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“The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.” (Exodus 39:42-43)

by Rev Andrew Fitzgerald

Following six months of live streamed services, we reach the conclusion of this series on Exodus and the wilderness wanderings of God’s people, with a wonderful passage that celebrates the unity of God’s people in their completion of the tabernacle. The Hebrew word for “work” in verses 32 and 42 is in some texts translated “worship”, which gives deeper meaning to the Israelites’ work unto God in Exodus 39. Not simply being a necessary or mundane task with nothing better to do in the wilderness but carried out with love, respect and admiration for The Lord. Naturally, we might want to ask whether our “work” either in the home, the workplace or the church is done out of mere routine or rather out of obedience and worship unto God. But we also have a deeper understanding of Moses’ “work” in Exodus 39, specifically verse 43, with the Hebrew word translated to be “workmanship” and referring to His vocation or calling to oversee, inspect and bless the work of God’s people for God’s glory. How do we respect, honour and obey those whom God has called to leadership? And therefore receive their blessing, as Moses blessed the work of God’s people in Exodus 39. Exodus concludes with words concerning the glory of God, which filled and settled on the tabernacle, also accompanied and led the people of God on their travels. Wherever this church finds itself in the next three to six months, whether in the building or out of the building, whether limited by numbers or filled to capacity, let’s each know the glory and Spirit of God filling and settling on every single one us. Accompanying and leading our coming and our going, as we seek to keep fully in step with the Lord God Almighty.