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Daily Bible - Specific Instructions

Today's reading is found in Exodus 39:34 to 40:38 and Numbers 9:15-23.

So how did the Israelites know if their work was done to God's expectations? God came down in a cloud and filled the tabernacle. Now how's that for an "attaboy?" I would have loved to have seen the artistry in the work. These were a people blessed by God, with specific instructions and who had generations of experience making many of the wonders of the Egyptians. I mentioned last week that if I could travel back in time it would be to this period of time, and this is one reason for this.

God's instructions on the building of this temporary structure were incredibly detailed. These people who were on the move for much of their 40 years of wandering found materials and worked them into a very specific arrangement that would contain the most holy of Israel's items and be incredibly holy in itself, and it had to be just so. These meticulous instructions tell us that His way is the only way to come to God. If you think your way will work just as well, you've already lost. God won't take some half-hearted attempt and any improvisation is futile when it comes to the Way to Him. That's powerful!

The Holy of Holies in the back of the Tabernacle was the place where God physically was when the people stopped on their journeys. This tells us that God is with us at all times. Also, for about 37 of the 40 years the people were wandering along with a heavy punishment for their sins. Only a few of them would ever step foot in the Promised Land because of their lack of faith and their sins never stopped throughout. But God remained with them anyway. Their sins included idolatry, witchcraft, sexual blasphemies, and numerous other deplorable sins and yet God was with them. The next time you feel so alone because you really messed up, think about this. God stayed with these people long after I would have abandoned them, and I'm not even holy!