God has given the people the Law. This describes the obedience he expects from them, and shows them how they are expected to behave towards each other.

Now, Moses goes before the Lord again, to receive instructions about worship. The Israelites need to understand how God expects them to relate to him as their sovereign Lord.

For the first time since sin entered the world, God is coming to dwell among his people. There are two words used here for the dwelling place of God. The first is ‘sanctuary’ (25:8), which is a sacred place or a holy place. The second is ‘tabernacle’ (25:9), which simply means a dwelling place, or a home.

These words remind us that the Lord is holy, utterly holy. He is exalted, different from his people. Any place where the Lord is present is a holy place, set apart. Yet at the same time, the Lord is with his people. He chooses to make his home with them.

The more we understand about the holiness of the Lord, the more we stand amazed that our sovereign, mighty, Lord of Lords chooses to make a home for himself among the people he created. More than that, his desire for relationship with his people is so deep that he patiently gives them every detail of every instruction they need to do their part to make it possible.

God still longs to make a home with his people. We stand on the other side of the death and resurrection of Jesus and see the strength and depth of God’s commitment to us. Let us gladly make for him a sanctuary and a dwelling place in our own lives.

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NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH