Exodus 40 - The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle

40:1-19

So we now reach the end of Exodus. The chapter started with the people in slavery in Egypt, it ends with the people on the way to the Promised Land with the Presence of God leading them. All the work on the various items described in the previous chapters had been completed, and so the articles were to be placed in the tent of meeting. Detailed instructions had been given on how the articles were to be made, now instructions are given on how they are to be placed within the tent. All the items were to be anointed.

40:20-33

At the heart of the tent were the tablets of the covenant law, with the atonement cover over it. At the heart of worship of the Lord are His commandments, and the atonement for our sin. People lazily think that commandments are an Old Testament thing, this is nonsense. If we read the gospels we find that Jesus was very keen on commandments. See, for example, John 14:15, “If you love me you will obey my commandments”, and the Great Commission involves us teaching people to obey all that Jesus has commanded. Commandments are at the heart of the gospel. But we cannot come close to God without our sins being atoned for.

40:34-38

The glory of the Lord filled the tent and even Moses could not enter. Earlier on Moses had said he would not go unless the presence of the Lord was with them. Now we have the presence of the Lord. They only moved on when the presence of the Lord moved on, and the presence was with them on all their travels. We have the presence of the Lord with us through the Holy Spirit, we too should stay in situations until He moves on.