I wonder if you have ever built a house? I imagine that you have a vision of what you want, you talk it over with the architect, wait for the planning permission, wait for the builders, wait some more…the anticipation builds, then there’s the electrician, plumber, plasterer, glazer, gardener! I’m sure there’s some joy when you finally get to move in.
Imagine the anticipation for God’s people as the tabernacle was built. God was making a place so that He could come and live with his people! So that He could guide them, He loved them so much that He wanted to be near them. God had given them the plans and told them exactly how to make it. Worship is on God’s terms, we don’t get to decide how we worship, God tells us what is pleasing to him (see the repeated phrase “as the LORD commanded”). God tells us how we can approach Him.
Imagine the joy as the tabernacle was finished, and the glory of God filled it!
And yet as Solomon would later say about temple:
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27)
God cannot be contained in a building! But He gave the tabernacle and then the temple to prepare the way for when His fullness would take on flesh so that He could dwell with His people and make a way for us to be able to dwell with him. In the reading plan today, we begin the book of Hebrews, this is such a helpful book to read alongside Exodus and Leviticus because here we see how the tabernacle and the sacrificial system were a shadow of Christ.
In Hebrews 1:3 we read about Jesus that:
“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
Wow! Jesus is fully God, the place where the glory of God dwells. And He came to make the perfect sacrifice so that we can enter God’s presence and enjoy His glory forever! We might think it would have been great to see the glory of God fill the tabernacle, but we have something greater. Because of Jesus taking our sin, we can actually have God come to live within us by His Spirit. Something the people in the wilderness could only dream about.
Lord God, we thank you so much that you want sinful people to be able to draw near to you. Thank-you that you have made it possible for us to have your Spirit live within us because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us. Please help me not to take this huge privilege for granted but to rejoice in knowing you with me today. Amen
Light and Momentary Troubles 
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