Derek Smith
Lead Pastor
Monday, January 29, 2024
Exodus 40:34-38
34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 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. 36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.
The tabernacle was the precursor to the Temple in the Old Testament, and it was the place where God met with Moses and where the sins of the people were atoned for. The blood of a spotless Lamb was sprinkled atop the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies for the forgiveness of sin, but we know now Christ died once for all and poured His own precious blood out on God’s Mercy Seat for the forgiveness of sin for all time! Praise Him! Now, in Christ, Scripture says we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and the dwelling place of God is the heart of the believer. The Tabernacle among the people was the reminder of how desperately they needed the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Child of God, oh how we need the glory of God to fill our temple! This passage is a symbolic reminder of how we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit daily. The only way the glory of God can be displayed in our lives, and the only way we can walk in the blessing of God, is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Also, the only way we know the will and direction of God is through the loving guidance of the Holy Spirit. Just as they didn’t move until the cloud moved, so too we must yield to the counsel of the Spirit. When God says move we must move. When God says stay we must trust in His wisdom and stay. It may be a wilderness experience, but if God says stay there we must trust Him. We are not promised an easy road, but we are promised His provision, protection, peace, and power when we yield to Him.
The glory of God; oh that this would be our pursuit! Jesus be glorified in me! Ask for the filling of His Spirit, and then yield to what He says. Blessings come to those who yield.