Bible Study - God's Story - GOD Dwells among HIS People - Exodus 26, 29 and 40 - June 30, 2013

Bible Study – God’s Story – GOD Dwells among HIS People – June 30, 2013

This is our fifth lesson in our series entitled “GOD’S Story.”

Our scripture is Exodus 26:30-33; 29:43-46; 40:34-38.

GOD loves HIS children and desires to have an intimate, loving relationship with them. We see this revealed in our scripture for this lesson. HE will go to any extent necessary within HIS bounds to reach out to those HE chooses and those who seek HIM. Keep in mind GOD does not violate our right to choose.

GOD dwells among us and within Christians. Let’s explore.

Let’s read Exodus 26:30-33: (GOD gives details for the tabernacle.)

30 You are to set up the tabernacle according to the plan for it that you have been shown on the mountain. 31 “You are to make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen with a design of cherubim worked into it. 32 Hang it on four gold-plated posts of acacia wood that have gold hooks and that stand on four silver bases. 33 Hang the veil under the clasps and bring the ark of the • testimony there behind the veil, so the veil will make a separation for you between the holy place and the most holy place. 34 Put the •mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. 35 Place the table outside the veil and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle, opposite the table; put the table on the north side. 36 “For the entrance to the tent you are to make a screen embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. 37 Make five posts of acacia wood for the screen and overlay them with gold; their hooks are to be gold, and you are to cast five bronze bases for them.

GOD met with Moses on the mountain and HE gave him the precise details for the construction of the tabernacle. The precise details were important because they had a choice. Would they follow GOD’S instructions to the letter or just come close? Close is not obedience with GOD. They were to follow GOD’S instructions precisely, which was GOD’S way of getting them to come to HIM on HIS terms and not on their terms. The Israelites being obedient to HIS instructions established GOD as the authority in their lives.

The tabernacle was GOD’S way of showing the Israelites that HE was physically present with them. HE was already with them because GOD is omnipresent but the Israelites came from Egypt where they were exposed to the worship of many gods. When Moses was on the mountain with GOD for a long period of time, the Israelites convinced Aaron to make them a golden calf using the gold they had taken from Egypt. The Israelites needed a visual presence of GOD.  GOD did not need a tabernacle but the Israelites did. The tabernacle would be a focal point for them to know of GOD’S presence with them.

We need to keep in mind that GOD was revealing Himself to the Israelites and building an intimate, personal relationship with them. HE had given them a visual sign of HIS presence when they were delivered out of Egypt. They knew of HIS presence in the pillow of the cloud by day and the pillow of fire at night. GOD continued to give them this sign as they continued to journey with GOD. Christians have the indwelling Holy Spirit, Who dwells with us 24/7 as our assurance of GOD’S presence.

Why did GOD give the Israelites such detailed instructions for building and furnishing the tabernacle? It was for them to learn obedience to every detail of GOD’S instructions for living. When GOD reveals HIS instructions and guidance, HE expects Christians to follow them to the letter. A Christian has to make a decision whether or not to trust and respond obediently to what GOD reveals to him or her. My experience has been that GOD often gives us baby steps and then increases the size of the step. It depends upon where we are in our faith walk with CHRIST.

Christians have had the opportunity to study the journey of GOD’S people over the centuries as GOD reveals Himself and they get to know HIM through CHRIST. There seems to be a winnowing taking place among Christians. John the Baptist had this to say about JESUS in Matthew 3:11-12:

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the One who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove His sandals. He Himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing shovel is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn. But the chaff He will burn up with fire that never goes out.”

I believe there is a winnowing taking place among Christians to separate the true born-again Christians from those who are Christians in name only. There will be a renewal in the lives of true Christians as they study the Bible. And as the Holy Spirit reveals truth and probes Spiritual depths on an ever ascending scale as we approach the second coming of CHRIST. This renewal will motivate Christians to put into action GOD’S plan according to HIS instructions and not be passive. The key is to in lockstep with HIM.

Our next scripture reveals the details of worship.

Let’s read Exodus 29:43-46:

42 This will be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations at the entrance to the tent of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet you to speak with you. 43 I will also meet with the Israelites there, and that place will be consecrated by My glory. 44 I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar; I will also consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests. 45 I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. 46 And they will know that I am • Yahweh their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, so that I might dwell among them. I am Yahweh their God.

The people were to first come into the presence of GOD through the shed blood of a sacrificial animal. This was done as they entered into the tabernacle. When a person or persons came, GOD met them “there” at the entrance. Notice the rest of the verse, “and that place will be consecrated by My glory. I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar; I will also consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests.” GOD makes a person, place or thing Holy. Only when GOD consecrates something can it be used for HIS Glory. That is why CHRIST gave HIS life and shed HIS blood to pay in full the penalty for sin. In HIS passion, HE consecrated the human body for all who place their faith in HIM.

