How does God's call to Moses in Leviticus 1:1 relate to Exodus 40:34-35? Setting the Scene • God’s goal in Exodus is clear: “And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8) • By Exodus 40 the sanctuary stands complete. Something wonderful—and startling—happens next. “A Glorious Barrier” (Exodus 40:34-35) “Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Key observations • God’s presence arrives as promised. • That presence is so holy Moses himself “was unable to enter.” • The new tabernacle therefore stands filled, yet inaccessible. The people need a way to draw near without being consumed. “An Invitation from Within” (Leviticus 1:1) “Now the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying,” What changed? • Same location—“the Tent of Meeting.” • Same glory of the LORD still fills it. • Yet now Moses hears an unmistakable invitation. God summons him inside and begins outlining the sacrifices. How the Two Passages Relate 1. Movement from exclusion to access – Exodus 40 ends with a closed door; Leviticus 1 opens it. 2. Sacrifice is the key God provides – Leviticus chapters 1-7 spell out offerings that allow sinful people to stand before a holy God. 3. God’s heart is revealed – He does not relish distance. He immediately provides the means to fellowship. What the Connection Teaches Us • Holiness is non-negotiable—God’s glory makes unmediated entry impossible. • Grace is just as real—God Himself supplies the mediation. • Worship is not invented by humans; it is God-initiated and God-defined. Threads Woven Through Scripture • Numbers 12:8 shows Moses afterward speaking with God “face to face”—the Levitical system opened sustained communion. • Hebrews 10:19-20 looks back: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus….” The once-for-all sacrifice of Christ fulfills what Leviticus foreshadowed. • John 1:14 echoes the tabernacle language: “The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.” God dwelling with His people finds ultimate expression in Christ. From a cloud-barred doorway in Exodus 40 to a gracious call in Leviticus 1, Scripture presents one continuous story: the Holy God making a way for His people to come near—first through sacrifice in the tabernacle, finally through the perfect sacrifice of His Son. |
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