Tabernacle of Moses Pt. 3

We are continuing our study on the Tabernacle of Moses in the book of Exodus. The Tabernacle was a structure built by the children of Israel under the direct supervision of Moses. The layout of the Tabernacle, its general construction, supplies and materials were specified in the greatest detail to Moses by the Lord at Mount Sinai during the time of the Exodus.  So what exactly is a Tabernacle? A "Tabernacle" according to the Hebrew language simply denotes "a tent", or more appropriately "a place of residence."

We know for a fact that God desires a relationship with His people then and even today God desires a relationship.

JOHN 1:14
“14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” - NIV

Tabernacle of Moses Pt.2

We know that God has wanted a relationship with His people from the beginning of time. That is why He created us. According to Scripture we see the Children of Israel we being held captive as slaves in the land of Egypt. Out of Egypt God had raised a leader by the name of Moses who’s life in and of itself is a testimony of how God has a plan for us. We see Moses was born and raised in the care of the Egyptians in Exodus 2.
We see that when Moses was born the Pharaoh had issued a command to kill all the baby boys as soon as they were born. But God had a plan just as He always does. Moses mother hid baby Moses until she wasn’t able to hide him no more (Exodus 2:2). So she made a basket and placed him into the Nile River and placed him into God’s hands. Now the God we serve always looks out for his children. The Pharaoh’s own daughter seen the child and took him in and wanted to raise him. What is interesting here is that Moses’ sister seen Pharaoh’s daughter take her brother and look what she did:

Tabernacle of Moses Pt.1

We sing a song called “Take Me In” in our worship services, but I don’t think we really understand what we are singing about. This song says this:

Take me past the outer courts
Into the Holy Place
Past the brazen altar
Lord I want to see your face
Pass me by the crowds of people
And the Priests who sing your praise
I hunger and thirst for your righteousness
But it's only found in one place
[Chorus:]
Take me into the holy of holies
Take me in by the blood of the lamb
Take me into the holy of holies
Take the coal, touch my lips, here I am

This song is talking about the Tabernacle where God dwelt among His people. There is significant meaning behind this song and this Tabernacle of Moses. You see it is an order that God had specifically set up in order for His people to come close to Him. The Israelites (God’s people) could not just go into the Holy of Holies (where God was) whenever they felt like, however they felt like, there was a order in how they were to go before God. Even then they themselves could not go, a priest, the high priest, was allowed to go in, and that was only one day a year during a time called the “Day of Atonement” or as we know it today as “Yom Kippur”.

Thanks Giving

Thanksgiving. What it means to some people is a day to gorge on turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, gravy, and of course a usual tradition of pumpkin pie. Cannot forget the dessert now can we?  Of course as for me and my family we did all the above on this last Thursday of November as we close out yet another month. Except for the fact we had cheesecake and blackberry pie (great with vanilla icecream by the way) :). But do we really know why we are giving thanks to begin with?

Now I am sure there are a lot of reasons to give thanks. Some give thanks for their car, home, children, food, and so on. Things that matter and some things that probably do not matter. But are we forgetting something? Or better yet, are we forgetting someone? What about God? What about Christ? Do we take time to thank Him for what He has done or even so what He has provided for us? I mean everything we have is because of Him right? I am not saying not to give thanks for what you have. Big things and small things. We all do. I do. But we must not forget the greatest thing anyone one person can receive. Salvation.

Peace

There is something about God that I think we do not understand to well. Now I know we will never grasp every concept or idea that God has, but there is one that we as Christians need to get a hold of and really understand. That is the "peace" He can bestow upon His children. even if we are in the darkest hour, deepest valley, in the middle of a storm, there can be a peace that surrounds us.

His Word tells us in Matthew 6:25 "not to worry about everyday life...". Well whether we like it or not life is always going to be there until He takes us and either brings us home or we spend eternity in hell (which that is another subject). Life is life and it always hits us right in the face. Everyday we wake up, every breath we take there is life. Another day means another worry or another issue we may have to face. The good news is we do not have to face it alone. There is a God...the only God who can give you "peace beyond understanding". Now I know that life is still there the problems are still going to be there, but now, through a relationship with God we can walk thru it not alone, but with Him. He says not to worry because He is in control and He already knows the outcome.

God's Plan

Jeremiah 29:11 states: "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a hope and a future."

You see everything we go through, every aspect of our lives is already known by God. He knows every step before we even think about taking it. Not only does He know every step He knows the very outcome and result of that step. It is no coincidence I am here before you today. God knew it, He planned it, and He knows the outcome. Isn’t an awesome and peaceful feeling, knowing that God already knows the outcome of our situations? We may not see the final outcome as of yet, but it is comforting to know that God does and according to His Word the plans He has for us are not to harm us or destroy us, but to bring us a hope and a future! But, there is a stipulation to this passage of Scripture. How many of you know today that when God promises something to us there is always a stipulation?

2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.”

You see God will hear from heaven, He will forgive sins, He will heal the land, but first they and we have to humble ourselves and pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, then and only then will He fulfill His promise! So what is the stipulation in Jeremiah 29:11? I am glad you asked…you ready?

For I know the plans I have for you! It doesn’t say the plans you have for yourself, no it says the plans God has for us, those plans are to give us a hope and a future and not destroy. You see when we take matters into our own hands, when we plan out our lives according to what we want and we leave God out of the picture, we do not have a hope, we do not have a future. But when we do give our lives over to God and follow His plan we do have a hope and future.