Lesson 12: Journey to the Real Mt. Sinai: "My Presence Will Go With You: The Tabernacle"

Remember early in the study I shared my concerns with you about my personal safety in Saudi Arabia? Oh, yes. I was a bit anxious and fearful about going on this trip! The miracle was, though, that once I got there, ALL of that fear and anxiety was gone. Why?Having Joel Richardson lead the tour was a comfort. He had been to Saudi Arabia many times before and really was confident and knowledgeable. Having an anointed guide is always important on a trip like this! But more than that, God had given me this verse, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14.)

There it was. I knew I was going With God, and with his promise. But, as a believer in Christ, God wasn’t just with me, he was INSIDE me! He was within me, around me, and upon me. No weapon formed against me could prosper!

Like Moses, I had told God, if you won’t go with us, I don’t want to go! (Ex 33:15) But God, reminding me he was always with me, assured me he would be there. And he was...

In this final session of the study, we will study the amazing conclusion of the narrative of the Exodus. After the golden calf drama, God tells Moses that he will send an angel with the people to the Promised Land, but that He, Himself, would no longer go with them. However, Moses intercedes for the nation one more time on the top of the mountain, and receives a renewed covenant, another set of tablets engraved with the 10 Commandments, and a promise from Yahweh that He would indeed go with them. Many things happen in this section of scripture: Moses is hidden in the cleft of the rock, Moses's face shines from being with the Lord, the people donate goods for the construction of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle is constructed. Finally, a house is built as a place for Yahweh and his new bride to commune together! God fills the tabernacle with His glory and a new chapter has begun on the journey of Israel to the Promised Land.

Thank you for studying the Exodus with me! For Lesson Twelve Plans Click Here!

Discussion Questions:

1. What new things were you surprised to discover in this portion of scripture?

2. Why do you think God changed His mind about going up to the Promised Land with the Israelites?

3. Moses' face was shining after his last experience on the mountain. What happened there that caused his face to shine?

4. These two trips down the mountain with the tablets of stone engraved by God Himself are symbolic of the first and second comings of Christ to earth. What were the circumstances at the bottom of the mountain Moses found after the first trip? The second trip? How was the second trip different than the first? What might this foretell about Christ's soon return?

5. Why was it important to the Israelites that God personally went up with them?

6. What new things were in the "new" covenant, or the new 10 words? What "new" things do we expect to happen when Christ returns to earth?

7. God is with each believer, now, in the form of the Holy Spirit, living in each of us. How do we, as believers, know that this is true? How do we know He is really with us?

8. What has been your greatest take away from this study as a whole? Which session has been your favorite?

Watch this 2 minute video of the reconstruction of the tabernacle.