Movin' In

O. T. #261  "Movin' In"
April 4, 2014
Exodus 40-Part 1

LET IT GLOW

I can't count the number of times we have moved in the past 41 years on my fingers and toes. It was always an exciting time to move. However, in the past 16 years, we have moved twice. Oh, the stuff and junk we accumulate. I always feel at home whenever I get the kitchen settled in, everything put away and in its place. Movin' in can be a chore, but the excitement of a new house, new neighborhood, etc., what can compare? and so it was, I think, with the Israelites and Moses as they completed the making and building all that God wanted in the Tabernacle. Don't you think they took what would have been a chore and turned it into an exciting event? I do.

Can you believe we are in the last chapter of Exodus? Did you know it took us over 7 months to get here? What a long journey it must have been in the hot, dry desert. Do you recall that it had been a year since they left Egypt? Her it is 14 days prior to the Passover, and the Tabernacle was erected. Some had spent 6 months working on the furniture, curtains, and priests' garments. Now it was time to set up the tent and move it all in.

What did the movin' in involve?

• The frame, support, whatever it was called, and the curtains for the walls and door had to be put up in place, with the inner and outer courts established as directed by God, the Masterbuilder.
• The Holy Place was in the west and the courtyard entrance to the east. Pagan religions worshiped the sun god. All entered the courtyard and Israel's priests turned their backs to the rising sun as they came in to sacrifice and worship.(MacArthur)
• The Ark of the Testimony was specifically covered with a veil (verse 3). It was placed in the Holy of Holies room.
• Other furniture was placed inside (verse 3-5).

Moses was the chief overseer of building of the Tabernacle, since God gave him the blueprints and details.

With 22,000 Levites, (Num. 3:21-39) to help with the final erection, it was no doubt accomplished in less than a day. (verses 16-33)  (Falwell)

With everything in its proper place, Moses then anointed the structure and its contents and set it apart for the Lord. His final act of dedication was the consecration of Aaron and the priests (verses 13-16), which was followed by their presenting the sacrifices to the Lord (Lev. 8-9).  (Wiersbe)


LET IT GROW

Moses put the water in the Laver, bread on the Table of Showbread, oil in the Lamps before the Lord (verse 25). He lit the lamps before the Lord.

Moses, Aaron, and his sons (priests) washed their hands and feet. They washed whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the alter. (verse 32)

Then Moses hung up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. Moses had finished the work. (verse 33)

Do we wash, body and soul, before entering our place of sacrifice and worship? Jesus blood does that when we repent, confessing our sins, asking for forgiveness. (1 John 1:9)


LET IT GO

Watch my attitude.

Love Jesus and serve Him daily.