Exodus: The Lord and His PilgrimsНамуна

The undeflected God

We should read through Exodus 37 just to revel in the sheer beauty of the Lord’s tent – gold is everywhere in sight, with beautifully crafted artefacts, and the table and incense altar are bathed in the shimmering light of the seven-branched lampstand. Of course, in the days when the tabernacle stood, only the High Priest entered to trim the lamps and burn the incense (Lev. 16:1–19). Then when, once a year, he went beyond the second veil, to offer his own sin offering, all was shrouded in the incense cloud. Yet when, in his character as representing the ideal Priest, he offered the people’s sin offering, there was no incense cloud and doubtless he saw the golden mercy seat and the cherubim (Lev. 16:13, 15). But Scripture allows us to fill our eyes with the beauty of it all and to marvel at it; this is part of our privilege, so let us read and enjoy it. 

Our memories, however, will be telling us that chapter 37 is identical with chapter 25, so we may begin to wonder why it is necessary to repeat all the same details in this second list. But just pause for a moment. What has happened between the two lists? The great sin of the golden calf! Israel’s continuance before God has been brought into jeopardy (32:10); they have become aware of themselves as a sinful nation; and Moses has entertained doubt if the Lord could continue to be with them (34:9). This is precisely the point – and a most important one. So much has changed, so much has been made uncertain, but the Lord continues, undeterred, on his way. What he plans remains the same; word for word he proceeds to do exactly what he said he was going to do. It is not that the Israelites’ sin does not matter, or that it is not serious, or that he is simply prepared to look the other way. It is much more marvellous. He is God, and his forward planning takes account of their sin and need before him. Indeed, far from needing to revise his plans for the tabernacle, those very plans come into their own as God’s intended way of handling Israel’s sin and admitting them, though sinners, safe into his presence. So the tabernacle details are repeated, word for word, article for article, and duty for duty. We change; he does not change!

Reflection

Ponder the unchanging nature of God (Num. 23:19; Mal. 3:6; 1 Cor. 1:8–9; Heb. 1:10–12; Jas. 1:17).