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 settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. (Exodus 40:34-35)
The ultimate seal of approval.
Some of us still have the wrong idea of why God is doing what He’s doing. Some of us genuinely believe that God is doing it for us, as if we’re the centre of attention. Some of us write songs that give the impression that God would be lost without us, and He loves us so much because we’re so lovable and He would do anything for us.
When Moses had completed all that He was instructed to do in preparing God’s tent, God showed up and filled the place with the weighty essence of His presence. To sign off on the job well done, He took up residence in the place set apart for Him. The significance of this achievement is that God approved of what was done for Him by filling the place to such a degree that not even Moses could get in. The brilliance of the majesty of the Holy One was too much to get through and go beyond. The amazing nature of the glory of God.
This episode speaks volumes about what God delights in and what it means to bear witness to the wonder of His glory. As we take His instructions seriously and allow ourselves to be used by Him to complete His tasks in the way pleasing to Him, so we set ourselves up to experience that most brilliant and wonderful of experiences. We get a glimpse of the glory of God. When we prioritise the Kingdom of God and desire for His rule to be experienced on earth, this is all in the hope that we may get that taste of His glory. It’s not always going to be experienced in a cloud showing up and glory filling a place like it did for Moses. There is, however, the ability to sense and experience the delight God feels at His people doing things His way to please Him. There’s that sense of experiencing God inhabiting that, even as He fills us with His Spirit to do His will. As we do that, we engage with a greater sense of knowing Him and witnessing this tremendous glory.
Experiences like that help us see that this whole enterprise of creation is all about the glory of God. It’s all about seeing His majesty and presence known in a deeper way than before, and leaving in us that desire to grow in knowing this for all eternity. Even as we grow in knowing Him by His character of righteousness, holiness, truth, faithfulness, love, mercy, grace and wisdom, among other incredible traits, so it is our desire to see Him praised, honoured and magnified. As we work towards that in obedient service to Him, the desire is not to be sated in Him, doing things for us. The desire is to applaud and bow before Him as His glorious nature is on display.
This also underlines why we do what we do to see His rule experienced in the earth. We know this earth belongs to Him, and we want those whom He created to pay due homage and tribute to Him as His glory fills us. We want to join in with all creation in adoration and perpetual worship of the magnificent, glorious One. That He should choose to be among us and give us an insight is among the greatest honours we get in this life and the next. We don’t want to keep that to ourselves; we want others to partake in that. Our service is with the hope that others will partake in it. Our mission is in the hope that others will partake in it.
This is done in confident expectation that one day we will see Him for who He is. We will see Him in all His splendour and majesty. We won’t need to hide away. We will behold the wonder and power of His holiness. We will witness Him and praise Him in that outstanding and awesome display of His glory – something far greater than even Moses got to see.
This motivation drives us on the journey.
For His Name’s Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
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