Exodus 39-40: Uh Oh

"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 40:35-35

Have you ever tried really, really hard to accomplish something, only to find that all of your efforts were in vain? Have you ever worked and strained towards a goal, only to find yourself saying "uh oh" somewhere at the end of your efforts, all because you found that you did something wrong? Well, this morning in Genesis 40, we find Moses in a similar "uh oh" situation.

Exodus 39-40 speak of the conclusion of the book of Genesis as the tabernacle is completed. I know we've hammered this home already, but it is so important to understanding the Bible, so let us point it out one last time: the tabernacle was the place in which God dwelt with his people. Just as God dwelled with his people in Eden, so God would dwell with his people, the Israelites, by means of the tabernacle. Thus, the tabernacle was a "portable Eden" that allowed God's presence to be with the Israelites wherever they went, as signified by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.

Yet in Exodus 40, after all that God had commanded for the building of the tabernacle had been completed, we find a great "uh oh" moment. As God's glory descends and fills the tabernacle, the Israelites get excited. They all get their iPhones out, take a few selfies with the cloud of God's presence in the background, and post them on Instagram. But when it's Moses' turn to enjoy this presence of God, we find him attempting to enter into the tabernacle, but there's one small problem...he can't. Uh Oh! What went wrong?

Well, scripture is very clear on why Moses could not enter the temple, that is, "because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle." In other words, God's glory had now entered the tabernacle, and Moses, the representative of the people of Israel, could not merely "come as he was." Because of the great and perfect presence of God within the tabernacle, Moses could not enter, since he was the representative of an unholy people. Thus, we find our "uh oh" moment. Although much effort has been put into the erection of this tabernacle, it was now seemingly useless to the Israelites, because no one could enter into it. Was God's presence amidst them? Absolutely. Yet what good is God's presence if his people cannot partake and enjoy it? Surely must be a solution.

Well, you're right, there is a solution, and that solution is called Leviticus. Yeah, all those "old, dull, and boring" laws that we're about ready to take the next ten days to examine in the book of Leviticus are actually God's rules by which his people can enter into and enjoy his presence, thus partaking in God's blessing. Understanding the end of Exodus as well as Leviticus in this way, it makes both of them a little more interesting, does it not? And surely they ought to be.

Anyway, let us ask: how do we apply this text to our lives? Well, most importantly, let us stand in awe of a God who does allow us to enter into his presence through the blood of Christ, even "just as we are." As I discussed yesterday, we must be careful using the common catch-phrase "come just as you are," because we often say it without considering what it means.* Because Christ has paid the price for us and because his righteousness has been accredited to our account, we are allowed to enter the presence of God in a way in which Moses could not. Praise the Lord! That we have a God who has sent his Son to dwell among us as well as take the fall for us, that we might be able to dwell with God not merely just by means of a tabernacle, but by means of Christ. Amen!

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:19-22

Let us also note, as I said yesterday, that there is absolutely no point in "coming as you are" if we merely "leave as we are."