THE GREAT COMMANDMENT AND THE TABERNACLE…

EXODUS 40:34-38: “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up. For throughout their journeys, the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.” NASB ‭‭ OBSERVATION: What comes first – The Great Commission or The Great Commandment? Is it possible that we have become so focused on our call to reach the world for Christ that we have neglected our call to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength? Many Scriptures speak to this issue but I was quickened to reconsider these questions with the closing verses of the book of Exodus.

The first part of Exodus is a book of action. There is the birth and calling of Moses. Moses’ encounter with Pharoah and the ensuing plagues that God brings against Egypt as Moses demands – “Let God’s people go!” The Passover deliverance and the crossing of the Red Sea. The miraculous defeat of Egypt’s army as the horse and rider are swallowed by the Jordan river. The miracles of provision as Israel begins its wilderness wandering. The encounter between God and Moses as he receives the 10 commandments on Mount Sinai. Then, when you reach chapter 24, the book takes a completely different turn.

From this point to the end of the book, we read the instructions and details of the building of the Tabernacle.

The last chapter records the completion and dedication of the tabernacle. God had delivered His people from their bondage in Egypt. He had led them in the wilderness as they proceeded to the land of promise that He had given them in fulfillment of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then, He gives them His law and confirms the covenant. What one would expect next would be to proceed with the conquest of the Promised Land! Yet, there is a great pause to all of the forward progression of activity. A pause that is focused on extreme detail in the building of a central place of worship where the children of Israel would seek the Lord and offer up sacrifices.

Nothing else was going to happen until this was completed.

When you are reading through the book of Exodus this seems like an abrupt change of direction. One can tend to get lost in the details of the construction of the various parts of the Tabernacle. As I read through this once again I prayed and pondered over this change of focus and all the detailed instructions. What was the Lord trying to say to the children of Israel? What was He trying to say to me? Then in my New Testament reading, unplanned, but in the order that I read through the Bible each year, I read this account from the book of Mark.

• “One of the scribes came up and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭28‬-‭31‬ ‭NASB

Then it hit me! The only way that the children of Israel could be successful in the conquest of the Promised Land, and, the only way that I can be successful in my walk of faith and call to fulfill the Great Commission, is to keep my love for God as the center of my life. Jesus said that the foremost of the commandments begin with God Himself! If we lose the priority of our relationship with God then we will be ineffective in our service for God. This is why God had the children of Israel build the Tabernacle before they embarked on their destiny. It was to remind them of the importance and centrality of their worship.

Worship always precedes service.

This is where we always get things off balance. We either focus on worship alone and never fulfill God’s call to – “Go and make disciples of all nations,” or we get so focused on the mission that we forget the God of the mission and lose our first love. I think we struggle more with the latter. It is easy to get focused on our serving and lose our focus on our relationship with God. The Tabernacle was set up in the middle of the Israelite’s camp to remind them that this was where it all began. This was their focal point. This was where God met with man. This was where sin was atoned for and where God’s presence manifested to lead and guide them.

• “Throughout their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up. For throughout their journeys, the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.”

We are not called to build three tabernacles, as suggested by Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration, and stay on the mountaintop. We are called to follow Jesus and to fulfill His Great Commission. Yet, just like the nation of Israel, we must keep our love for God front and center of all that we do. If we don’t do this there is no way that we can fulfill the second part of the Great Commandment, to love our neighbor as ourselves. The first part of the Great Commandment positions our hearts and lives to be transformed and directed by the Holy Spirit. The second part of the Great Commandment compels us to fulfill His Great Commission.

Yet – it all begins with love!

• “I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭5‬ ‭NASB

Lord, forgive me for the times when I allow anything else to become the center of my life – OTHER THAN YOU! Help me to remember my first love. Help me to seek you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Allow all of my service to You to flow out of my love for You and Your love working in me toward others. May my desire to fulfill Your Great Commission always flow from my desire to live in Your Great Commandment.

In Jesus’ Name!