Exodus 40: Great But Not Great Enough

God’s rescued and rebellious people have been brought out of bondage and brought back to their glorious Master. They have done all he’s asked them to do in building his tent. How will Moses conclude this book?

Observation of Exodus 40:1-38

Most repeated words: tabernacle (17 times), Lord (14x), put (14), tent (14), Moses (13), set (13), meeting (12), up (12), altar (11), all (8), anoint (8), ark (8), commanded (8)

The clear focus is on the tabernacle/tent (31x), which Yahweh (14) commanded (8) and Moses (13) set (13) up (12) and put (14) in place for meeting (12) with Yahweh.

Scene 1: Yahweh’s speech to Moses (Ex 40:1-15)

Moses must erect the tabernacle exactly one year after they came out of Egypt (Ex 40:2, 17; Ex 12:1-2).
All the pieces must go in the right place (Ex 40:1-8):
- Ark
- Veil
- Table
- Lampstand
- Incense altar
- Screen door
- Offering altar
- Basin
- Court
- Screen gate
Moses must anoint (pour oil on) all these pieces, the structure itself, and the people who will serve as priests (Ex 40:9-15)

Scene 2: Moses’ obedience (Ex 40:16-33)

Moses did it, “according to all that Yahweh commanded him” (Ex 40:16). The repetition of this evaluation statement divides the steps of obedience into the following chunks:
- Tabernacle, bases, frames, poles, pillars, tent covering (Ex 40:18-19)
- Ark with tablets, poles, mercy seat, screen veil (Ex 40:20-21)
- Table with bread on north side of outer room (Ex 40:22-23)
- Lampstand with lamps on south side of outer room (Ex 40:24-25)
- Golden altar with incense in front of screen veil to inner room (Ex 40:26-27)
- Screen door, altar of burnt offering outside, with burnt offering and grain offering (Ex 40:28-29)
- Basin with water, so Moses, Aaron, and sons can wash (Ex 40:30-32)
- Court with screen gate (Ex 40:33)
I observe that the steps of Moses’ obedience exactly follow the order of Yahweh’s instructions from Ex 40:1-8.
When it’s over, we get a concluding narrative statement: “So Moses finished the work” (Ex 40:33b).

Scene 3: The aftermath (Ex 40:34-38)

Yahweh’s cloud covers the tent, and his glory fills the tabernacle (Ex 40:34).
Because of the cloud and the glory, Moses is not able to enter (Ex 40:35).
The cloud directs Israel’s camping route and schedule (Ex 40:36-38).
John McSporran (2016), Creative Commons

Interpretation of Exodus 40

Some possible questions:

Why are both tabernacle and priests anointed?
Why does the narrator record Moses’ obedience in the same order as Yahweh’s command?
Moses was able to enter (Ex 20:21, 24:18) and see (sort of: Ex 33:18-23, 34:5-8) the cloud of Yahweh’s glory. How come he can’t now enter the glory when it fills the tabernacle?
Why does the book end by relegating the glory cloud to the role of wilderness tour guide?

My answers (numbers correspond to the questions):

The priests are linked to the tabernacle by being treated in the same way—getting oil dumped on them. They are also linked by having the same purpose of the anointing: to consecrate them, or make them holy (that is, special). These special men are now linked to this special place in a special way. They work together to make “Immanuel” possible.
Exodus 35-39 showed outrageous obedience on the part of the craftsmen and people. Now we see Moses, as the leader, is just as faithful in all God’s house (Heb 3:2). Also, if God is the Creator of the new creation tabernacle in Ex 25-31, Moses is now the new creator, in God’s image. The concluding “So Moses finished the work” is fitting when compared to Yahweh’s work (Gen 2:2).
Certainly something has shifted. When things were just getting set up, Moses entered the glory to show Yahweh’s inclusion of his glorified mediator in his covenant purposes. But now that the tabernacle is erected, perhaps we have here some foreshadowing that this “new covenant” is not new enough. There must be something better than this. This can’t be the full and final relationship with Immanuel that we’ve been waiting for.
This is a fulfillment of Yahweh’s promise to go up with the people into the land he had promised them (Ex 33:14). It also shows both how dependent the people are on Yahweh’s glory to guide them, and how they are unable to enter the glory in the tabernacle (all they can do is watch and follow; they cannot enter). Finally, it ends the narrative right where it began (Ex 1:1): with the people of Israel moving from one place to another, looking for the ultimate fulfillment of Yahweh’s promises. This cannot be the end of their story.

Train of thought:

Put all the pieces together so we can dwell together.
He puts all the pieces together so they can dwell together.
But they can’t actually dwell together yet.

Main point: While the tabernacle reveals the magnificent glory of God with us, there is something even more glorious yet.

Connection to Christ: These people long for the day when they can really and truly live with their God. Little did they know he would come to live with them (Matt 1:21-23). He would lead his people into yet greater obedience, as they behold the glory of his grace and truth (John 1:14).

My Application of Exodus 40

Head: I can trust God’s good purposes when I feel tension between the already and the not yet. I already have everything I need in Christ: his presence with me by his Spirit, empowering me to obey his commands. Yet, it will become even more wonderful and glorious when I can set my aside once and for all to be with him forever.

Heart: My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. If he is not with me, what hope do I have?

Hands: The grace of God teaches me to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live a self-controlled, upright, and godly life (Titus 2:11-12) while I wait for my blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of my great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13-14). I don’t need a second helping of dessert tonight. I can restrain my harsh words to my children. I can respond to my discouragement with the hope of what Jesus is doing in the world.

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