This final chapter of Exodus, chapter 40, actually puts into use all the hard work that has been happening as “The Dwelling” and the components for it have been completed. I love how the chapter starts: “God spoke to Moses”. They have been working for some time to complete this assignment and they are still on speaking terms. Sometimes when I work with my bride on projects we get to the point where we would just as soon not talk to each other. But not the case here. God continues to give direction to Moses, now on how to put all this together and prepare Aaron and his boys to serve as priests and actually use it the way God intended. Been a while coming, yet one key phrase jumps out: “Moses did everything God commanded. He did it all”. We have seen this over and over about Moses. He obeyed, and he obeyed fully and completely. No shortcuts or cutting corners. He did all that God instructed. It is a very important thing to keep in mind.
The other key phrase in this chapter is that Moses obeyed “just as God had commanded”. So not only did he obey, and do it completely, he also obeyed and did things God’s way. Now we are getting down to the nitty gritty of obedience. It is one thing to accomplish what God wants from us. It is another to do all that He tells us. But c’mon, also to do it exactly the way He wants. Where is the individuality in that? Where is the opportunity for me to be me in how I obey? Can’t I do it my way? That isn’t the example Moses gives us here. Moses does God’s work in God’s way. That requires a whole different set of listening and execution. It is one thing to get the general idea of what we should do and then figure out how to accomplish it on our own. But it is entirely a different thing to know not only the what, but the how, and then to follow that exactly as instructed. For most of us, particularly those who are not detail oriented, this is a very foreign idea. I for one never even hear those type of instructions normally. Once I get the general drift of what should happen I turn off the listening and think I can figure it out as I go. As has often happened, particularly when given tasks around the house with some specifics, things don’t necessarily turn out as expected. Clothes don’t look anywhere close to the way they do when Nancy washes them, food is unrecognizable when I am the one in the kitchen that is supposed to follow a few simple instructions so we can have dinner – you know the story. Moses shows us what obedience – true obedience – really looks like. It is the who – what – how – when – where – all the details understood and followed completely. No interpretation, no curves in the road – just straight down God’s path. That is a little different from what sometimes happens, at least for me. The result of obedience is clear: “The Cloud covered….the glory of God filled The Dwelling”. God shows up when we obey. God is pleased when we do things His way. God led them by day and by night. It all hinges on obedience. We need to walk there!
