for Scripture Union
The impact of AI is quickly being felt in many aspects of our world. Please pray for the Digital Solutions team as they work with staff across SU to explore this exciting opportunity in a safe and secure way.
