Whoever Walks with God Will Reach Their Destination
INTERESTING FACTS : There are forty chapters in the Book of Exodus. This is the exact number of days Moses was on the mount with God [twice] and the same number of years the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness. Although it is an undesigned coincidence since chapters and verses were not added to the Book of Exodus and the Bible in general until centuries later, it serves as a memory aid[1].DAILY READING : [Exodus 38 ? 40]
TEXT : Exo 40:33? And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. Exo 40:34? Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Exo 40:35? And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Exo 40:36? And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: Exo 40:37? But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. Exo 40:38? For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
THEME : THE GLORY AND GUIDANCE OF GOD
As the Tabernacle is finished, the furniture is set in order and placed inside. Although it states that Moses finished the work, we must remember that all the people contributed. Moreover, Bezaleel and Aholiab were the two artisans who did the actual work of the design given to Moses by God. Here, again, is an illustration of what the Tabernacle looked like -
[2]The "Word of Righteousness Ministries" offers a summary of what each article represents in the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle and its seven furnishings present a type of Christ and His work as the Messiah. Here is Word of Righteousness Ministries summation -
- ??? Altar of Burnt Offering (Exodus 27:1)
- ??? Laver (Exodus 30:18)
- ??? Table of Showbread (Exodus 25:23)
- ??? Lampstand (Exodus 25:31)
- ??? Altar of Incense (Exodus 30:1)
- ??? Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:10)
- ??? Mercy Seat (Exodus 25:17)
Altar of Burnt Offering?It is referred to in the Scripture as the "brazen," that is, brass altar. Scholars are of the opinion that copper or bronze was the metal used. All offerings made by fire took place at this altar. The Altar of Burnt offering portrays the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary, brought to our minds continually in the sacrament of Communion; the atonement that Christ has made for our sins; our Passover Lamb.
Laver?Also of bronze. The Laver was a wash basin placed out in the Courtyard of the Tabernacle between the Altar of Burnt Offering and the door of the Tabernacle. The Laver signifies our separation from sin and the world by our crucifixion with Christ, established by water baptism; purification from the filth of the world as we keep ourselves holy by confession, repentance, resistance to sin, obedience to God's will, the atoning blood of Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God; the washing away of our sins that comes about by receiving and obeying the Word of God.
Table of Showbread (literally, Bread of Faces, or Bread of the Presence)?The Table of the Presence Bread was made from acacia wood covered with gold.
The Table of Showbread typifies the continual presentation of the living Word of God, Christ, the eating of whom builds up Christ in the believer; the receiving of the body and blood of the Lord in the Communion service; Christ, the Bread from Heaven; the born-again experience.
Lampstand?This furnishing had a central shaft and six side-branches. At the top of the central shaft and of each of the side-branches was a golden lamp that burned olive oil. The Lampstand and its accessories were beaten out of one mass of pure gold. The golden Lampstand represents the baptism with the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ; the various ministries and gifts of the Holy Spirit; anointing for Christian ministry and service; the law of the Spirit of Life; Pentecost; the Head and Body of Christ, who is the Anointed Deliverer, the Servant of the Lord.
Altar of Incense?The Altar of Incense stood in the Holy Place before the Veil, in direct line with the Ark of the Covenant. The Altar of Incense was constructed from acacia wood covered with gold. The Altar of Incense speaks to us of the Life and Person of the Lord Jesus worked into the life and person of the believer by the Holy Spirit, so that the believer's prayers and worship bring the fragrance of His beloved Son before the face of the Father in Heaven; death to self-love and self-will.
Ark of the Covenant?The Ark was made from acacia wood covered with gold. Acacia wood and gold were two of the most important building materials of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. The Ark of the Covenant typifies the Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore the saint of God in whom Christ is being formed, who is overcoming sin in his daily walk, and who is learning perfect obedience to the Father. In his heart are the following three graces:
The Ten Commandments?the Law of God wrought in his character.
The memorial jar of manna?daily strength from Christ; the body and blood of Christ, our daily Bread from Heaven; the trait of depending continually on Christ each moment of the day for all matters great and small.
Aaron's rod that budded?the power of eternal resurrection life that operates in the priesthood God has chosen.
Mercy Seat?The Mercy Seat (Lid of Reconciliation) was beaten out of pure gold. The Mercy Seat served as a covering lid for the Ark of the Covenant.
The solid-gold Mercy Seat portrays the fullness of the Glory of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit; the image of Christ formed in spirit, soul and body; authority and power through Christ over all things; the abiding of the Persons of the Godhead in the Christian. These are the seven holy furnishings of the Tabernacle of the Congregation[3].
TRUTH FOR TODAY : WHOEVER WALKS WITH GOD WILL REACH THEIR DESTINATION!
It should be noted that Israel did not move from their location ? wherever it was, unless the cloud moved first. The cloud that filled the Tabernacle is known as the "Shekinah" of the Lord. A Hebrew word, it is not found in the Bible, but is used to describe the dwelling of God among the people of Israel in the Tabernacle. It means ? "that which dwells." It is a representation of the Glory of God.
The prophet Isaiah had a vision of this Shekinah.
Isa 6:1? In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Isa 6:2? Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. Isa 6:3? And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. Isa 6:4? And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
As the cloud of God's Glory fills the Tabernacle, even Moses cannot approach Him! So heavy was the presence of the Eternal God that all the people and priests could do was lie prostrate on the ground. Such is the power of God's beauty and presence. Again, for forty years this cloud would lead the children of Israel in the way they should go.
Num 9:16? So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. Num 9:17? And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. Num 9:18? At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents. Num 9:19? And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not. Num 9:20? And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed. Num 9:21? And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. Num 9:22? Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. Num 9:23? At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
We as Christians will likewise reach our destination, as long as we follow the Lord. We only move when He moves. He is the Great Shepherd and He is leading His flock, not the other way around. Jesus said ? "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." [Joh 8:12] Like the children of Israel who eventually reached their destination as they followed the leading of the Lord, we too shall reach our destination if we walk with God!
