GOD AMONG HIS PEOPLE

Exodus 25:1-9

The Tabernacle built in the wilderness by Moses was a place where God wanted to dwell constantly among His people. What a wonderful picture! A picture of assurance of God’s ever abiding presence. In the wilderness, God’s abiding presence stimulated confidence in the people, brought about the fear of God, ensured protection of Israel as they travelled through rough and uncharted terrain. Nomadic and warlike groups and nations saw the miraculous manifestations of Yahweh and feared to get close to Israel.

This Theme of God’s abiding presence is repeated throughout the Bible. It is God’s ultimate purpose concerning us, the crown of His creation to dwell among us (Revelation 21:1-4). The Tabernacle in the wilderness was a picture if things to come, a picture of Christ and His redemption. I pray that God will give us understanding as we explore the richness of the Tabernacle.

The Tabernacle In The Wilderness

Designed In Heaven Complete With Material Specification and Dimensions (Exodus 25:9, 40)
People Gave Willingly For The construction (Exodus 36:1-7)
The Furniture Of The Tabernacle

The Tabernacle was an earthly figure of the temple of God in Heaven (Hebrews 9:23-24). Its specification and materials were handed over to Moses by God. God was very particular about Moses making the tabernacle according to the pattern shown him on the mountain (Exodus 25:9, 40). To make sure that the Tabernacle was constructed exactly according to the supernatural design, God chose two men and filled them with the Spirit of wisdom to design the intricate furniture and ornaments of the Tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-6).

For the people of Israel this was a very important piece of design, which came directly from God, and they took it very seriously (Exodus 36:1-7). What a lesson this is to us to learn to do as these people of God of old did (

The Tabernacle

The Tabernacle was a very dominant piece of work among Israelites. The Tabernacle has three sections as shown in the diagram -  the outer court in which we have are the Altar of burnt offerings and the Bronze Laver, a large basin filled with water where the priests can was after sacrifice. This outer court is not covered over. It was lighted by the sun. Then the next structure is covered over and divided into two parts – The Holy Place in which are the Golden Lampstand or The Menorah, the table of Show Bread and the Altar of Incense. Separating this was a thick veil. Within the veil was the Holy of Holies.

 

 

The Altar Of Burt Sacrifice

On this Altar the priest offered burnt sacrifices for his own sins and for the sin of the people. By this sacrifice an Israelite would be forgive and become accepted by God (Leviticus 1:4). A ram, a goat, a bullock or a pigeon without blemish may be offered, depending on a person’s ability.

Why was it important to offer sacrifice for sin? God said in Ezekiel 18:4, “All souls are mine…, the soul that sinneth it shall die”. The penalty of sin is death (Rom.6:23). The Law required a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. The Law was pitiless. But God provided the solution for sin (Leviticus 17:11, 8). Either you must die for your sin or an animal dies in your place – life for life. Through the life-blood of the animal, atonement is made for your sin!

God provided Himself a solution, a sacrifice. His only Son Jesus Christ would be the one and only sacrifice required for the atonement of the sin of the world.

 

The Altar of Incense

Once a year the High Priest would make an atonement for the altar by sprinkling of the of the blood of the sin offering on the horns because the altar was holy to the Lord (Exodus 30:10). Also note that it was in the Holy Place that Zechariah went into to burn incense before the Lord. As He was offering incense before the Lord on this Altar, the angel Gabriel appeared to him to announce the birth of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29; 3:16).

 

 

The Table Of Show Bread

The Table of the Showbread or bread of the Presence is a reminder that God was always with His people and would commune with them. It was 3 feet long and 1 ½ feet wide. It was 2 feet and 3 inches high. The priest baked 12 loaves of bread representing the 12 tribes of Israel and kept it before the Lord till the Sabbath. Every Sabbath day the priest would remove it and eat it in the Holy Place and replace it with freshly baked bread. Jesus is the bread we eat, the bread of life (John 6:35, 49-50) 

 

 

 

The Menorah (Golden Lampstand)

This was the only source of light in the Holy Place and the priests need the light of it to be able to move around and perform their service to God. The light must burn continually (Leviticus 24:1-3). This was God’s dwelling place and the priests needed the light to interact with God and do service of prayer and supplication to Him for the people. Relate this to the sayings of Jesus (John 1:9; 8:12; 12:46).

 

The Ark Of Covwnant

Bezaleel made the Ark according to the pattern given by God and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in His heart (Exo.37:1). This placed in the Holy of Holies. The High priest only was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies. He was not allowed to enter and go at will (Exodus 25:22; Leviticus 16:2). The Ark was a symbol of power wherever it went because of the presence of God in the Holy of Holies. The Ark contained three items

The Two Tables of The Ten Commandments

An Omer of Manna

 Aaron’s Rod that Budded

Obviously The Lord had a reason to command these three memorials to be kept. The ten Commandment show the character of God and what He required of His people. The Manna was to remind them of God’s continuous provision for His people. Israel ate manna everyday for 40 years, paying nothing for it.

