Reading: Exodus 40
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, On the first
day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle
of the tent of the congregation. And thou shalt put therein
the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.
And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the
things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt
bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. And
thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the
ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to
the tabernacle. And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering
before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the
congregation. And thou shalt set the laver between the
tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water
therein. And thou shalt set up the court round about, and
hang up the hanging at the court gate. And thou shalt take
the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is
therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and
it shall be holy(Ex. 40:1-9).
Step by step, God directed Moses to assemble the Tabernacle.
Everything from the date (the first day of the first
month, signifying a new beginning) to the specific order and
manner in which it was to be put together was prescribed by
God; nothing was left to interpretation or chance. All was to
be ordered according to the divine will of God. Had Moses
not listened and obeyed, had he chosen a ‘more convenient’
date or decided that he preferred a different arrangement of
the rooms or furnishings, all the months of careful collection
and construction of the component parts would have been
for naught. God designed the Tabernacle to stand as a physical
representation of His connection to His people, and only
through humble, reverent obedience could that connection be
realized. Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord
commanded him, so did he (Ex. 40:16). And he reared up
the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set
up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the
work. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation,
and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (40:33-34). Every individual in the world today has been designed by
God to stand as a representative of His connection with mankind.
Through His Holy Word, we have all been provided with
the component parts necessary to order our lives according
to His divine will. From the moment of our birth, we have the
potential to receive the Spirit of God, but unless we humble
ourselves before Him, acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and
Savior, and accept the new life He has bought for us with His
dearest blood, then that potential will never be realized. For
those who do, those who, Like Moses, resolve to surrender
control to God and follow Him without question or complaint,
a wonderous experience awaits. Filled with the Spirit, we are
transformed. Just as the Tabernacle came fully into being the
moment it was filled with the glory of God, so too are we brought
fully into life. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power
to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on
His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of
the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:12-13).
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they
are life(John 6:63). Thought For Today:In order to serve God as He would have
us do, we must answer His call when it comes, not wait until
it’s convenient for us to do so. Christ Revealed:By Aaron as the high priest (Ex. 40:13). Christ being come an
High Priest. . . . to appear in the presence of God for us (Heb. 9:7-24). Word Studies:40:3 the Testimony = the Ten Commandments; cover the Ark
with the vail = hang a curtain to separate the Most Holy Place; 40:7 Laver = large
basin or bowl used for washing the hands and feet; 40:10 sanctify = consecrate
to God; 40:11 his foot = its stand; 40:20 staves = poles with which to carry; 40:24
over against = opposite. Pray For Staff:Tifany Parisi • Government Officials: Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger
(MD), Rep. Bill Huizenga(MI), Rep.Garrett Graves(LA), Rep. Russell Fry(SC), Rep.
Melanie Stansbury(NM), Rep. Michael Waltz(FL) • Country: Puerto Rico (3,620,897)
Caribbean • Major Languages: Spanish, English • Religious Freedom • 85% Roman
Catholic; 15% Protestant • Prayer Suggestion: Don't try to impress others with your
prayers; pray about whatever is on your heart (Matt. 6:7-8). Optional ReadingMark 3