What is the glory of GOD? Moses wanted to see GOD but GOD told him that he could only see the back of HIS head as HE walked by. Exodus 33:18-23:

18 And Moses said, I beseech You, show me Your glory. 19 And God said, I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim My name, THE LORD, before you; for I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy and loving-kindness on whom I will show mercy and loving-kindness. 20 But, He said, You cannot see My face, for no man shall see Me and live. 21 And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place beside Me, and you shall stand upon the rock, 22 And while My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away My hand and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.

Glory refers to seeing GOD as HE is and responding to that revelation. As Christians commit their lives to HIM and obediently live according to HIS guidance, they behold more of the Glory of GOD. This, in turn, results in them trusting HIM more and more and they are more willing to take steps of faith as HE directs because they know and trust HIS leadership. Stepping out in faith on our own will lead to failure but when led by GOD it results in success as GOD defines success, not as the world defines success – A big difference!

GOD established the system for worship. First there is acknowledgement for sin, then a sacrifice for sin, followed by forgiveness, relationship and fellowship. When a person comes to GOD, HE will meet him or her. The decision to come into GOD’S presence is up to the person. Because CHRIST shed HIS blood HE paid the penalty for sin once and for all eternity. Those who accept HIM as their Savior, by faith, can enter into the presence of GOD. But Christians need to keep in mind that they are not to treat direct access to GOD lightly but treat HIM with reverence, respect, honor and love.

GOD confirmed HIS desire to dwell among the Israelites by using HIS covenant and personal name, Yahweh.

Let’s read Exodus 40:34-38: (GOD’S Presence and leadership after the building of the tabernacle. GOD gave the Israelites a visible sign of HIS presence and leadership. HE was continuing to build trust and revealing Himself to them.)

34 The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses was unable to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud rested on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

GOD gave the Israelites a visual sign of HIS presence in the form of a cloud. Since the passion of CHRIST, GOD’S presence is manifested by the indwelling Holy Spirit of every person who places his/her faith in CHRIST. GOD’S Glory also filled the tabernacle to confirm their faithfulness in obediently following HIS instructions in the building of the tabernacle. When GOD’S Glory filled the tabernacle Moses was unable to enter.  

36 The Israelites set out whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle throughout all the stages of their journey. 37 If the cloud was not taken up, they did not set out until the day it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and there was a fire inside the cloud by night, visible to the entire house of Israel throughout all the stages of their journey.

The Israelites were guided by GOD. GOD manifested Himself visually in the cloud.

The Israelites did not travel without GOD’S leadership. When the cloud moved they moved and when traveling at night, the cloud had fire inside the cloud.

Let’s review scripture which reveals the presence of GOD as the Israelites journeyed with GOD leading them.

Exodus 13:21-22: (GOD’S Presence and leadership – Leaving Egypt)

21 The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left its place in front of the people.

Hebrews 12:28-29:

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Fire is cleansing and consuming but grace is GOD’S gift to all who receive CHRIST as their Savior by faith and are cleanse by HIS shed blood. GOD cannot be shaken and that is why HE gives grace to all who accept CHRIST as their Savior.

John 1:14:

14 The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the •One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Apostle John referred to CHRIST as “The Word.” The Word dwelt or took up residence among us. Dwelt is also the same word as tabernacle. Just as GOD manifested Himself to the Israelites through the tabernacle, GOD revealed Himself physically through CHRIST. Every born-again Christian has the opportunity to glorify GOD by living obediently through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

GOD is not out there somewhere but is omnipresent and resides in every Christian. HIS Glory is manifested around the world for all to see to draw all to HIM. We are an intelligent civilization yet we would rather worship anything else but the true GOD Who created the heavens, earth and all that is in them. That is why, as never before, Christians are to reveal GOD in their lives to a lost world.

John 3:16-17: (JESUS was speaking)

16 “For God loved the world •in this way: He gave His •One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.

GOD came down to HIS chosen people, delivered them from physical slavery and bondage. HE dwelt among them and built a relationship with them. At the right time, GOD allowed HIS only Son, Who HE named JESUS, to come to earth to be born a human and live. JESUS willingly left HIS Glory in heaven. JESUS was tempted in every way as humans are tempted but HE remained sinless. HE lived completely reliant upon the Father to lead, guide and direct HIM. HE did or said nothing without the Father’s approval. HE willingly gave HIS life to pay in full the debt for sin. As proof that HE conquered sin and defeated eternal death, GOD raised HIM from the dead on the third day. Over five hundred people saw HIM after the resurrection. HE ascended into heaven and sat at the right hand of GOD. Once JESUS was back into heaven, GOD sent the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost to indwell every person who placed his/her faith in JESUS.

As Christians, GOD dwells within. This was HIS ultimate goal. Rather than a visible cloud to lead, guide and direct Christians, they have the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a Christian’s guarantee or down payment that GOD is real.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22:

21 Now it is God who strengthens us, with you, in Christ and has anointed us. 22 He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment in our hearts.

GOD is real and JESUS gave HIS life just for you. Will you accept HIM as your Savior? If so, ask HIM to forgive you for your sins and to come into your life. If you did, thank HIM and welcome to the family of GOD. Blessings!!!