Today’s reading

Exodus 39-40; Matthew 24:1-22

Selected Verses

And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it. Then Moses blessed them. Exodus 39:43

But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Matthew 24:2

Reflections

The workers under Moses’ leadership followed the God-given instructions for the details of the tabernacle and the furnishings. Moses reviewed their work and saw that it was done correctly.

Many paragraphs in this part of Exodus explain the exact design of the tabernacle and its furnishings. Then we get a description of what was actually done to show that those in charge of the work did everything according to specification. They carried it out and God’s presence filled the tabernacle as a great cloud. God was pleased. He accepted the work they had done.

But then we fast forward to the time of Jesus and the second temple. It is well to note that the first temple was built by Solomon to replace the tabernacle. That temple was destroyed in the Babylonian conquest. Jesus predicted the destruction of the second temple. Roman armies under Titus carried this out in 70 AD. The construction of the tabernacle and the temples had been done according to God’s plan but they were never intended to be permanent.

Jesus, as we will see in John’s gospel, referred to Himself as the temple, a temple that would be torn down at His crucifixion, but raised again on the third day, never to be destroyed again. (John 2:13-22).

Think about it

Praise God for giving us His Son, in Whom we have a permanent place of spiritual safety and wholeness. By His mercy and mediation, we come not to an earthly temple that can be invaded and destroyed, but a heavenly one which will never end (Hebrews 9:24-28).

© 2017 John A Carroll Used by permission