Why it is so good to obey God

In yesterday’s reading from Exodus 39, I kept noticing the same phrase cropping up again and again. Finally, I stopped and counted. The phrase ‘as the LORD had commanded Moses’ is used ten times in this one chapter!

We saw the same phrase again in Exodus 40 this morning. It is used eight times in this chapter.

Obviously, we are meant to understand that Moses and the people of Israel have followed God’s instructions exactly in the making of the priestly garments, the preparation of the tabernacle, and the actual construction of the tabernacle.

If you’re using Fee and Stuart’s book How to Read the Bible Book by Book alongside our Bible-reading plan, you’ll have noticed that Exodus 24.12-31.18 consists of God’s instructions for how to build the tabernacle. Then, much of that material is repeated in Exodus 35.1-39.43 as the actual construction of the tabernacle is described. This pattern of instruction followed by implementation is repeated in Exodus 40, because vv 1-16 give instructions for setting up the tabernacle and vv 17-33 describe the implementation of these instructions.

The phrase ‘as the Lord had commanded Moses’ is key, because it shows that God’s instructions are being followed exactly.

What is the result of this obedience? We read of the result this morning, in the climax to the book of Exodus: ‘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’ (Exodus 40.34-35). God’s glory filling the tabernacle is so important that it’s stated twice in these verses.

It is good to obey God. Israel certainly disobeyed God frequently (e.g. Exodus 32-34). But in this matter of the tabernacle, they obeyed God’s instructions to the letter. And because of God’s grace and mercy, they became a people of the Presence. God lived among them, in the Tabernacle.

Posted by Stephen Witmer on Feb 23, 11:05 AM