Finish Your work. Expect the Presence of God.

Monday, February 07, 2011 Bryan Hudson 1 Comments

Exodus 40:32 So all the work on the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD commanded Moses. 33 Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work.  34 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 on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

I have often read this text and I never ceased to be blessed. Millions of dollars (by today's value) of offerings and donations of items, untold man-hours of craftsmanship by artisans, attention to instruction, and devotion to God's presence, raised a portable "facility" in the wilderness. All of the work that went into building the tabernacle resulted from God's vision that was given to Moses.

Verse 32 says, "The Israelites did everything just as the LORD commanded Moses." Verse 33 says, "….So Moses finished the work." The people supported the God-given vision and the visionary. They helped Moses finish the work.

Verses 34-35 reveal the best part of the whole project! "…The glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."

Until they finished the work, God's glory did not come. When they finished it, God's glorious presence invaded the space they created!

This is a simple and powerful message: Understand your assignment; Follow instructions; Finish the work; Expect the glory of God to come!