January 5

Day 297: Dwell

We think of the Book of Exodus as the story of a forty year camping trip in the desert, with some crazy stuff thrown in. And rightly so. So it seems strange that a good chunk toward the last of the book is devoted to the design and construction of the "Sanctuary."

One question could be, "Why this, and why here in the desert?" But the more poignant question is, "Why is God so particular about what this Sanctuary ends up looking like? Why so detailed?

While Moses could have come up with design plans himself, it is God who mandates the design elements. Having redeemed His people from Egyptian slavery, the Lord is declaring his desire to dwell in their midst. And this is a significant Bible theme.

It goes back to the Garden, where God "walked" in the cool of the day. Creation, in particular the garden of Eden was the "sanctuary" where God was, with Adam and Eve.

This Sanctuary to be constructed (and the Jerusalem Temple/s that followed) were to point God's people to a greater reality - the coming of Jesus, He who came to "dwell" with the people. He who came to seek and save the lost. Even His enemies called Jesus "a friend of sinners."

As Christians, we all look forward to the new heaven and new earth (no longer divided) solely because we will dwell with our Triune God, and He with us. Forever.

And it is God who gives detailed instructions and commands to construct this portable sanctuary according to everything He has said (25:9.) God shows Israel that His worship happens according to His pattern.

He will not be approached according to cultural or even our own ideas and self-imposed limitations, but according to His Word.

In these present January days, we can all admit to living in some level of myopia. We're each just trying to "survive." And many of us have pulled back from church community.

We have our excuses and justifications. We want to manage our relationship with God in our own ways. We want to build the sanctuary under our own terms.

But also true in these present January days, as it's been true for centuries now, Jesus dwells with His people - as the Church. On top of that, Jesus dwells in His people - inside each and every one of them, by the presence and power of His Holy Spirit.

God has always desired to dwell with His people. The Bible is perhaps best explained as this desire of God's, created, lost, and then recreated again through Jesus.

Wouldn't it be awesome, wouldn't it turn the world on its ear, if our desire to dwell with God matched His desire to dwell with us?

-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church Juneau