Read | Exodus 40
The LORD spoke to Moses: “You are to set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the first day of the first month. Put the ark of the testimony there and screen off the ark with the curtain. Then bring in the table and lay out its arrangement; also bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. Place the gold altar for incense in front of the ark of the testimony. Put up the screen for the entrance to the tabernacle. Position the altar of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. Place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. Assemble the surrounding courtyard and hang the screen for the gate of the courtyard.
“Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it along with all its furnishings so that it will be holy. Anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar so that it will be especially holy. Anoint the basin and its stand and consecrate it.
“Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting and wash them with water. Clothe Aaron with the holy garments, anoint him, and consecrate him, so that he can serve me as a priest. Have his sons come forward and clothe them in tunics. Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so that they may also serve me as priests. Their anointing will serve to inaugurate a permanent priesthood for them throughout their generations.”
Moses did everything just as the LORD had commanded him. The tabernacle was set up in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month. Moses set up the tabernacle: He laid its bases, positioned its supports, inserted its crossbars, and set up its pillars. Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent on top of it, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Moses took the testimony and placed it in the ark, and attached the poles to the ark. He set the mercy seat on top of the ark. He brought the ark into the tabernacle, put up the curtain for the screen, and screened off the ark of the testimony, just as the LORD had commanded him.
Moses placed the table in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the curtain. He arranged the bread on it before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him. He put the lampstand in the tent of meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle and set up the lamps before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.
Moses installed the gold altar in the tent of meeting, in front of the curtain, and burned fragrant incense on it, just as the LORD had commanded him. He put up the screen at the entrance to the tabernacle. He placed the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered the burnt offering and the grain offering on it, just as the LORD had commanded him.
He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing. Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and feet from it. They washed whenever they came to the tent of meeting and approached the altar, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Next Moses set up the surrounding courtyard for the tabernacle and the altar and hung a screen for the gate of the courtyard. So Moses finished the work.
The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was unable to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud rested on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
The Israelites set out whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle throughout all the stages of their journey. If the cloud was not taken up, they did not set out until the day it was taken up. 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.
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In this passage, God’s glory fills the tabernacle and is so powerful that even Moses could not enter. What does the blinding intensity of God’s glory reveal about the holiness of the God who has chosen to dwell among his people? How does the necessity of the veil and the inability of Moses to enter foreshadow the need for Christ to open a new and living way into God's presence (Hebrews 10:19–20)?
Focus
Practice paying attention to God throughout your day today by picking one item (such as your phone, laptop, TV remote, etc.) that each time before using it, take three deliberate breaths and acknowledge God’s presence with you. In that moment as you breathe, seek to thank him for one thing you are learning from him in his word.
Pray
Ask God to help you consistently pay attention to his presence throughout the day.
God, you have made a way for me to know you through the work of your Son, Jesus Christ. I am indwelt by your Holy Spirit, who leads me toward Christlikeness and allows the fruit of the Spirit to grow in my life. Strengthen me to remain attentive to the Spirit’s work in my heart and mind today. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Going Deeper
If you are also following the BibleProject’s One Story That Leads to Jesus reading plan, complete today’s reading.
