New Beginnings: The Tabernacle and Our Transformation

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing New Beginnings in God

The construction of the tabernacle in Exodus 40 is a powerful symbol of new creation, highlighting God's nature as a giver of new beginnings. This mirrors the transformation that occurs when we turn to Christ, becoming new creations in Him. Our journey with God is marked by continual renewal and restoration. The timing of the tabernacle's erection, on the first day of the first month, symbolizes a new year and a new beginning, reminiscent of the Passover when God reset Israel's calendar. This new beginning is a microcosm of the transformation that occurs when a sinner turns to Christ, becoming a new creation. This new life is not just a one-time event but an ongoing process of sanctification, leading to eventual glorification. [01:09]

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel stuck in the past? How can you invite God to bring about a new beginning in that area today?

Day 2: The Power of Obedience in Faith

Moses' faithful execution of God's commands in building the tabernacle underscores the importance of obedience in our walk with God. Just as Moses was a foreshadow of Christ, our obedience reflects our faith and trust in God's plan, leading to spiritual growth and fulfillment. Obedience is not merely about following rules but about aligning our hearts with God's will, trusting that His ways are higher than ours. Through obedience, we participate in God's redemptive work and experience His blessings in our lives. [02:42]

1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV): "And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'"

Reflection: In what specific area of your life is God calling you to greater obedience? What steps can you take today to align your actions with His will?

Day 3: Recognizing God's Perfect Timing

The tabernacle's erection on the first day of the first month signifies a new beginning, paralleling the Passover's reset of Israel's calendar. This teaches us that God's timing is perfect, and He often uses significant moments to initiate new phases in our spiritual journey. Recognizing God's timing requires patience and trust, knowing that He orchestrates events in our lives for our good and His glory. As we learn to wait on Him, we become more attuned to His voice and His leading. [05:24]

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV): "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you struggled with waiting on God's timing. How can you cultivate patience and trust in His perfect timing in your current circumstances?

Day 4: The Journey of Sanctification

The seven-day consecration of the tabernacle and its priests reflects the ongoing process of sanctification in our lives. Just as God took pleasure in His creation, He delights in our growth and transformation as we are conformed to the image of Christ. Sanctification is a lifelong journey where we are continually being made holy through the work of the Holy Spirit. It involves daily surrender and cooperation with God's transformative work in our hearts and minds. [09:24]

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you sense God is calling you to grow in holiness? How can you actively participate in His sanctifying work today?

Day 5: Living in the Presence of God

The cloud of God's glory filling the tabernacle signifies His presence among His people. As believers, we are now the temple of God, and His Spirit dwells within us, guiding and leading us in our journey of faith. This presence assures us of His continual work in our lives, leading us toward our eternal rest. Living in the presence of God means being aware of His nearness and allowing His Spirit to guide our thoughts, actions, and decisions. It is a daily invitation to commune with Him and experience His peace and joy. [14:37]

1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV): "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?"

Reflection: How can you cultivate a greater awareness of God's presence in your daily life? What practices can help you stay attuned to His Spirit's guidance throughout the day?

Sermon Summary

The book of Exodus offers a grand narrative that begins in Egypt, traverses the wilderness, and culminates at Mount Sinai. It is a story of prayers, persecution, liberation, and the law, all pointing to the work of Christ and the Gospel. As we reach the end of the tabernacle narrative in Exodus 40, we encounter a new beginning. This moment marks not just the start of Israel's journey to the Promised Land but a profound testimony of God as a deity of new life and beginnings for sinners. The construction and consecration of the tabernacle signify a new creation, echoing the creation narrative where God's commands are fulfilled through His faithful servant, Moses, who foreshadows Christ.

The timing of the tabernacle's erection, on the first day of the first month, symbolizes a new year and a new beginning, reminiscent of the Passover when God reset Israel's calendar. This new beginning is a microcosm of the transformation that occurs when a sinner turns to Christ, becoming a new creation. This new life is not just a one-time event but an ongoing process of sanctification, leading to eventual glorification.

The consecration of the tabernacle and its priests over seven days mirrors the creation week, emphasizing the theme of new creation. This pattern is seen again in the construction of the temple, taking seven years, and its dedication over seven days. The cloud of God's glory filling the tabernacle on the seventh day signifies God's pleasure and rest in His creation, pointing us to our future rest in His presence.

The tabernacle serves as a glimpse of Eden and a preview of heaven, with its design and materials reflecting heavenly realities. It foreshadows the incarnation of Christ, who tabernacled among us, and through whom we have access to God. As believers, we are now the temple of God, called to live in holiness and anticipation of our eternal rest with Him.

Key Takeaways

1. day consecration of the tabernacle and its priests reflects the ongoing process of sanctification in our lives. Just as God took pleasure in His creation, He delights in our growth and transformation as we are conformed to the image of Christ. [09:24]
5. The Presence of God: The cloud of God's glory filling the tabernacle signifies His presence among His people. As believers, we are now the temple of God, and His Spirit dwells within us, guiding and leading us in our journey of faith. This presence assures us of His continual work in our lives, leading us toward our eternal rest.

** [09:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:35] - The Grand Narrative of Exodus
[01:09] - A New Beginning in Exodus 40
[02:16] - The Commands and Obedience of Moses
[03:49] - Moses as a Foreshadow of Christ
[04:58] - The Significance of the Calendar
[06:25] - God of New Beginnings
[07:39] - Transformation and New Life in Christ
[08:48] - Consecration and Creation Parallel
[10:38] - The Seven-Day Consecration
[12:14] - Looking Forward to Eternal Rest
[13:52] - The Glimpse of Eden and Heaven
[14:37] - The Cloud of God's Glory
[16:08] - The Spirit's Role in New Creation
[18:27] - The Incarnation and Tabernacle
[19:54] - The Tabernacle as a Picture of Heaven

Sermon Clips

The event of the construction of the tabernacle and its consecration in Exodus chapter 40 is nothing less than a new beginning, a new creation, a powerful testimony that the God of Scripture is a God of new life and a God of new beginnings for sinners. Don’t we all like, and don't we all love new beginnings? [00:01:16]

The reason why the Scripture does this is because Moses is the servant of the Lord. As Hebrews tells us later on in chapter 3, he was faithful in all of God's house. The reason why he gets all the credit is because he is a foreshadow of Christ. It’s not just that he did it taking credit, but he points us to a greater reality. [00:04:02]

God commands the tabernacle to be set up in the first day in the first month, verse 2 tells us. And we read in verse 17, “In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected.” What does that mean? It’s New Year’s! That’s what it is – it’s New Year’s. It’s a new beginning. It's a new creation. [00:05:05]

God reveals Himself over and over again in the Scriptures as a God of new beginning, of new life, of renewal, of restoration. And all these terms are used – we have ‘restoration’ being used in the Scriptures. “He restores my soul,” the psalmist says. ‘Revival’ – the Lord has called out upon to revive what he's started and to revive what he’s begun. [00:06:21]

Paul describes in 2 Corinthians chapter 3 not only the Christian is once and for all renewed, but he goes on to say and we all are being transformed into the image of Christ from one degree of glory to another. God gives us new life at the beginning of our salvation – we are born again. [00:08:01]

The ordination, the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests took a period of seven days. Think about that, seven days. Think about where that’s going. Seven days. They were [to be washed, put the robe on, be anointed and then there were four separate sacrifices that were offered and that happened every day for seven consecutive days. [00:09:45]

This theme of seven, creation, comes up again and again and again – a new creation, a new beginning, a new start. And in fact, the implicit reality of what's being said here about the seven-day consecration is that at the end of the story in Exodus chapter 40 when the cloud of God’s glory falls down upon the tabernacle and fills the holy of holies, that happens on the seventh day. [00:11:20]

The cloud that comes down, falls down, fills this holy place. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” What do we read next? Genesis 1, verse 2. “And the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the deep.” The Spirit of God hovered! [00:14:32]

The Spirit of God is described elsewhere as a cloud. He’s the one who hovers over Israel, the prophets described. That cloud now of glory, the glory of God is now hovering, it’s now falling down upon earth once again as in the beginning, as in creation, so now in this new creation. So you see in verse 34 that this tent is filled with the glory of the Lord. [00:15:02]

It’s a picture to us that as believers in Jesus Christ who have been born again that we are temples of the living God individually and corporally as the church of Jesus Christ. The Lord walks amongst us. He’s in our midst. The Spirit of God guided the Israelites in their wilderness as the pillar of cloud. Who now leads us? [00:16:40]

The Word became flesh and tabernacled, dwelt amongst us (John 1:14). And the amazing thing about that chapter, in John chapter 1 is that before he says that, he speaks about the Son, the eternal Word of God who made all things in the beginning. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God. [00:18:21]

This tabernacle, as we have seen, was a picture of Jesus Christ, but it's also a picture to us of heaven. It's not just a picture that heaven would come down to earth in Jesus but it’s a picture to us that through Jesus Christ, He who came down from heaven to earth, takes us from earth back to heaven. [00:20:18]

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