The Presence of God

God Has Prepared for the Presence

The Contribution (the loot from Egypt)

The Artists (Bezalel and others)

The Instructions. Detailed words, and later references imply an actual vision.

Going to work through the Ark of the Covenant, The Tabernacle, The Priests, and The Prophet (Moses)

God is making arrangements to move in.

Immediately, I hear that and I know that applies to me. God is making arrangements to move in.

He is already giving me the material blessings, and He is moving my heart to serve and worship Him with them.

He has already given me the gifts and talents required. For me, it is not tent-making or ark making or artistry of that kind.

And He is giving me instruction in how to use the blessings and the gifts in preparing every aspect, every detail of my life, for His dwelling. He has spoken it and lived it through Jesus. He was written it in Scripture. And He is chiseling it on my heart, day by day (by day, by day, Amen).

The Ark of the Covenant

The absolute holiness of God. The invisible representation, the empty seat.

God’s holiness is absolute.

God’s holiness protects itself.

God’s holiness has to be mediated.

The Tabernacle

The tent of dwelling

The tent of meeting

The tent of the Testimony

God’s desire to dwell with His people… and the necessity of layers of separation.

Rent the veil… but there are still some layers of separation we press through… (heresy?)

The Priesthood

The mediators. The sacrificers.

The ummun and Thummun? (The A-Z)

What does it mean that we are now “the holy priesthood?” In what ways are we consecrated? In what ways do we dress differently? In what ways do we sacrifice?

In what ways do we mediate the presence of God to the world?

The ministry of reconciliation?

The Disaster – the Golden Calf

Right between this whole plan for the dwelling presence of God.

The people, probably sincere, honoring God as the King of the Gods.

Aaron participates, who saw and ate with God on the sapphire pavement just a month ago.

Moses is angry. God is angry.

Well-meaning idolatry.

Assuming these are somewhat intelligent people (fallacy of chronological snobbery), this probably seemed like a good move. A wise move. A god-honoring move?

But God hated it.

What are the well-intended, totally-rational golden calves of idolatry in my life?

The Prophet

Moses. Pleading on behalf of the people of Israel (an intercessor himself).

Moses, begging for more of God.

Speaking with God face to face, as with a friend.

Moses, hidden in the cleft of the rock, shielded by the hand of God, seeing His back.

Face glowing.

Transfiguration of Jesus?