According to God’s Design

"According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they have done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them." (Exodus 39:42-43)

God had commanded Moses to build a Tabernacle for Him to dwell in. He gave Moses specific directions to follow, details that likely seemed overwhelming, but Moses understood that when God speaks it's time to listen. The Lord does nothing without purpose, says nothing without reason, and reveals nothing without a plan. He never utters an empty word and we can be assured that there is a reason for everything.

Moses understood the importance of obedience. He was a man sold out to the will of God. He was completely and fully obedient to the instructions and revelation of the Tabernacle, fulfilling God's instruction to the letter. In fact, we can find a progression in Moses' actions . . . we can learn something very important:

1.    Moses did "as the Lord commanded". If you carefully read through Exodus 39 and 40, you'll find at least seventeen times we're told that Moses did "as the Lord commanded Moses".

2.    Moses finished the work. Moses didn't start and then quit, he didn't have his own timetable or agenda. He finished what God instructed Him to do, in God's timetable, according to God's specific instructions.

3.    The "Cloud of Glory filled the Tabernacle" (Exodus 40:34-38). The reward was God's presence.

God can only fully bless and be glorified in that which is done according to His Word and divine pattern. Moses carefully followed the Word of the Lord. How careful are we? We expect the same results, but we want it our own way. We expect God's blessings, we expect to glorify God, but we take shortcuts, or at the very least, do things our own way.

If all of these three qualities were so necessary in building of a temporary dwelling place of God, how much more are they requirements in the building of the dwelling place of God, a sanctuary not made by hands? In other words, if God blessed Moses and His glory was seen in that which Moses built according to God's design, how much more will God's blessings be with us and His glory seen in us if we build our "sanctuary" according to God's design – the Word of God.

Let the Lord of Glory dwell in you richly. Let your life be built on the Solid Rock as you prepare for Him a dwelling place fit for the presence of the King by closely following the pattern given to us in the Word of God.

Father, may my heart be fashioned and formed after Your will, a suitable dwelling place for Your holy presence. Teach me to hunger and thirst after the righteousness of Christ Jesus, the Spotless Lamb offered once for all. Take my heart, Lord, and form it into a Tabernacle pleasing to You. Take my will, Lord, and conform it to Your will and purify me. Take my mind, precious Lord, and renew it and wash it in the Water of the Word. Make me a sanctuary for You, my Lord, that Your glory will be seen and all will know that You are Lord. In the precious name of Jesus, the Brightness of Your Glory . . . amen and amen.

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

© Jan Ross
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