February 13, 2024
Read Exodus 38-40, Psalm 44
Where do you think of when it comes to experiencing the presence of God? Is it in a church service? Do you find the presence of God being out in nature? The beach or mountains? Maybe you find the presence of God in the expression of other believers as they minster and serve. In Psalm 139 David asks, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there” vv. 7-8. Truthfully, we know that God’s presence can be with us anywhere.
In the last chapters of Exodus, we read about the finishing of the Tabernacle, the clothing for the priests, and the instruments that would be used in the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was the portable temple in which God instructed Moses and the Israelites to build in order that they might make sacrifices to the Lord and for God’s presence to dwell. “Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle” vv.34-35. The very last verses of Exodus describe how God would lead them and how they were to travel and stop. “In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels” vv. 36-38. The big question is, are we running from God’s presence or are we running toward God’s presence?
What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.
DId God Really Say... 