Today I finished the book of Exodus! It was repetitive in discussing the priestly garments (from Day 27, Chapter 28) and erecting the tabernacle.
Day 27, Chapter 28
https://liveandlearnjourney.com/day-27-exodus-28-29/
This book ended with the overall theme being that Moses did all that the Lord commanded him; and his obedience to God’s command is key in the final chapter.
It was the people who provided all the resources and made all the components, but it was the Lord’s servant Moses who was authorized to erect the tabernacle and prepare it for the Lord’s entry.
The Lord spoke to Moses saying, “On the first day of the first month you shall erect the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.” So Moses did what the Lord had commanded him to do:
- Put in the ark of the testimony and screen the ark with the veil.
- Bring in the table and arrange it.
- Bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps.
- Put the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony.
- Set up the screen for the door of the tabernacle.
- Set the altar of burnt offering before the door.
- Place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it.
- Set up the court all around, and hang up the screen for the gate of the court.
- Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it.
- Consecrate it and all its furniture, so it may become holy.
- Anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the altar, so it may become holy.
- Anoint the basin and its stand, and consecrate it.
- Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water.
- Put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may serve the Lord as priest.
- Bring his sons and put coats on them, and anoint them so they may serve as priests. Their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations.
“This Moses did; according to all that the Lord had commanded him, so he did.” Then the glory of the Lord covered the tent with a cloud and filled the tabernacle.
Whenever the people would see the cloud taken up, they would know to pack up and move. They would see the cloud by day and fire by night. Throughout all of their journeys the Lord was with them.
“With the glory of the Lord entering the tabernacle, the great series of events that began with the birth of Moses and his rescue from the Nile, foreshadowing the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, comes to a grand climax. From now on, the Israelites marched through the desert, and through history, with the Lord tenting among them and leading them to the land of fulfilled promises.”
-NIV Study Bible 40:34
What does the cloud mean?
My understanding was that the cloud was the glory of God. As in the cloud represented/was God. So whenever the cloud moved the people were to follow it. Whenever I have trouble understanding I reread it multiple times until I can somewhat grasp its meaning. Can also always google it for a better understanding or to sometimes see pictures. Pictures help me visualize it in order to understand it better.