Feb 2

Exodus 39:2-40:35

"The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord commanded. So Moses blessed them."


I've been watching a show on the Food Network called The Worst Cooks in America. It's a competition show where two professional chefs take teams of horrible, inexperienced cooks and see if they can turn them into talented chefs in 10 days. The contestant that did the best at the end won $25,000 and the privilege of not being known by their family and friends as the worst cook in America! I'd have to say that the most important piece of advice the professionals gave was this: Read the recipes entirely and follow them exactly. The people who did not follow the instructions ended up with food that was not acceptable and were eliminated from the show. The ones who did follow the recipes were rewarded with successful dishes, praise from their teachers, and the chance to win a prize.

God gave Moses and the Israelites a lot of instructions on building the tabernacle. Every detail from the curtains, the table, the alter, the lamp stands, the framework, to the priests' clothing was clearly spelled out by God. It was their job to follow God's instructions exactly in order to enjoy the end result: God's glory filling the finished tabernacle.

"Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle."

God's purpose for giving all those detailed instructions was to create a place where He could be close to His people. It's important to follow God's directions for our lives. Doing what He commands will always bring us closer to Him.