The tabernacle is finished and filled with God’s glory

40:1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses: 40:2 “On the first day of the first month you are to set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. 40:3 you are to place the ark of the testimony in it and shield the ark with the special curtain. 40:4 you are to bring in the table and set out the things that belong on it; then you are to bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. 40:5 you are to put the gold altar for incense in front of the ark of the testimony and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. 40:6 you are to put the altar for the burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. 40:7 you are to put the large basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it. 40:8 you are to set up the courtyard around it and put the curtain at the gate of the courtyard. 40:9 And take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and sanctify it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy. 40:10 Then you are to anoint the altar for the burnt offering with all its utensils; you are to sanctify the altar, and it will be the most holy altar. 40:11 You must also anoint the large basin and its pedestal, and you are to sanctify it. 40:12 “You are to bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water. 40:13 Then you are to clothe Aaron with the holy garments and anoint him and sanctify him so that he may minister as my priest. 40:14 You are to bring his sons and clothe them with tunics 40:15 and anoint them just as you anointed their father, so that they may minister as my priests; their anointing will make them a priesthood that will continue throughout their generations.” 40:16 This is what Moses did, according to all the Lord had commanded him – so he did. 40:17 So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month, in the second year. 40:18 When Moses set up the tabernacle and put its bases in place, he set up its frames, attached its bars, and set up its posts. 40:19 Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 40:20 he took the testimony and put it in the ark, attached the poles to the ark, and then put the atonement lid on the ark. 40:21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, hung the protecting curtain, and shielded the ark of the testimony from view, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 40:22 And he put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the curtain. 40:23 And he set the bread in order on it before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 40:24 And he put the lampstand in the tent of meeting opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle. 40:25 Then he set up the lamps before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 40:26 And he put the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the curtain, 40:27 and he burned fragrant incense on it, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 40:28 Then he put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. 40:29 He also put the altar for the burnt offering by the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the meal offering, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 40:30 Then he put the large basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing. 40:31 Moses and Aaron and his sons would wash their hands and their feet from it. 40:32 Whenever they entered the tent of meeting, and whenever they approached the altar, they would wash, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 40:33 And he set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar, and put the curtain at the gate of the courtyard. So Moses finished the work. 40:34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 40:35 Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 40:36 But when the cloud was lifted up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on all their journeys; 40:37 but if the cloud was not lifted up, then they would not journey further until the day it was lifted up. 40:38 For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, but fire would be on it at night, in plain view of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Moses sets up the tabernacle exactly as the LORD commanded, and the cloud of the LORD fills it with glory. God shows that he is truly dwelling among his people, yet his holiness remains awesome and weighty. Israel’s journeys are then guided by the movement of the cloud.

This chapter ends Exodus with careful obedience and a powerful sign of God’s presence. Moses does everything the LORD commands in setting up the tabernacle and preparing the priests and holy items. The repeated phrase about doing things as the LORD commanded shows that true worship must follow God’s word, not human invention.

When the work is finished, the cloud covers the tent of meeting and the glory of the LORD fills the tabernacle. This means God has come to dwell among his people. At the same time, his holiness is so great that even Moses cannot enter while the glory fills the tent. God is near, but he remains holy and must be approached with reverence.

The last verses show how Israel is to live in the wilderness. They do not decide their own route. They travel when the cloud rises and stay when it remains. God’s presence directs the life of his people.

• God told Moses how to set up the tabernacle, and Moses obeyed exactly.
• The tabernacle and its furnishings were made holy for God’s use.
• Aaron and his sons were washed, clothed, and anointed for priestly service.
• Worship and service were to be done exactly as the LORD commanded.
• The cloud and glory show that God came to dwell among Israel.
• Moses could not enter while the glory filled the tabernacle, showing God's holiness.
• Israel's travel in the wilderness was guided by the movement of God's cloud.

• Obey the LORD's commands in worship and service.
• Do not treat holy things casually.
• Approach God with reverence and the cleansing he provides.
• Wait for God's direction instead of forcing your own way.

Exodus ends with the covenant God dwelling among the redeemed people he brought out of Egypt. The tabernacle is the place of his appointed presence in the midst of Israel. The cloud and glory also point forward within the Bible’s story to God dwelling with his people, while keeping the original Mosaic setting clear.

God still calls his people to reverence, obedience, and trust. We should not shape worship according to our own taste, but according to what God has revealed. We should also remember that God's presence is a gift that brings comfort and awe. In all our steps, we should seek his direction rather than presuming control.

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