Aaron’s rod was to remind Israel not rebel against God or His servants (Numbers 17:10).

The cover is usually called the Mercy Seat in the King James Bible, but it literally means the Atonement cover. It was here that God would appear to Moses to speak to him about His people.

Concerning the pot of manna, we see that Jesus was the True Bread from heaven, the true Manna, which if any one eats will have eternal life (John 6:32, 48-50)

 

God's Purpose For The Tabernacle

Exodus 25:8-9; Psalm 68:18; John 17:23; 2Corinthians 6:14-18; Revelation 21:1-3

 

The tabernacle was a very functional facility. The tabernacle served as a meeting place between God and men, and was thus known as the “tent of meeting.

The tabernacle solved one problem with its portability. The tabernacle also solved the problem of a holy God dwelling in the midst of a sinful people. The tent curtains, and especially the thick veil, served as a separator, a dividing barrier, between God and the people. The tabernacle was a facility which displayed fabulous wealth and beauty. The building of the tabernacle involved all of the people. All of the people would benefit from the tabernacle, and thus all were permitted to participate in its construction, either by their donations of materials, or of skilled labour, or both. The tabernacle testified to the character of God. The excellence of the tabernacle, both in its materials and its workmanship, was a reflection of the excellencies of God. The tabernacle was also a holy place, because abiding in it was a holy God (Exo.30:37-38) (Bob Dafinbaugh, bible.org)

When the Tabernacle was completed and erected, God immediately appeared in His glory and covered it (Numbers 9:15; Exodus 40:33-35). God’s final ultimate purpose is to have His Tabernacle among His people. (Rev.21:L1-3).

 

The Tabernacle, A Foreshadow Of Christ's Ministry

Hebrews 6:18-20; 8:1-2; Heb.9:8-12; 23-26; Rev.21:16; Heb.11:10

The Holy is holies was a type of Heaven itself. The high Priest that ministered their foreshadowed Christ our High priest. There was no physical or artificial light in the Holy of Holies. The Shekinah Glory of God lighted the place. In the same way there will be no artificial light in heaven (Rev.21:23).

Jesus is our High Priest who enters into the Holy of Holies in Heaven to appear on our behalf before God. Let us follow the light of God’s word as we travel through this year. God is with us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOW GOD LEADS HIS CHILDREN

WHEN GOD LEADS HIS CHILDREN

Exodus 13:15-22

God not only saves us but He also leads us. This is very important because there are many people who feel that once they are saved, they do not need any more leading or guidance. But the plan of God is to lead us year by year, month by month, week by week and day by day.

When God is leading us, He will lead us out of captivity into the Promised Land; He will lead us out of danger and into safety; He will lead us out of bondage into freedom, and He will lead us out of sin into His righteousness.

God’s Special Ways of Leading His People

(Exodus 13:17-18)

God Leads Through difficult Paths – Through the Red Sea

God Leads Through The Right Path (Psalm 23:1-6)

God Leads By The Pillar of Cloud and Fire

God Leads By Chosen Men (Exodus 5:1-; Joshua 1:1-8)

God Leads By The Holy Spirit (Rom.8:14; Gal.5:18)

God Leads By The Word of God

The path that God leads may be rough and hard. We can see from the Bible that God does not always lead through the smooth path. But we can trust Him regardless of the roughness of the way. If we follow we will see great miracles of divine deliverance and provision (Exodus 14:13-16, 21-30). God delivered Israel from the hand of the Egyptians and made a way through the sea for them.

Though the pathway may be rough, God always leads through the right path (Psalm 23:1-6). He does that for our good and for the sake of His holy name. God has the credentials to lead us because He is omniscient – all knowing, all seeing. When He led Israel through trackless wildernesses, He provided a reference point for the night (Pillar of Fire) and for the day (Pillar of Cloud) (Exo.13:21-22; 40:36-37). These pillars where a physical manifestation of the presence of God among His people. Israel in the wilderness meticulously followed the movement of these Pillars throughout their journey. These pillars protected Israel from enemies. It evoked worship from Israel for they knew God was with them (Exodus 33:8-10). This was the last place we heard about the cloudy Pillar leading Israel. This was just after the saga of the golden calf. We can assume here that God withdrew these visible signs of His Presence from Israel.

The Lord began to concentrate on leading Israel by chosen men – men like Moses, Aaron, and Joshua (Exo.5:1; 7:16; 8:1, 20; 9:13; 10:3; Joshua 1:1-6). Even after they had settled in the Promised Land, He continued to lead them. He sent them prophets - Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and many others.

How does God lead His children today?

God leads us by The Word of God (Psalm 119:105; Prov.6:23). The Word of God shows us the way of God. The Bible is the compiled word of God made available to be a guide to us as we journey to our Promised Land, Paradise of God. Someone wrote, “Do not go hungry in 2013” because man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that procedeth out of the mouth of God (Deut.8:3). If we do not read and study the word of God how can we be led by the word? How can we be fed by the word?

