READING: Exodus 38-40, Leviticus 1
This year in my Bible reading plan, I’m highlighting every text that points out God’s requirement of obedience—whether they are mandates of obedience, examples of obedience, or, in too many cases, examples of disobedience. With that thought in mind as I read today, it’s difficult to miss these phrases repeated so many times in the story of Moses and the people preparing and setting up the Tabernacle:
- “Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything that the Lordcommanded Moses.” (Exo 38:22)
- “[They did] just as the Lord had commanded Moses [or him].” (Exo 39:1, 5, 7, 21, 26, 29, 31; 40:19, 32)
- “[Moses] did just as the Lord had commanded him” (Exo 40:16, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29)
- “So all the work for the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, was finished. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses.” (Exo 39:32)
- “The Israelites had done all the work according to everything the Lord had commanded Moses. . . . They had done just as the Lord commanded.” (Exo 39:42-43)
- “Moses did everything just as the Lord had commanded him.” (Exo 40:16)
Eighteen times, in fact, we read the people did everything the Lord had commanded. It’s no wonder, then, that the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle when it was completed. Obedience really does matter.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Are you doing everything the Lord commands today?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, grant me grace and faith to do anything and everything You require of me today.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Leviticus 2-5
