And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
Delivered from the clutches of Pharoah, free from the bondage of Egypt, and the blood upon the altar, God called for Moses and the Israelites to embark on a new thing: the tabernacle. This was the place that God would dwell. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for hundreds of years had not openly revealed himself to anybody. But in the back side of the desert, Moses had that burning bush experience with God Almighty. And he said to Moses, (Exodus3:8) I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey…
God goes through such great lengths and works great and mighty wonders to deliver them from Egypt. But before they go up to this promised land, God says first,”Let them make me a sanctuary.” God was a legend; a story passed on by word of mouth for hundreds of years; a deity in the heavens. But now, he was to dwell with them, and the people were to build his dwelling place.
Now, in this dispensation of grace, he who was a stranger to us, now must dwell with us. We who were without hope, without God, and were far off are now made nigh to God. But this time, instead of us building a tabernacle or a temple out of wood and stone and having God dwell with us, he now by his marvelous grace has seen fit to dwell in us; to which Jesus promised, (John 14:18) But ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
A thrice holy God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, has not chosen a tabernacle made by man’s hands. Nor has he chosen a temple adorned in gold and precious stones. He has chosen you. (1 Corinthians 3:16) Ye are the temple of God… (Colossians 1:27) Christ in you… (1 Corinthians 6:19) Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost…
O how manifest is the heart of God! He desired to dwell with his people in the garden of Eden. He desired to dwell with his people in the wilderness. And now he desires to dwell with you. (Song of Solomon 2:10) My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. And up in heaven, that voice still says (Revelation 22:30) Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
O dearest Lord, what a wonder it is to be so moved inside and ravaged by such love. Walk in your garden, Lord. And take all you desire. Sit upon your throne and speak to your servant and set this heart aflame. Fill your temple with all your glory and holiness. Grant it Lord that I might spend more time with you. Amen.