Anticipation

In the Lord of the Rings, Sam asks Mr. Frodo, “I wonder what sort of tale we’ve fallen into? Everyone wants to know the answer to this. And the Book of Exodus shows us that we have fallen into a tale, a story, the grand redemptive story, the true story of the whole world. We look back at Exodus and see the good news, we look forward in Exodus and it points us to Christ, and we look to the end of Exodus in anticipation of sharing intimate friendship with Jesus Christ forever. Exodus is our story. Once we were in bondage to sin, enslaved, under the sentence of death but by taking shelter under the blood of the Lamb, God has delivered us. Now God is with us, leading us to the Promised Land. We will face challenges, obstacles and temptations but we know that God is faithful to his redeemed people. While we journey, we live by grace and forgiveness found not in a tabernacle but in Christ.

Just like the Israelites waiting in anticipation for the Messiah, who came on that first Advent, everyone who trusts in Jesus, waits in anticipation for the second advent, the second coming of Jesus Christ. We anticipate the day we will see Jesus, share intimate friendship with Him and behold his glory forever. And the awesome and humbling thing is that not only do we anticipate this future, but the Lord does too. He created Adam and Eve, walking with them in the Garden, because He wanted a relationship with them. And even after they sinned this didn’t change. He still wanted that intimate friendship and that’s why He came to dwell in the Tabernacle. That’s why He came as baby Jesus, lived as a human on the earth, died on a cross for our sins and rose again. That’s why He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell inside of us. That’s why He will come again at the end of the age. He will come because He desires to share intimate friendship with His people in Heaven. That brings us to our big idea this morning that God desires to share intimate friendship with His people forever.

Let’s pray:

There are two points this morning. The first, Anticipation, is found in Exodus 40:16-33. This is what God’s Word says, “Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him. So, the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year. When Moses set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in place, erected the frames, inserted the crossbars and set up the posts. Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, as the Lord commanded him. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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. Then he put up the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. 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. 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. They washed whenever they entered the tent of meeting or approached the altar, as the Lord commanded Moses. 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.”

The first thing we notice in this section is that Moses did everything that the Lord commanded him. Verse 16 is a summary statement confirming that Moses did “raise up” the tabernacle even though the actual work is done in verses 17-33. We also notice that seven times, as Moses sets up each part of the tabernacle, our scripture says that he did “as the Lord commanded” him. As God commanded Moses back in verse 2, the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year. This was important for a couple of reasons. First, this was essentially the Israelite’s New Years Day and was a chance for a new beginning. Second, it would take Moses and the Israelites one day to “raise up” the tabernacle, on the first day of Aviv, giving them ample time to consecrate it and for the seven-day ordination ceremony of the priests. This guaranteed that everything would be ready for the Passover celebration and the Festival of Unleavened Bread which was to begin on the fourteenth day of the month.

Moses wouldn’t have “raised up” the tabernacle on his own. It would have been a family affair, a celebration of obedience, as the entire Israelite community had a hand in putting God’s house together. Moses started with the tabernacle, putting the bases in place, erecting the frames, inserting the crossbars, and setting up the posts. He then spread the tent over it and put the cover over the tent. Setting up the tabernacle would have included putting up the inner curtain with the cherubim embroidered on it. The tent over the tabernacle would have been the goat hair curtain and the covering over the tent would have been the curtains of ram skins and sea cow hides. We can surmise that as the work progressed the Israelites were eagerly anticipating the culmination of God’s promise in Exodus 25:8 to come and dwell in their midst. There would have been a buzz in the air, and the suspense would have built up as each piece was put in place. Would God really come down in glory as He promised? So, as Moses pitched the “tent of meeting” just as the Lord commanded him, the people were probably waiting, but the glory of the Lord didn’t come down.

Then Moses placed the tablets of the covenant law, the Ten Commandments, in the ark, attached the carrying poles and put the atonement cover over it, but the glory of the Lord still did not come down. Then Moses brought the ark into the tabernacle and hung the shielding curtain. This curtain was the veil with the cherubim embroidered on it that separated the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place. This curtain shielded the ark from everyone’s sight except the High Priest one day a year, on the Day of Atonement and the priests who would have been tasked to cover it for transport when God commanded the people to move. This would have been the last time the Israelite people would have seen the ark for hundreds of years. The veil would have reminded the people that their relationship with God was fractured. The cherubim woven into it would remind them that heaven had come down to earth, that man had been cast out of the garden and they could not enter into the Lord’s presence without a mediator. And so even after putting the ark behind the veil the glory of God still did not come down.

Then Moses placed the table on the north side, outside the curtain in the Holy Place, and put the bread of the Presence on it before the Lord. This was followed by Moses placing the lampstand opposite the table on the southside in the Holy Place and lighting the lamps before the Lord, which would illuminate the table for the priests as performed their duties. Then Moses placed the gold altar, the altar of incense, in the Holy Place in front of the veil directly opposite the ark and burned fragrant incense on it. This special God-given incense would have passed through the veil into the Most Holy Place signifying that the prayers of the people were being received by God in His dwelling place. Moses tended to the bread, the lamps, and the incense because Aaron, the High Priest, and his sons had not yet been ordained into God’s service. At this time only Moses was set apart and by right of being the covenant mediator was able to fulfill these duties. But even after putting the three pieces of furniture in the Holy Place and tending to the bread, the lamps and the incense, the glory of God still did not come down.

