I know I’ve perhaps spent too long preparing for this Leviticus Series. With weeks of foundational study in both Genesis and Exodus.

But I (really) never realized how the Pentateuch is arranged so beautifully! Genesis (man going away from God, beginning with the “Fall”). Then Exodus (man being called back toward God, ending with the “Tabernacle,” God’s Home on earth). Followed by … Leviticus (man now, via bloodshed, capable of constant fellowship with God)!

But back to Exodus this morning … I’d like to show you something else about the “Presence” of God and the very “Heart” of God.

Read this please: “And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which SOUGHT THE LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle. And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the CLOUDY PILLAR (SHEKINAH GLORY) descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. And all the people saw the CLOUDY PILLAR stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and WORSHIPPED, every man in his tent door. 11 And the LORD spake unto Moses FACE TO FACE, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.” Exodus 33:7-11

God “dwelling/communing/fellowshipping/talking” with man!

The “PRESENCE” of God, among His people.

This is God’s very “Goal” for humankind!

Then one more corollary thought today …

When Moses descended the Mount that second time… “And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that THE SKIN OF HIS FACE SHONE while he talked with him.” Exodus 34:29

Then a typically human reaction … “And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were AFRAID to come nigh him.” Exodus 34:30

So in verse 33, Moses is veiled! “And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a VAIL on his face.”

There’s parallelism here!

Moses spends 40 more days on the Mount (where God lives) … and the radiant, divine Glory of God gets all over Moses! His very face shining!

It seems … God’s Glory/Presence now upon Moses, within Moses!

Quickly … add a “veil!”

Now … we have a symbol of the Tabernacle itself, just prior to its actual building! With God inside (the Holy of Holies) and a “veil” hung to keep man away, to save his life. (Only blood atonement and only by a qualified priest could avail, could equip any man to so enter!)

Moses, God-inhabited!

Yet Moses veiled, as was the Tabernacle.

And Aaron and the people fearful of approaching Moses!

Next … we find that Glory abiding on/over the (newly constructed) Tabernacle itself! (Exodus 33:7-11 above, for example.)

Now, look what has just happened … GOD’S VERY GLORY HAS BEEN MEDIATED (MOVED) FROM THE HOLY MOUNT (SINAI) TO THE TABERNACLE OF MEETING … VIA MOSES THE INTERCESSOR!

And God’s Presence has now in our lives been mediated, moved, INTERNALIZED into our very bodies … via the Intercessory/Cross of Calvary Ministry of our Saviour (Jesus Christ), a greater Intercessor than Moses could have ever been!

Yes, God the Holy Spirit now lives in each of us believers … because of Jesus’ Finished Word on Golgotha’s Hill, on the Cross.

Wow!

THE PRESENCE OF GOD … lost in Genesis, regained in Exodus … but maintained (personalized) and elongated in Leviticus!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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