As the Lord Commands

As the Lord had commanded Moses. (Exodus 39:1)

Exodus 39

What Is God Saying?

After God delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt, they encountered the lonely and hostile wilderness. God planned for them to have a visible sign of His presence. They had tents. Now, God was to have His tent, a meeting place, a tabernacle. They would see the Tabernacle and say, "We are not alone, we have not been deserted, God is with us. His holy place is here." This tent became the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of His presence until Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem three hundred years later. God gave Moses precise specifications for building the Ark as written in Exodus 25-31, which were carried out to the letter. The artisans built what the Lord commanded. The Ark, with its fittings, the vessels used for worship, the robes worn by the priests, and every detail were carefully observed as the Lord commanded.

How Does This Apply To Us?

The symbolism of the Tabernacle points the way to Christ and His atoning death on Calvary. Like the artisans of the Tabernacle's construction, we should attend to every detail of the commands God has put in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. By this, God is not hindering us according to caprici0us whims. Instead, He is helping us reach true maturity and the fullness of life. We trust that God knows best.

Pray With Me

Let Your Holy Spirit, Lord, rule in my heart. I would not have Him as a sometime visitor or casual acquaintance. I invite Him to take up His permanent dwelling in my heart, but I need Him for more than that. It may be that I will not always want Him to rule, but it is always true that I need Him to rule. So, Lord, let your Holy Spirit rule in my heart. In the smallest detail of life, let there be quiet listening, a quick understanding, and total obedience, as the Lord commands.

In this journey through the wilderness help me make every decision, build every dream, and pursue every goal as the Lord commands. Let the most inexpressible desire and unacknowledged passion seeking to hold me in its sway for good or evil be encouraged or conquered as the Lord commands. Let me see that, as the Lord commands, the Promised Land holds peace. I have an inheritance for all eternity. I praise You for the grace that leads my thoughts, feelings, and actions as the Lord commands.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

Moving On In The Life Of Prayer

The Holy of Holies had three altars of great significance. First, the Altar of Burnt Offering (Ex 27: 1-8) symbolizing the sacrifice of self, the surrender of our best to receive His best. Then there was the Altar of Incense (Ex. 30.1-6), the symbol of prayer. Third, there was the Mercy Seat, where the blood of the sacrifice was finally sprinkled ("Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins," Heb. 9:22). Along with the priceless symbols of Christ's sacrifice for us and the surrendering of ourselves to God's perfect will, prayer has its place, according to the commands of God. Let us obey the command to pray and stay with it until it becomes the privilege of praying, sharing our joys and concerns in fellowship with God at the deepest levels.