Moses is given specific instructions about where to put the table and the lampstand, one on the north side and one on the south side of Holy Place. This means that both the entrance curtains of the tabernacle and the courtyard were facing east. Why was the direction that the tabernacle was facing important? When the people entered the courtyard and when the priest entered the tabernacle to worship, they were always facing west. The pagan nations believed that the sun god dwelt in the east where the sun rose and so they would worship facing east. This orientation of the tabernacle was done intentionally by God to remind the Israelites that they were to worship Him and not the false gods of the pagan nations around them. Then Moses put up the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle, set the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to it and offered burnt offerings and grain offerings on it. The placement of the bronze altar near the entrance to the tabernacle symbolized that there could be no access to God without first making offerings to Him. Again, Moses fulfilled these duties that would later be done by the priests. He also placed the basin or laver between the tent of meeting and the altar of burnt offering and put water in it for washing. Moses, Aaron and his sons were required to wash their hands and feet whenever they entered the tent of meeting to serve the Lord or approached the bronze altar to offer sacrifices. This was symbolic of washing their daily sins away which in turn symbolizes our on-going sanctification which comes from knowing and obeying God’s Word. Even after putting up the curtain at the entrance of the tabernacle, setting up the altar of burnt offering, making sacrifices on it, placing the laver and putting water in it as God commanded, the glory of God still did not come down.

This is the last of eight times in this chapter and the last of eighteen times in the last two chapters that our scripture says Moses did as the Lord commanded. Moses’ obedience is stressed and with each step of the building of the tabernacle, the Bible meticulously makes note of his obedience. His obedience is important for us today because we are also to obey the Lord’s instructions and commands found in His Word. John Newton was the former slave trader who was saved and later wrote the famous song “Amazing Grace.” He also had a wide ministry of counseling people all over England through letter writing. A lady wrote to him, asking him what the best signs of genuine salvation were. Newton wrote: “The best mark to judge by, and which He has given us for that purpose, is to inquire if His word and will have a prevailing, governing influence upon our lives and temper. If we love Him, we do endeavor to keep His commandments … Obedience is the best test …”. Are you aware of any specific Biblical commands God has given that you aren’t obeying? Search your heart this morning, repent and begin to completely obey God’s Word today. That brings us to our first next step this morning which is I will strive to be completely obedient to God’s Word.

Finally, Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. The courtyard was also an enclosure that kept out those who were not to be there or did not come properly to worship the Lord. But the fact that there was a curtain at the entrance to the courtyard meant that there was the possibility of access. Notice that to get to the bronze altar, the laver, the table, the lampstand, the golden altar and even to the very place where heaven came down to earth, one must first go through the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard, which is a picture of Jesus Christ. He is the only way, the truth and the life; no one comes to God except through Jesus. With the final pieces of the tabernacle set up, it says “Moses finished the work.” There was no celebration or party thrown. Moses was obedient and did the work God gave him do with excellence. You can imagine that by this time the people were waiting with a growing sense of anticipation. God said he would come and dwell among them, but will he really come? Did we blow it with the golden calf? Does God really want to share intimate friendship with His people? (Big Idea)

That brings us to our second point, Approval, found in Exodus 40:34-38. This is what God’s Word says, “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. 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. 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.

The Israelites did not have to wait long. As soon as Moses finished the work the cloud covered the “tent of meeting”, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. This is the same cloud that has guided them from the Red Sea to Mt. Sinai and that has enveloped Mt. Sinai and Moses’ tent. This was the Lord’s Presence, His shekinah glory, in spectacular and dazzling fashion filling the entire tabernacle. God’s promise to dwell with His stiff-necked people has been fulfilled and the Israelites will be sanctified by His Presence. We notice the theme of these verses in the repetition of certain words. The “cloud” is mentioned in every verse. In verse 34 it is paired with “the glory” and in verse 38 with “the fire.” The words “tabernacle” or “tent of meeting” are in all but verse 37. The “tabernacle” was the dwelling place of the Lord and where He came in all his glory, power and holiness. The “settling” of the cloud was the proof of God’s presence and proof of His approval toward the Israelites. His “dwelling” was the tent that identified himself with His people’s circumstances and so He would dwell in a tent in the center of the tents of the Israelite camp. And the “tent of meeting” describes where God would meet with the Israelites.

