The consuming fire on the mountain now says, “I will make my ‘mishkan’ with you.” The Hebrew word means, “abode.”
“And they shall make me a Tabernacle that I may abide in their midst.” (Exodus 25:8, Alter)
About now in your reading you’ll begin to wonder why so much repetition and description of how to build the tabernacle. How else were they to know how to build it? This is how ancient people described building things. The placement, right in the middle of the cool scene on the mountain, may also serve to remind Israel and its priests that God does not just make mountaintop promises but gives very specific plans about how to dwell with God.
God doesn’t stay on the mountain, doesn’t stay only with Moses, doesn’t stay far away but comes close to Israel by His Holy Presence entering the “abode” or Tabernacle.
PRAYER
YAHWEH, glory to you who rides on the clouds in glory on Mount Sinai, but you are also graciously present, coming close to Israel in the Tabernacle.
Greg Taylor
Greg Taylor preaches for The Journey. Greg’s wife, Jill, teaches math at Broken Arrow High School and Tulsa Community College. Greg and Jill have three adult children, Ashley, Anna, and Jacob. Greg is the author of many books, including his latest co-authored with Randy Harris, Daring Faith: Meeting Jesus in the Book of John.
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