The Holy Spirit also leads the children of God (Romans 8:14; Gal.5:18). Believers of today are not left on their own. They have been given the Holy Spirit of god to lead them (Eph4:11-16). The Holy Spirit directs the work of the ministry: In sending missionaries (Acts 13:1-4); in sending Peter for the conversion of Cornelius (Acts 10:6-20)

The Peril of Refusing To Follow When God Leads

Israel Asked For another Leader to Go Back To Egypt

Israel God Falsely Accused of Wanting To Destroy Them In The wilderness

Rebellion Caused Dangerous Delays and Death

We Must Avoid Seduction of Thinking We are Masters of Our own Destiny (Mat.16:26)

One of the early mistakes the children of Israel made was to ask for another leader to lead them. And why they chose to make an idol – the golden calf I can’t tell (Exo.32:1-8). Three thousand men perished in the aftermath. God stopped going with them, perhaps in the physical manifestation of His divine present (Exo.33:1-3). Not that Israel stopped complaining and murmuring against God and Moses (Numbers 14:1-4). They actually accused God of bringing them out of Egypt to perish in the wilderness! God was angry and made them to wonder in the wilderness for 40 years. All those who murmured and accused God died in the wilderness. They did not reach the Promised Land.

One grave consequence of not following God’s leading is the loss of His presence. What a terrible thing it is to lose the guiding presence of God. We will not know the way to go. We can get into all kinds of trouble and confusion along the way. We can make bad decisions and judgements.

Before we leave this point let me caution us not to be seduced into thinking that we are the masters of our destiny. Today we have the benefit of technology, access to the internet, books and materials that help us advance our knowledge. With a little intelligence and hard work we can achieve reasonable success. We can find our dream job, buy our dream house, and buy our dream car. And with all these going on we can be seduced into thinking that we can make our own way. But beware (Mat.16:26; Luke 12:15-21). Although all Israel passed through the Cloudy pillar and the Pillar of fire, God was not pleased with all of them (1Cor.10:1-6). Acquisition of material things, of Education, of money, of children, of many other worldly goods is not a sign of God’s approval. You still need to submit yourself to God’s leading even when you are satisfied with your progress in this presence world.

The Blessing Of Following God’s Leading

God Will Lead Us to Safety (Psalm 61:1-2)

God Will  Lead In Ways That Help Us and lead to Our Good (1Peter 1:7; Rom.8:28)

God Will Lead To Make Us Christ-like (Rom. 8:29)

God Will Lead In Ways That Help Others – Paul’s imprisonment helped others to preach (Phil.1:14); Joseph in prison (Genesis 42:1-8); Brother Yun in Burmese prison…

David said to God, “When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to a rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:1-8). Our safety is in God. There is no safety in the world. In the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world, says the Lord. (Psalm 23:1-6) is a clear explanation of the effect of God’s guidance of His people – abundant provision, green pastures, still waters, restoration of our souls, leading us the way of righteousness though it passes through the valley of the shadow of death, preparing a table for us in the presence of our enemies, anointing our heads with his oil of gladness, and causing our cups to overflow. Rather than judgment He allows his goodness and mercy to follow us all the day of our lives. His ultimate purpose for us to dwell in His house forever! Why won’t we allow God to lead us?

It is the preordained of God to make us Christ-like. If we follow God’s leading this year will become more and more like Christ.

As we read God’s word we understand that God is not interested in just one or two people in the Church or even in the world. He loves all His creation and leads those who submit to Him. He can lead us in way to help others receive His blessing. He can use you to lead a lost soul to back to Him. He can use you to lead someone out of danger and into His freedom.

The story of Joseph is familiar to many of us. He was hated by his brothers, sold to Egypt as a slave, was accused wrongly of a sin he did not commit, was sent to prison under Potiphar. All the while it was all God’s plan to use Joseph to preserve life in Egypt and build the Nation of Israel there. He was using Him as the beginning of the fulfilment of the prophecy and promise He made to Abraham.

When as a child of God you find yourself in some difficult situation, especially when you are obeying God, just submit to Him, it may be that He is using that situation to lead you or others to His blessing. E.g. brother Yun in Burmese prison in 2001…!

Conclusion

(2Cor.2:14). God will lead us into victory, into blessing, into freedom, into safety, out of sin, into righteousness. The inspiring lyrics of this old hymn captures the message of allowing God lead us.

If thou but suffer God to guide thee,

And hope in God through all thy ways,

God will give strength, whate'er betide thee,

And bear thee through the evil days. 

Who (so ever) trusts in God's unchanging love

Builds on the rock that naught can move.

 

Only be still, and wait God's leisure (Psalm 46:10)

In cheerful hope, with heart content

To take whate'er thy Maker's pleasure

And all-discerning love hath sent;

We know our inmost wants are known,

For we are called to be God's own (Mat.6:8).

 

Sing, pray, and keep God's ways unswerving;

So do thine own part faithfully,

And trust God's word; though undeserving,

Thou yet shalt find it true for thee. 

God never yet forsook at need

The soul that trusted God indeed.