We see four different aspects of the cloud in these verses. First, we see the “advent” cloud. It wasn’t only the anticipation of the people waiting for God’s presence to come down but also the anticipation of the Lord himself waiting to come down. Durham says, there is “the sense of promptness, to say the least, maybe even of impatience and urgency with which verse 33 is followed by verse 34. It is as though the Lord ‘can’t wait’ to come and live with his people. Second, is the “barrier” cloud. Something unexpected happens as Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Why couldn’t Moses enter the “tent of meeting?” He has already met God at the burning bush, on Mount Sinai numerous times, at his tent on the outskirts of camp, and has seen the backside of the Lord. One reason was probably because God, not Moses, was ultimately responsible for building the tabernacle and it was His house. It was built for God for the sake of Israel not built for Israel for the sake of God. The brilliant splendor and radiant glory of the Lord filling the tabernacle kept Moses from temporarily from being able to go in.

Second, this was the culmination of the first part of God’s perfect plan to be restored to His people and to be able to dwell in their midst since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. Before this moment, before the tabernacle was finished, Moses as the covenant mediator did have the privilege of meeting in the presence of the Lord as a friend speaks with a friend. But now that the tabernacle had been built, which pointed to the coming of Jesus as the “superior” mediator and to His sacrifice on the cross, one could not enter God’s house except by His invitation. Moses had always needed an invitation to come into the presence of God. If you remember the first time Moses went up Mt. Sinai to meet with the Lord, he had to wait six days before God called him up. God is sovereignly in charge of His front door. For Moses to just barge in would have been like a house builder today, retaining a key of a house he built and entering it at will once it was sold to the new owner. Moses would be invited in on God’s terms, based on God’s grace and the blood of a sacrifice. This was why the Book of Leviticus follows the Book of Exodus. In Leviticus, God spelled out the conditions for coming into His presence which was the shed blood of an innocent party willingly taking the place of the guilty party.

Third, is the “guiding” cloud. Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle the Israelites were to set out but if it didn’t lift, they were not to set out. This cloud was intended to contrast with the “barrier” cloud. Moses and the people may have wondered how the tabernacle could be a “tent of meeting” if they felt that God was here and yet not here, in his dwelling but remote. Even though God was to dwell among His people as the one true and living God, as Motyer says, “He was not at their disposal; they were to be at His disposal, not He at theirs.” The Holy Presence of God would be right there with them in the cloud by day and the fire by night. They were to be ready to go when the Lord commanded it and He would guide them to where He wanted them to go. They needed to be obedient, rest, wait and watch, keeping their eyes on Him. Again, Motyer says, “Guidance was not something they ‘looked for’ but something they waited for.” Fourth, is the “faithful” cloud. Verse 38 amplifies verse 34, stressing that the “advent” cloud was also the “faithful” cloud. The cloud and thus the presence of God would permanently be with His people and would be faithful to take them to the Promised Land as He had promised. The cloud would always be visible and so the people would never have to worry or question the presence of God in their midst again.

In conclusion, I want to read this illustration from John Currid. “Admiral Nelson of the British navy was such a fine seaman and leader of men that sailors loved to serve under him. Sir Robert Stopford, who was sailing with Nelson in the West Indies, wrote home to a loved one that “We are half starved and otherwise inconvenienced by so long out of port, but our reward is that we are with Nelson.” So it was with the Israelites who were about to embark into the wilderness, where there were little comfort, little food and little water. Yet, God was with them, and how greatly he would supply all their needs! This is how we ought to look at life as well. We may be persecuted, or half starved, or put upon by various trials, but our reward is God’s presence with us, no matter what our external circumstances. And as we walk this pilgrim way, we are waiting for an even greater glory to be revealed: the glory of Jesus Christ at the end of the ages. The Bible promises that one day Jesus will come again, and that when he does, he will come on “the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.” There will be no need for any tabernacle then, because Jesus will take us into the very presence of God, in all his glory.

This is the message of Exodus, as it is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Once we were in bondage to sin, enslaved by its tyranny. But through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ—our Passover Lamb—God has delivered us from the Egypt of our sin. Now he is leading us through our earthly wilderness, with all its difficulties and dangers. The great God of the exodus will never leave us or forsake us. In the church he has set up a sanctuary where even now we may enter his presence for worship. And one day soon Jesus will come down in glory to take us up into the glory that will never end. Everyone who trusts in him will be saved for the glory of God. Do you trust in Jesus, this morning? Have you been saved for the glory of God? We have been talking all year about URGENCY. We don’t know when God will return and so we need to be ready!!! So, if you are not saved this morning, you can be, and the second next step is for you which is: I will admit that I am a sinner, believe that Jesus died for my sins, was buried and resurrected and confess that Jesus is Lord of my life. When you take this next step, you will be saved for the glory of God. You can then begin to anticipate the day that Jesus will come in His glory and take you into His glory sharing intimate friendship with Him forever (Big Idea).

As Gene and Roxey come to lead us in a final song and the ushers collect the tithes and offerings, let’s pray:

Opening: Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary: Exalting Jesus in Exodus (B & H Publishing Group, 2014), 220

Illustration: John Newton, to Mrs. Wilberforce, Letters of John Newton, Josiah Bull, ed., p. 75

Closing: John Currid as told by Philip Graham Ryken and R. Kent Hughes, Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005), 1133–1153.

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