When the work was completed, the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. The Lord would remain there until it was time for the people to move. The tabernacle foreshadows the gospel, where God delivers and dwells among us. God takes up residents in our new hearts.

God just promised Moses what he asked for, but then Moses made this audacious request: “Please, let me see Your glory.” God gave Moses a gracious manifestation and covering. In response to God’s glory Moses knelt low on the ground and worshipped. Through Christ and in Christ we gaze on the glory of God. As we behold Jesus, we are transformed.

The people of God realized that their greatest need was God. In putting aside their jewelry, they demonstrated contrition and repentance. They said it was time to leave the superficial trappings of this world and long for the supernatural glory of God. We have a need we cannot overlook, a privilege we cannot neglect and an assignment we cannot complete. We need the presence and power of God.

As God’s people rebelled by worshiping a golden calf, God invites Moses to intervene through intercession. Moses intercedes for God’s people, confronts God’s people with the severity of their sin and attempts to substitute himself for God’s people. Yet, God responds in judgment and mercy. The greater reality is that we, who are sinful, need a perfect substitute for our sin and we have one: Jesus.

There can be no believing communities without an unswerving eye to the detection and destruction of idols. In each culture, the gods may look different but the principle is the same: we must avoid the idols of our heart.

The themes of work and rest teach us about the gospel. Here we learn about our great high priest who works on our behalf, the Holy Spirit who work in us to do God’s work, and a holy rest that we need as we rest in Christ.

The high priest embodied the tabernacle and pointed people back to God. From glory to glory, we see the story of God dwelling with His people. Jesus as High Priest stand superior in many ways and because of the superior priestly work, we learn to draw near, hold fast to our confession and find ways to encourage one another.

God dwelt with the people of Israel by way of the tabernacle and its furniture, foreshadowing the presence of God in Christ with His church. The presence of God is the greatest need of all creation. As Christians we must embrace that we are a gift and are gifted to help lead people to the presence of God. We have a responsibility to be led according to the Word of God and are command to live by the Holy Spirit. So that, people may draw near to God.

God dwelt with the people of Israel by way of the tabernacle and its furniture, foreshadowing the presence of God in Christ with His church. We can approach God because He has initiated a relationship with us by His grace. We are only able to approach God by grace through faith in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In confirming of the covenant, God is teaching His people to honor and respect His holiness. One can only draw close to God and be in His presence if we come on His terms in the way He has appointed. This is what Christ has accomplished for us, through the shedding of HIs blood and being the appointed mediator. 

God rescues and redeems us, and we should follow and worship, trust and obey Him. In our battle against sin, we continue to trust in the Lord’s victory as we obey Him by worshipping Him alone and removing any idols in our life, so that we may receive His blessings, the promise of eternal life.

The law is a wonderful gift from the Lord. The law showed people how to live in community with one another, it helped solved disputes, it deterred crime and it protected life. Throughout the law, God reveals the primacy of human life over possession. We as God’s people must be Holy as we make right with those we have wronged, pursue sexual purity, are compassionate and gracious to the powerless.

The law comes from God as it reveals the nature and holy character of God. The law is essentially applying the Ten Words (Commandments) to specific situations. As we look at the law, our focus must be what God reveals about Himself. It teaches us the value of human life and the importance of honoring family.

The Lord formed a people to display His glory. In His law, He is teaching them how to live in community with one another. God not only wanted His people to avoid worshipping others gods, He also wanted them to avoid worshipping like the other nations worshipping the other gods. God gives them four particular differences in their worship.

The Lord delivered His people and established His covenant with them. In His blazing holiness and overwhelming glory He gives His ten words to His people. God pours Himself into these Ten Words, as they reflect the holy character of God.

The judgement on Egypt and deliverance of Israel is a banner for the nations to see that the Lord is God and there is no other. In response, the Amalekites in violence raises their fists towards the throne of the Lord refusing to bow, serve and love. While Jethro in response confesses, worships and breaks bread in the presence of the Lord with the Lord’s people.

As sojourners, who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, who have crossed over to the other side by grace and who are on their way to the promised land, God is teaching His people how to live, trust, love and follow Him. It is in the wilderness where God provides for His people.

After fleeing Egypt and escaping Pharaoh and his army through the Red Sea, the Israelites entered into the Wilderness. Even though they had witnessed God’s power, the people will soon complain against Moses about their new misfortunes in the wilderness. Despite their grumbling, the Lord promises to sustain them so that they would know He was their God.

After the Lord delivered his people as they passed through the Red Sea and destroyed the Egyptians as the Red Sea swallowed them up. God's people were singing because they have been rescued. We learn that praise and worship is the natural response from those who experience God's grace. We sing because of what God has done for us, as we sing about His glory and salvation.

The story of the Red Sea is a story of both judgment and salvation. Bodies of the Egyptian army were washing up on the shore who refused to submit and confess the Lord as God. In contrast, we see the people of God who were delivered to the other side from the waters of judgment by grace through faith. We learn that the Lord saves sinners as we take a closer look from what, how and why.