The vision God gave Moses was to focus on spiritual intimacy as a good soldier while making no provision for the flesh or being entangled in the affairs of everyday life (Ex. 39; 2 Tim. 2:3-4). Two additional images Paul gave Timothy was a disciplined athlete and hard-working farmer that Moses implemented in setting up and operating the tabernacle as a testimony of God’s glory (2 Tim. 2:5-6; Ex. 40).
The Lord told Moses to set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting and place the ark of the testimony, veil around the ark, table, lampstand along with the lamps, gold altar of incense before the ark, and veil for the doorway to the tabernacle. Set up the altar of burnt offering in front of the doorway and laver with water between the tent of meeting and altar. Anoint the tabernacle, altar of burnt offering and laver with oil so they can be holy. Wash Aaron and his sons with water before putting on holy garments so they can minister as priests to God throughout their generations (Ex. 40:1-16). Play according to God’s rules in ministering as His priests (athlete).
Moses erected the tabernacle, laid its sockets, set up its boards, inserted its bars and erected its pillars. He placed the testimony into the ark and put the mercy seat on top of it. He brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up a veil for the screen. He put the table in the tent of meeting on the north side outside the veil with an arrangement of bread. He placed the lampstand opposite the table on the south side. He lighted the lamps before the Lord. He placed the gold altar in front of the veil and burned fragrant incense on it. He set the altar of burnt offering before the doorway of the tabernacle and offered the burnt and meal offerings. He placed the laver with water between the tent of meeting and altar so Moses, Aaron and his sons could wash their hands and feet. He erected the court around the tabernacle and altar and hung up the veil for the gateway of the court (Ex. 40:17-33). Confess sin, surrender & pray to God, and meditating on His word while trusting in Christ’s shed blood (farmer).
The cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle so Moses could not enter. Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, Israel would set out and stay when it remained. The cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day and fire in it by night in the sight of Israel (Ex. 40:34-38). Be strong in God’s grace to show His glory to the world.
Use spiritual weapons of confessing sin, surrender, prayer, meditating on His word and trusting in Christ’s blood to show His glory to the world.
