When Moses went upon Mt. Sinai to meet God after he led the Israelites out of Egypt he received more than just the Ten Commandments. He was with God on that mountain for forty days. God gave Moses instructions, basically, about how he expected people to approach him. God told Moses in detail how he wanted everything made that would be used to worship and honor him. All the items for the Tabernacle were to be constructed exactly the way God said, right down to the clasps that would hold the curtains in the Tabernacle. He even explained how he wanted the loops on the curtains made. These curtains were for the purpose of separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. God designed the lamp stands, the altar, the courtyard, the Ark, the priestly garments, the altar of incense, the basin for washing, and he even gave Moses the recipe for the incense and the anointing oil. There are eight chapters in Exodus describing exactly how God wanted the Tabernacle constructed. (Exodus 24-31) Let me note here that after the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost those who became believers were told that God would abide in them, and they would become a Tabernacle where the Holy Spirit would reside. God lives in each believe of Christ. Thus the believer’s soul is a Tabernacle of God.
Our God, who has never changed, would expect the Tabernacle of our hearts to be a very holy place just like that Tabernacle that he so carefully designed in the wilderness.
The last bit of instruction that God gave Moses was about who would be in charge of building this very intricate, ornate structure which would be the place where he would live. He said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.” Exodus 31:2-5 God even had a man chosen to see that the work was carried out the way he wanted. But we must note that the key was that Bezalel was filled with God’s own Spirit who gave him the ability and skills that he would need to complete the task. By the way, these words to Moses about Bezalel would be a great prayer for us every day.
Moses and the Israelites saw first hand how serious God was about the way they viewed him. They saw God’s terrible power, and the punishment that He inflicted upon them when they failed to approach him in the correct manner. They heard his voice and it frightened them. They told Moses that they wanted him to speak God’s word to them. They didn’t want to hear it directly from God ever again. The scriptures tell us that we must fear the Almighty God. We must approach him with reverence, something that most churches don’t do any more. I’m not sure we can honor Almighty God by entering the place of worship in shorts, a ball cap, and flip flops, while sipping on a Starbucks latte. I’m afraid we have lost that sense of reverent fear and awe for the Lord God Almighty.
When we have a correct, healthy view of who God is, and approach him in the proper manner we will quickly learn how he views us. He loves us with an everlasting love. He cares for each person more than anyone can know. He gave his Son, Jesus Christ, as a living sacrifice so that every one of our sins would be atoned. He has provided, at great cost, the way for us to live forever. He has secured for us an inheritance in heaven as his very own children. We will be free from the destructiveness of sin and will live in the presence of Jesus forever.
All I can say is Praise God!
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