A Work in Progress….

Exodus 40:33 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.

I sincerely believe that when I set aside time to sit with God, He shows up. Some mornings, I can absolutely tell it as my reflection practically writes itself. Some mornings, I can tell it because I need to hear exactly what the verses are about or I need to work on the same issues in my own life.

Exodus 40:34-35 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and 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.

Some mornings I think, “What am I even doing here? I’m just not sure. I’ve got so many questions. But I trust You, Lord. I know You are at work in this mess.” Ironically, those are usually the days when someone says, “I needed your words this morning. God was speaking to me. Thank you.”

Exodus 40:36-37 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. 

Precious Savior, It is such a gift to sit with You each morning, to read Your word and listen for Your quiet voice to whisper to my heart. Thank You for the mornings that You speak directly to my life. Thank You for using my words to speak to others, especially on those days where I’m struggling. Draw me closer always. Amen.

Exodus 40:38 So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 40:28 Then he put up the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. 

I am again reminded that Exodus is coming to a close and that this book has a very specific story: The Israelites were in captivity for hundreds of years. While they were always “God’s people,” they had forgotten that fact and worshipped the gods of the Egyptians.

Exodus 40:29 He set the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered on it burnt offerings and grain offerings, as the Lord commanded him.

Exodus is about leaving Egyptian captivity and remembering both who they are and Whose they are. They have come a very long way from begging for an idol because Moses is taking too long to doing everything just “as the Lord commanded.” 

Exodus 40:30-31 He placed the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing, and Moses and Aaron and his sons used it to wash their hands and feet. 

Precious Savior, Thank You that we are Yours and that You love us fiercely, completely, and unconditionally. Help us, each morning, to center ourselves on You, to draw closer to You, and to seek to be Your hands and feet in this world. Amen.

Exodus 40:32 They washed whenever they entered the tent of meeting or approached the altar, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Have a blessed day.

Exodus 40:21 Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain and shielded the ark of the covenant law, as the Lord commanded him.

Today’s scripture led me to a quote by Edward Everett Hale: “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do.” 

Exodus 40:22-23 Moses placed the table in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tabernacle outside the curtain and set out the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord commanded him.

It is easy to look at a situation and see only what you weren’t able to accomplish, what you didn’t do (or do right or do well), but it is much harder, at least for me, to look at a situation and say, “I did what I could. It wasn’t perfect, but it was something. Other lives are better because of what I was able to do. Thank You, Jesus.” 

Exodus 40:24-25 He placed the lampstand in the tent of meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle and set up the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord commanded him.

Precious Savior, Thank You for the impact we can have when we heed Your call. Help me not to beat myself up for what I failed to do and instead give You thanks, praise, and glory for all that I was able to do in Your name. Amen.

Exodus 40:26-27 Moses placed the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the curtain and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord commanded him.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 40:17 So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year. 

The final chapter of Exodus is drawing to a close. Moses, who balked and argued when God first tapped him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, has grown into a man whose heart is for God, doing “as the Lord commanded him.”

Exodus 40:18 When Moses set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in place, erected the frames, inserted the crossbars and set up the posts. 

The Israelites themselves have gone from captives in Egypt to demanding a golden calf to worship to giving their precious items for the building of the tabernacle and helping to craft that tabernacle from nothing. 

Exodus 40:19 Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, as the Lord commanded him.

Precious Savior, It has taken a long time, 40 chapters, to bring about these changes in Moses and in the Israelites. Thank You for the reminder that change is possible, becoming someone who puts You above all else, who chases You with all our hearts is possible. Help us to seek You, to draw closer to You, every single day. Amen.

Exodus 40:20 He took the tablets of the covenant law and placed them in the ark, attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover over it.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 40:12 “Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting and wash them with water. 

Moses’s obedience in verse 16 jumps out at me this morning as I think back to Exodus chapters 3 and 4 where Moses, repeatedly, gave excuses for why he could not do what God was calling Him to do. 

Exodus 40:13 Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest. 

It makes me think of an old ad tagline: “You’ve come a long way, baby!” because, truly, Moses has come so very far from arguing with God about his personal deficiencies to doing “everything just as the Lord commanded him.”

Exodus 40:14-15 Bring his sons and dress them in tunics. Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing will be to a priesthood that will continue throughout their generations.” 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that we can change for the better if we align ourselves with You, if we listen and study and try to be Your hands and feet. I know I have flaws. Thank You for calling me anyway. Help me to do everything just as You command me. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 40:16 Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 40:6-7 “Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting; place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it. 

BibleHub calls this section “Setting up the Tabernacle.” Commentary calls it “How to arrange the items in the courtyard.” Both titles speak to order, organization, putting things “just so.” 

Exodus 40:8 Set up the courtyard around it and put the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard.

Whether that’s God’s distinction or man’s, I think there is something to “a place for everything and everything in its place.” When things are out of order, it can be hard to focus, and if I am not focused during my time with God, I’m not going to get much out of it. 

Exodus 40:9 “Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy. 

Precious Savior, Help me to be present, attentive, and focused during our time together. If putting everything in its place will help toward that goal, please help me to make it so. I want more than anything to draw closer to You. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 40:10-11 Then anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar, and it will be most holy. Anoint the basin and its stand and consecrate them.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 40:1-2 Then the Lord said to Moses: “Set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the first day of the first month. 

Commentary says that it has been a year since the Israelites exited Egypt, suggesting a year is a good time to look back and see how far they have come in maturing in the Lord. They are not where they were, but they are certainly not where they want to stay.  And I completely get it.

Exodus 40:3 Place the ark of the covenant law in it and shield the ark with the curtain. 

Yesterday marked one year since I walked out of my classroom for the last time, officially retiring from education. This past year has been about letting go–of alarm clocks, of schedules, of that daily grind. It has been about resetting. Now I can look forward towards who I am becoming in this chapter of my life. 

Exodus 40:4 Bring in the table and set out what belongs on it. Then bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. 

Precious Savior, Thank You that we are not who we were yesterday. Thank You for time and growth. Help us all to continue to grow in You, so that we can become, in every phase of our lives, who You designed us to be. Amen.

Exodus 40:5 Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the covenant law and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.

Have a blessed day. 

Exodus 39:33 Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent and all its furnishings, its clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases; 

An appropriate title for today’s reflection seems to be “Taking Stock” because, after so long focusing on the minutiae, these verses seem to take a step back, to take a look at the bigger picture. 

Exodus 39:34-35 the covering of ram skins dyed red and the covering of another durable leather and the shielding curtain; the ark of the covenant law with its poles and the atonement cover; 

And I know for a fact how important that process of taking stock can be. I am guilty of getting so focused on the details, the specifics, that I lose sight of the bigger picture. That process of taking stock, of checking in, or reflecting on the entire scope of a project is important.

Exodus 39:36-37 the table with all its articles and the bread of the Presence; the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its accessories, and the olive oil for the light; 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that sometimes we all need to take a step back and reassess, taking stock of the bigger picture and reminding ourselves of why we are doing what we are doing. Help us never to forget that You are at the heart of every WHY. Help us, Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 39:38 the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tent;

Have a blessed day.