Week of Monday February 23 – March 1
Blessed Building – Man as Provider
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.” - Exodus 40:34-38 ESV
When we come to the end of the book of Exodus, we come to the end of a sacred building project the tabernacle was constructed, the priests were consecrated, and the task was completed. This tabernacle would become the very place where Yahweh God would dwell among His people. In fact, God so completely filled the tabernacle with His glorious presence that not even Moses could enter it!
We have a sacred building project, too. I came across an article that makes a good point about what we are building:
Life is a matter of building. Each of us has the opportunity to build something … But some of those things can disappear almost overnight … What are we to do? Daniel Webster offered excellent advice, saying, “If we work on marble it will perish. If we work on brass, time will efface it. If we rear temples, they will crumble to dust. But if we work on men's immortal minds, if we imbue them with high principles, with just fear of God and love of their fellowmen, we engrave on those tablets something which time cannot efface, and which will brighten and brighten to all eternity.”
Building a godly character or a godly home takes planning, effort, and resources. That was true of the construction of the tabernacle, which God blessed with His presence upon its completion.
It is important to remember what led to this moment. God handed Moses plans for the tabernacle and all its furnishings, including precise dimensions and designs. He even specified what materials to use. God is interested in the details. Yet it was not enough for the Israelites to absorb the information; they needed to apply it. Everything had to be executed in accordance with God’s direction and design, and they followed His instructions to the letter. The awesome manifestation of God’s presence came at the end of this labor-intensive and meticulous building process.
When we read the Bible, we find guidance on how to live in a way that honors God and leads others well. However, it is not enough to simply amass knowledge; we must take the next step and follow God’s detailed instructions so that we can experience the presence of God in our lives and in our homes.
As men of God, it is our responsibility to lay a strong foundation for our children and grandchildren based on the timeless principles found in God’s Word. We should instill in them the habits and disciplines of godly living so that Christian values become an integral part of their worldview.
God graced the Israelite camp with His glory—not just because they heard the truths that He had poured into Moses, but because they acted on those truths in obedience. Let us strive to be obedient to the powerful truths of God’s Word and use them to shape the lives of future generations!
Blessed Building – Man as Provider
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.” - Exodus 40:34-38 ESV
When we come to the end of the book of Exodus, we come to the end of a sacred building project the tabernacle was constructed, the priests were consecrated, and the task was completed. This tabernacle would become the very place where Yahweh God would dwell among His people. In fact, God so completely filled the tabernacle with His glorious presence that not even Moses could enter it!
We have a sacred building project, too. I came across an article that makes a good point about what we are building:
Life is a matter of building. Each of us has the opportunity to build something … But some of those things can disappear almost overnight … What are we to do? Daniel Webster offered excellent advice, saying, “If we work on marble it will perish. If we work on brass, time will efface it. If we rear temples, they will crumble to dust. But if we work on men's immortal minds, if we imbue them with high principles, with just fear of God and love of their fellowmen, we engrave on those tablets something which time cannot efface, and which will brighten and brighten to all eternity.”
Building a godly character or a godly home takes planning, effort, and resources. That was true of the construction of the tabernacle, which God blessed with His presence upon its completion.
It is important to remember what led to this moment. God handed Moses plans for the tabernacle and all its furnishings, including precise dimensions and designs. He even specified what materials to use. God is interested in the details. Yet it was not enough for the Israelites to absorb the information; they needed to apply it. Everything had to be executed in accordance with God’s direction and design, and they followed His instructions to the letter. The awesome manifestation of God’s presence came at the end of this labor-intensive and meticulous building process.
When we read the Bible, we find guidance on how to live in a way that honors God and leads others well. However, it is not enough to simply amass knowledge; we must take the next step and follow God’s detailed instructions so that we can experience the presence of God in our lives and in our homes.
As men of God, it is our responsibility to lay a strong foundation for our children and grandchildren based on the timeless principles found in God’s Word. We should instill in them the habits and disciplines of godly living so that Christian values become an integral part of their worldview.
God graced the Israelite camp with His glory—not just because they heard the truths that He had poured into Moses, but because they acted on those truths in obedience. Let us strive to be obedient to the powerful truths of God’s Word and use them to shape the lives of future generations!
- How are you intentionally sharing wisdom and understanding of God’s Word with your family to help them build godly lives?
- Are you providing a living example that reflects the truth you are sharing with those around you?
- Pray and ask the Lord for guidance in being an example of godly living for those you lead and love.