Exodus 40:34-35 Not Yet!

Exodus 40:34-35 ³⁴ Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. ³⁵ Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

My kids and grand kids have nightlights in their rooms. Your kids probably did as well. They can be a helpful thing in the middle of the night as you navigate to quiet and comfort following a nightmare. Many a toe has been saved because of them!

I even have nightlights in my home now. And the light switches with the lights built right into the switch, perfect! No more fumbling around in the dark trying to find the switch. And it throws just enough light, alone with the microwave, oven, refrigerator, and table side clocks and various other illuminated gadgets, to navigate in the night. They become the modern lighthouses for our 2 AM bathroom runs!

We are a year into the journey out of Egypt with the Israelites. It has already taken too long. It should have only taken them a couple of months, but their obedience has caused a long delay in their journey. And along the way, they have been instructed in how to build the LORD’s temporary lodgings, the Tabernacle, and they have built it, correctly!

And our text announces that just as they have finished setting up the Tent, the LORD begins to inhabit it. And the LORD’s presence continues with the Israelites as they journey. They can see the cloud and fire as a visible sign that the LORD has not abandoned them, even though they have abandoned the LORD through their disobedience.

We know this to be true because of our text. The glory of the LORD fills the tabernacle. His presence is there. But one thing is missing: humanity. People, or more particularly, Moses, the appointed leader, isn’t not allowed in. He can’t enter.

The LORD”s presence excludes everything and everyone that isn’t pure. Moses has shown that even he is flawed. He has walked up and down the mountain into the LORD’s presence multiple times. He has seen the LORD’s back, having been protected by the LORD’s hand.

But Moses can’t enter the tent of meeting. The LORD has no one to meet with because those who would meet with Him have all failed the entrance exam. None of their credit cards were accepted. The LORD rejected all their efforts. They must stay outside.

This act of staying outside parallels the rejection from the Garden following the Fall. The LORD closed access to humanity and guarded the entrance with heavenly beings. Access to the Tree of Life was closed for the season.

But now the tent of meeting is established, but the meeting can’t take place. There are no qualified candidates for entrance. Even Moses has lost his ticket. The LORD can only meet with Himself. Humanity is still on the outside.

The tent has been dedicated and consecrated. It has been completed according to the specified design. The LORD has accepted the execution of the design and has begun dwelling among His people. But the people don’t have a way to validate their entrance ticket.

And this is where the book of Exodus ends. The LORD present, but the people unable to enter. How will this be solved? The book of Leviticus shows the way forward. It tells us the way the LORD showed the people how to be temporarily reconciled in the hope that one day the Serpent’s head would be crushed and the Promised One would once and for all bridge the gap between sinful humanity and the Holy God.