Exodus 34: YHWH's glory

20/2/21

Feb 21, 2022

Scripture

Exodus 40

Questions

What is the primary function of the tabernacle [40:1-4]? What is the significance of the table [25:23-30] and the lampstand [25:31–40]? How does Jesus identify himself with these symbols?
The tabernacle and the priests were repeatedly anointed with oil [40:9-15]. What does anointing mean here [Leviticus 4:3 may help]? An anointed person in Hebrew is מָשִׁיחַ, mā·šîaḥ, and in Greek χριστός, christos. Plot clue!?
The cloud had guided Israel in the wilderness [13:21-22; 14:19-20, 24; 16:10] and appeared at their arrival at Sinai [19:9, 16; 24:15–18] and at “the tent” outside the camp [33:9–10; 34:5]. The cloud was a visible manifestation of the presence of YHWH and “filled the tabernacle” and mirrors the heavenly temple [Revelation 15:5-8]. Heaven has returned. Heaven meets earth. Eden. After the golden calf rebellion, YHWH had said that neither he nor THE angel of YHWH would go up with the people to Canaan [33:3]. Why did YHWH change his mind [33:4-6][1]? This assures Moses and others of the fear that YHWH would finally abandon them.
Moses was unable to enter the tabernacle [40:35]. The same thing happened at the inauguration of Solomon’s temple. The cloud descended and no one could enter [1 Kings 8:10–11]. Why?
Why do you think there no cloud of fire at the inauguration of the second temple [Ezra 6:13-18]? Is there a better temple coming [Matthew 27:45,51; Hebrews 9:11-12]?
How would the Israelites know when to break camp and set out or stop? How long would they wander in the wilderness [Numbers 32:13]?
What are some of things you have learnt from this journey through Exodus? What do you need to remember and apply, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to your life?

[1] The bible does say that God repents [or changes his mind] due to his loving kindness and mercy [Genesis 6:6-7; 1 Samuel 15:11; Exodus 32:12-14; 2 Samuel 24:16; 1 Chronicles 21:15; Psalm 106:45; Jeremiah 4:28; 18:8; 26:3, 13, 19; 42:10; Joel 2:13-14; Amos 7:3, 6; Jonah 3:9-10; 4:2] but NOT in the sense of being unreliable/unfaithful [Ezekiel 24:14; Jeremiah 4:27-28; Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:11,29,35]. See the article John Piper, ‘The Repentance of God’, Desiring God (blog), 30 March 1987, desiringgod.org/articles/the-repentance-of-god.

LCC What is God like series [Exodus 34:6-7]