Since I have finished my journey wandering in the wilderness with the Eighth Grade class it is time to turn our attention to Moses and the Israelites once more.  Moses has received the law a second time and now is instructing the people and building the ark and constructing the temple as well.  For now the temple is a tent that moves as the people continue their journey to the Promised Land.  Let’s look at Exodus 40 as we see the finished product of the tabernacle. 

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. 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.

Do you ever feel like God is not with you?  For the people of Israel there was a visible presence they could depend on.  A cloud over the tabernacle when they were to stay and worship and a pillar of fire by night.  These moved when they were called to travel and God’s very presence led them toward the Promised Land.  Today we do not have those visible signs but we have something even better.  God does not simply reside in a tabernacle.  We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  God is with us always and while we cannot see Him, we can experience Him always.  He still leads, guides, and directs us when we follow Him.  Today and every day seek to experience the presence of God.  He is with you always!

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave