Blue, purple, and scarlet yarn! Gold bells and pomegranates! Fine spices! The tabernacle, its furnishings, and the priestly garments must have been glorious! As the tabernacle was the very place on earth where God would meet with his people, it needed to be sacred, set apart. The colors, the craftsmanship, the quality of stone and wood and gold, all reflected the majesty and glory of God.

In Exodus, God gives Moses clear, detailed instructions. He describes with precision the ark, the table, the lampstand. He includes minute measurements for each piece of the tabernacle. He explains how to make the priestly garments. Passage after passage recounts detail upon detail. God gave Moses all the information he needed to build the tabernacle and its furnishings exactly the way He wanted them built. 

What an invitation! Would Moses follow through in obeying these God-given instructions? Or would he second-guess them? Would the people of Israel cooperate? 

Five chapters, Exodus 36-40, tell us.Again, passage after passage recounts detail upon detail. And like a quiet, refrain, we read, “… as the Lord commanded.” 

They made the priestly garments, “as the Lord commanded.” Exodus 39:1

They made the ephod, “as the Lord commanded.” Exodus 39:7

Moses put the covering over the tent, “as the Lord commanded.” Exodus 40:19

What joy this must have brought to God! Moses and the people of Israel obeyed. They didn’t second-guess Him. As they grew in their understanding of who God is and what it means to be His people, they were able to joyfully obey Him. And so can we! Jesus invites us to confess our sins and accept His forgiveness. Jesus invites us to participate in His work around the world. Jesus invites us to joyfully obey! What an invitation!

“Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:34