When the Work is Done - Exodus 40:34-38

Introduction

In my teen years, I did a lot of odd jobs on the farm - I moved sprinkler lines, I detasseled corn, weeded onions, blocked beets, trained hops (yes you have to train them), worked at the “pickers” (where they separated the hops from the vines), dug post-holes, helped my dad irrigate, and a few other exciting things. My favorite time of any day was when the work was done…especially on those days when I bucked or stacked hay because, after tossing hay around all day, you are hot and sweaty…and worst of all…miserably itchy. All I wanted to do was get the work done…have a huge drink of cold water and get cleaned up.

It is a good feeling to get the work done. When the work is done, you enjoy the fruit of your labor…you can take a break…you can get on with other activities that you have been looking forward to.

When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, God was with them every step of the way. Shortly after they left, the King of Egypt decided to chase them down and take them back into captivity. God’s presence was with them - a cloud by day and fire by night - He guided them. Even when it looked hopeless at the edge of the Red Sea, God opened up the sea and allowed them to cross over on dry ground.

Soon after this, God led the people to the foot of Mount Sinai. He called Moses up to the mountain and gave Moses the 10 commandments and many laws and instructions for the people.

TABERNACLE SLIDES?

Between chapters 25-31, God gave Moses extremely detailed instructions on building a tabernacle. Every little detail, measurement, types of materials, what kind of utensils, garments for the priests, anointing oil, and more. The tabernacle was to be the place where God’s glory dwelt and a place of worship and repentance.

Scripture Reading

Exodus 40:33 NIV

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.

What happens when the work is done?

Exodus 40:34–38 NIV

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. 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.

Prayer

Here is this amazing work of artistry and craftsmanship, erected in the middle of the desert wilderness near Sinai. I wish I could have been there to see such an amazing sight in person.

When I picture the area…I think of the desert mountains in Arizona

Hot, dry, dusty with sporadic stands of desert trees and plants…cactus, lizard, snakes, and scorpions.

I can smell the desert air and feel the heat beating down

Amazingly, hidden streams flow out into remote canyons, creating beautifully lush and bountiful areas

This is how I envision the Moses’ wilderness

By the time we get to our passage, Moses had spent nearly every waking hour directing the creation of the Lord’s portable temple…the tabernacle.

In Exodus 40, Moses and his team of highly skilled craftsmen were doing the final walk-through on this vast project.

Everything had to be exactly as the Lord directed

Can you imagine how Moses must have felt as he walked out of the tabernacle when the work was finally complete?

He takes a deep breath and lifts his heart up in thankful worship.

“And so Moses finished the work.” (v. 33)

When the final inspection of a new building is complete, the final bit of decor seen to, and the the last pieces of furniture placed, the building transitions quickly from a work in progress to a completed work, ready for occupancy…ready to do that for which it was built

It might be an office building, a sports arena, a mall, hospital, church, synagogue…now ready to be occupied and used.

The completion of the tabernacle was like that…on a much larger scale...

In a grand and mysterious fashion…now ready for God’s perfect use.

It is His house...He moves in to live among His people in a way they could never have imagined.

Even though Moses had finished the work…this was just the beginning

The journey to the Promised Land now began in earnest.

Remember the famous words of Christ right before He took His last breath?

“It is finished”

Everything changed.

The work was complete

Instead of the land of Canaan, we look forward to a kingdom not made by human hands, whose builder and maker is God Himself.

...a few vital points about what happens when God’s work is done:

when the work is done...

GOD TAKES UP RESIDENCE

The Bible records in Exodus 13 that, as the children of Isreal fled from Pharaoh’s army, God led them with a cloud by day and a fire by night

When Moses finished the work on the tabernacle, that same cloud that had been with them thus far, now covered the tabernacle

God’s glory filled that place

Can you imagine how this might have looked and felt?

Did the people fall on their faces before the Living God, in dead silence?

Where they singing and shouting?

when the work is done…God takes up residence and makes His presence known

GOD’S MAKES HIS PRESENCE KNOWN

When Moses attempted to enter, he could not enter

Moses was not unfamiliar with the presence of God (Burning bush, Sinai, Tent of Meeting)

Early on in their journey, Moses erected a tent outside of camp, where he would go to inquire of the Lord.

Exodus 33:9–10 NIV

As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent.

What was different about the completed tabernacle in ch. 40? Why could Moses not enter?

I think it was just the sheer magnitude of God’s tangible presence and holiness

This was God’s house and he had not invited anyone in yet

“I can only imagine”

“When I stand in your presence…what will my heart do?”

“Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to sing at all?”

His glory filled the place

There was no room for anything else at that moment

when the work is done..God makes His presence known and He leads us to the next phase of His plan

GOD GUIDES HIS PEOPLE TO THE PROMISED LAND

When the work was done…they faced the true beginning of their journey

The work was complete

The tabernacle was a reality

Suddenly God’s glory filled that place

If they didn’t realize it before they realized now:

We are His people!

He is our God!

He is with us…He will lead us…we will follow Him!

There was no way they would lead the way or call the shots because God was in their midst, leading them with His tangible presence

They would not set the schedule or agenda for their journey.

When God moved…they moved

Challenge

The book of Exodus ends with a beginning

It ends with a view toward the future, following God to the Promised Land

Moses finished the work…but this wasn’t the end…it was just the beginning.

The tabernacle was now a daily reminder of God’s presence among them

What about you?

Jesus came and dwelt among us so that you can have life

Jesus’ completed work of atonement means He can dwell in those that receive Him

When Jesus said “It is finished…His plan for your life was just beginning

Instead of God’s glory dwelling in a man-made tabernacle, you are God’s tabernacle when you turn from sin, believe on Jesus and follow Him as Lord of your life

Just as God made His presence known in the wilderness, He makes His presence known in your life when you become a new creation.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Just as God led His people to the Promised land, via the cloud and fire, God is leads all who choose Him

The cloud and the fire is His Living Word and the power of the Holy Spirit.

The work is done but the journey is far from complete

Follow God’s lead until you finally set eyes upon the beautiful destination prepared for His people

Are you following Jesus or wandering in a wilderness with no guide?

Will you make this journey by putting your faith in Jesus?

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

It is, literally, the journey of a lifetime

During the sojourn of God’s people in ancient Israel, He provided atonement for their sins through blood sacrifices so they could approach Him in worship and obedience

Because of what Jesus did by shedding His own blood on the Cross, we now have access to the Father.

We have hope in this life and in the life to come

We look forward to eternity with the Lord

His sacrifice was enough. It was once and for all.