Imagine! Everything is completed for the Tabernacle. Just as the Lord commands, Moses does. The people are there watching with great expectation. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out – until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels. Exodus 40:34-38.

Can you imagine what that was like? God interacts in so many various ways with us and with the people then, our ancestors…the wonderful Presence of God was with them in visible form that must have been such a comfort and strength. I wonder if surrounding nations saw that from afar? What would they have thought?

All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. John 6:37.

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment – to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. Ephesians 1:7-10.

When you take God’s hand you begin to want to learn more because what you know never seems enough and you long to understand better this great love God has for us. Every Scripture I shared I read this morning. A feast of understanding more. The beauty is that each time I read Scripture, I glean more understanding in different ways because God is not static. He interacts with us throughout our history in so many varying ways. He isn’t confined to a Book no matter how wonderful the truths are within. I hear the rain falling outside this morning and it’s such a blessing and I know that it is God who provides that rain…the sound, the sight, the effect. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. Isaiah 61:11.

This final Chapter in Exodus finds us waiting expectantly with the people watching as Moses puts together everything that was so beautifully made by skilled craftsmen as God directed…and they experience God’s Presence profoundly as He fills the tabernacle. Can you imagine? What about us today?

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5.

The Lord fills! His love poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit fills us with hope and confidence in Him. He died for us. He lives for us. He created us. He never, ever leaves us. Take His hand and begin a walk with Him as he shows you Him. There is so much to learn and every bit filled with hope and His love.