Where did they get all that gold, silver, bronze, colored yarn, and linen? They had plundered the Egyptians, at God’s command. But surely they didn’t have room in their backpacks for all of those things as they left on their hasty journey. Maybe not, but these things were for a very special purpose.


The last few chapters of Exodus tell me that God made some elaborate preparations for His very special meeting place with His people. Look at the climax! The Tabernacle is erected for the first time, and “the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.” What must that have been like?


The closest I can come to an understanding of that experience is our own – “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). When we gather to worship, especially around the Communion Table, we can get a glimpse of God’s glory in our midst. That’s Jesus, the ultimate expression of God’s glory among us.