Moses Carefully Carried Out God’s Commands

Topic: Timing
Passage: Exodus 40:17–33

May 27, 2022

Commentary

This must have been what it was like for Moses and the Israelites. The book of Exodus has given a list of the various components for the tabernacle and the assembly instructions are given. Picture one of the Israelites finishing one of the component parts and bringing it to Moses at the “tent warehouse” where all the tabernacle parts are being kept. The more pieces that are completed, the greater the anticipation of the first time all of them will be put together. The excitement of seeing the tabernacle “come together” must have been great, but waiting for the exact timing of this to happen must have been even harder.

This paragraph tells how Moses carried out all of the detailed instructions the Lord gave him: 

  1. The precise timing was indicated (v. 17). There was a particular day determined by God for this momentous occasion to occur. It was to be the first day of the first month of the second year. This was almost one year after the Israelites had left Egypt.
  2. Obedience with regard to the carrying out of God’s instructions (vv. 18-33). We are told seven times in this passage that Moses did exactly as God commanded him (vv. 19, 21, 23, 25-26, 29, 32). Finally, Moses had the curtain hung around the courtyard (v. 33),
  3. A priestly role. Moses seems to have had a priestly role, which continued until Aaron and his sons were anointed and installed into the official priesthood of Israel (vv. 27, 29, 31).

Application

The physical assembly of the tabernacle required a long list of tasks and each was important to God. There are many seemingly unimportant tasks that need to be done to keep God’s work progressing. I just need to be willing to do whatever God has for me to do, whenever He wants me to do it.

Exodus 40:17– 33 (NET)

17 So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month, in the second year. 18 When Moses set up the tabernacle and put its bases in place, he set up its frames, attached its bars, and set up its posts. 19 Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, as the Lord had commanded him. 20 He took the testimony and put it in the ark, attached the poles to the ark, and then put the atonement lid on the ark. 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, hung the protecting curtain, and shielded the ark of the testimony from view, just as the Lord had commanded him.

22 And Moses put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the curtain. 23 And he set the bread in order on it before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded him.

24 And he put the lampstand in the tent of meeting opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle. 25 Then he set up the lamps before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded him.

26 And he put the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the curtain, 27 and he burned fragrant incense on it, just as the Lord had commanded him.

28 Then Moses put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle. 29 He also put the altar for the burnt offering by the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the meal offering, just as the Lord had commanded him.

30 Then he put the large basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing. 31 Moses and Aaron and his sons would wash their hands and their feet from it. 32 Whenever they entered the tent of meeting, and whenever they approached the altar, they would wash, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

33 And he set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar, and put the curtain at the gate of the courtyard. So Moses finished the work.