A Place to Meet with God

Theme: The glory of God’s presence

Objectives:

Know: The children of Israel constructed and consecrated the Tabernacle according to the instructions provided by God. He validated this place of worship with the glory of His presence.

Think: Maintain awareness that I am a vessel that carries the presence of God.

Do: Spread the glory of God’s presence by living for Him and sharing my faith.

Scriptures: Exodus 40:1-38

Notes and questions:

B1 Basics

• The setting is at Mt Sinai.
• Chapters 35-40 have the details of the Tabernacle that God has instructed Moses to erect.
• The basic theme is the worship of God.
• The basic idea is the correct worship of God.

B2 Outline

• The instructions given and followed Exodus 40:1-16
• The tabernacle raised Exodus 40:17-32
• The glory of God comes to the tabernacle Exodus 40:33-38

B3 Facts

• Moses had been shown the pattern, plans, for the tabernacle Exodus 25:8-9
• It has been one year, since their first Passover (in Egypt).
• It took about 6 months to make everything required for the tabernacle.
• Image

• Plan--It is about 150 feet by 75 feet

B4 Exodus 40:1-16,

• Read Exodus 39:42-43--42 According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so the sons of Israel did all the work. 43 And Moses saw all the work, and, look, they had done it; as Yahweh had commanded, even so they had done it: and Moses blessed them.
• Who did the work of preparing the items of the tabernacle?
• Exodus 40:1-3, who was in charge of setting up the tabernacle?
• The Ark of the Covenant

• Why was the Ark in the Holy of Holies? See: Exodus 25:22 - "There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.”
• Why was the covenant, the 10 Commandments, in the Ark?
• Exodus 31:18 - When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.
• It is the standard for right and wrong.
• It must not be corrupted.
• It was written by God and is therefore holy.
• The law condemns, but the mercy seat was above it.
• In Exodus 40:9, the anointing oil made everything that was anointed holy and consecrated. What makes us holy and consecrated?  Consider
• Exodus 19:23
• Ezekiel 42:20
• Leviticus 20:7-8
• 1 Corinthians 3:17
• 1 Peter 1:14-16
• Did God have a plan for the Tabernacle? Does He have a plan for the church today or does it change with the culture?
• In Exodus 40:17, how obedient was Moses? Is there something for us to learn from his obedience? See Exodus 20:6, John 14:15

B5 Exodus 40:17-32,

• Note that Moses begins with the holiest parts first, then works his way to what is less holy. How did the people approach the Tabernacle? How do we approach God today? Who makes the first move in this, God or man?
• In Exodus 40:32, it is noted that Moses did everything that God had commanded. It is common these days to state that God’s standards change with the culture. Do God’s standards change with the culture?
• Note that the Tabernacle is associated with Israel’s freedom from slavery. What might be the application?
• Who brought them freedom?
• Who can free us from bondage to sin?

B6 Exodus 40:33-38,

• Where was God when Israel first saw His presence? Mt Sinai, where His glory was seen on the mountain top from afar.
• Where is God’s presence now? It is with the people.
• Where is God’s presence today? See 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 2 Corinthians 6:16, and Ephesians 2:21-22.
• In Exodus 40:34, is the cloud God? No, it hides God. He lives in the midst of the cloud.
• Why was Moses not able to enter the Tent of Assembly?
• How do we know God is with His people today?

Next week

• Rebel heart
• Theme: Consequences of rebellion
• Scriptures: Numbers 14:1-38