Exodus: The Lord and His PilgrimsНамуна

Yes … no … yes …

Does Moses get a surprise when he finds the way into the tabernacle barred against him (v. 35)? He has been in and out of the great tent in the course of superintending its erection, and has been scrupulous in observing its requirements (vv. 31–32), but now that the divine Resident has taken up occupation there (v. 34), everything is different. The people of the golden calf cannot find a place with the holy Glory. The Lord is certainly ‘at home’ among his people, but his house is not open to callers. 

Thankfully, however, so much remains unchanged (vv. 36–38). As the hymn puts it, ‘Round each habitation hovering, see the cloud and fire appear! For a glory and a covering showing that the Lord is near’ (John Newton, ‘Glorious things of thee are spoken’). The faithful God, just as before, marks his presence, protects his people, oversees their pilgrimage and guides them home, ever present, ever watchful and ever caring. 

But the presence is a holy presence. The cloud which proclaims also hides; the fire which lights is the fire of holy wrath against sin. The tabernacle is complete, but it cannot be open. This is the point at which it is important to read from Exodus into Leviticus. (The first five books of the Bible are continuous: see how Numbers 1:1 follows Leviticus 27:34, and how Deuteronomy 1:1 picks up from Numbers 36:13.) In Leviticus 1:2 the verb ‘brings’ actually means ‘to bring near’, and the word ‘offering’ comes from the same verb. In order to make this wording clearer, we could render the verse as: ‘When anyone brings near a bringing-near to the Lord, you shall bring near your bringing-near …’ Do you see the significance of this? In effect, the Lord is saying to Moses, ‘You can’t come near but I provide for you a bringing-near.’ The Holy One in all his glory is unapproachable (Ex. 40:34–35), but, with the sacrifice he has appointed (for ‘atonement’, Lev. 1:4) his people can approach, and be accepted. 

This is certainly what the tabernacle is all about – it is a provision by which sinners can safely enjoy the presence of God. It is what Exodus is all about: ‘I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself’ (Ex. 19:4). It is indeed what Jesus is all about, who died ‘the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God’ (1 Pet. 3:18).

Reflection

Rejoice that the people of God have ‘washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God …’ (Rev. 7:14–15).