Moses- The Friend of God- Part 11- The Glory of the Lord

Introduction-Exodus 40:16-38

Last time we looked at the life of Moses, we saw Moses communing with God and making known his desire for God’s presence and leadership.

He then had the opportunity to experience the presence of God in a unique way because he requested that God would shew him His glory.

Tonight move forward in the narrative to the time of the preparation and construction of the tabernacle.

Ultimately once the tabernacle is reared up it is filled with the glory of God.

This must have been a very special experience for all the congregation of Israel witnessing God’s presence in such a powerful way.

We ought also to desire that the glory of the Lord would fill this place but we must be willing to do what is required to see this come to fruition.

Yet it is important to take note of how they arrived at this moment because there are valuable lessons to be learned from this event and the activity that preceded it.

Obedience (Ch. 39)

Moses had received from God some very detailed instructions for the tabernacle that was to be constructed.

God had appointed men and given them wisdom for the work that He had called them to do.

Now it is time for the tabernacle to be constructed but there would be much work required in order to prepare all the materials which would be used for its construction.

One thing that is of great significance is a phrase that is repeated over and over again in this section of the scripture.

The phrase is “as the Lord commanded” and is used at least 18 times in chapter 39 and chapter 40.

In chapter 39 alone it is found in: Vs. 1, 5, 7, 21, 26, 29, 31, 32, 42, & 43.

This shows the obedience of Moses and the children of Israel as they undertook this important project.

They endeavoured to prepare the materials and the furniture in exactly the manner that God had commanded Moses.

They were careful to follow the instruction that had been received from God down to even the most minor details.

They may have at times believed that there was an easier or better way to construct the tabernacle but they kept to the plan that God had given them.

We must also obey the Lord today as we carry out the work that He has called us to do.

God has given us a work to do and it is vital that we do it as God has instructed.

We must preach the gospel, baptize believers, train disciples and take a firm stand upon the Word of God for this is what God has instructed us to do.

We don’t need to take a vote to see if we should continue to allow the Word of God to be our final authority.

We don’t need to try to figure out some better way to reach the masses, we must simply continue to carry the gospel message to them.

We don’t need to replace the preaching of the Word of God with some more modern approach.

We must simply do what God has instructed us to do!

Worship (Ch. 40)

This chapter records the preparation of the furniture and the implements which would be used for worship in the tabernacle.

It also involves the preparation of those who would lead in worship, Aaron and his sons.

Notice that in this chapter as in the last there is the same repetition of the phrase “as the Lord commanded.”

The phrase is used in Vs. 16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 32

The mode of worship may have seemed strange to many of the children of Israel, but it was as the Lord commanded.

Moses and Aaron did not take a vote to determine what style the worship should be done in.

They did not determine what they believed would be the most effective presentation of the worship service, but rather they followed the instruction that they had received from God.

We must never forget that our worship is not to be done with the intent of pleasing men but rather for the purpose of pleasing God.

Even when it may appear strange and as many would describe as outdated today if we are confident that it is what God desires we must not waver from our conviction in how worship should be conducted.

We need the mind of God and we must worship Him in the manner that He demands.

Both the work and the worship was done as God had commanded them and in the end they were rewarded for their obedience.

Reward (Vs. 34-38)

Once the work was finally done and the worship had been ordered as God has described the tabernacle was filled with the glory of the Lord.

This was God manifesting His presence among them in a very powerful and tangible way.

What an awe inspiring experience this must have been for Moses and Aaron and all the children of Israel as they witnessed God’s presence clearly manifest there.

This is what we should long for today, that the presence of God would be powerfully and tangibly manifest among us.

God had made Himself known to them in a supernatural way and certainly this would be a day that they would never forget.

This was God rewarding their obedience in the work and worship.

Had Moses and the children of Israel strayed from the instructions and the plan that God had given them it is likely they would never have had such an experience.

God’s presence was not however manifest only in this moment but would lead them day by day onward towards the land of promise.

God would clearly signal when they were to move and when they were to stand still.

The people would now be able to easily recognize that it was not Moses or Aaron who was leading them but it was God almighty who was leading the way.

Conclusion

As a congregation of believers we ought to long for the manifest presence of God.

We ought to have a passionate desire to see the glory of the Lord fill this place such that we would come away knowing that God has been among us.

We must remember that if we are to enjoy such a wonderful experience we must work and worship as God has instructed us.

Only when we are intent upon obedience even in the smallest of details will we ever have the opportunity.

Let’s seek God and find out what He expects of us and then carry out the work and the worship of Him as He instructs without concern for what the world may think.