Skip to main content

The “Tent of Meeting”


            God’s people were in big trouble.  Shortly after being told that they were to “Have no other gods” and that they were not to make “an idol” (Exodus 20), they, inexplicably, create a Golden Calf and worship it (Exodus 32).  God’s reaction to this incident is to withdraw his presence from the people.  “I will send an angel before you… but I will not go with you” (Exodus 33:2-3).  

            Moses knew that he has to find a way to re-connect the people to God, so he came up with a plan.  “Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the ‘tent of meeting’. Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshipped each at the entrance to their tent” (Exodus 33:7-10).

            Moses’ “tent of meeting” had two significant functions.  First, it gave the people a place to worship God together.  That is important because, when people come together to worship, they connect to God in a way that they cannot otherwise.  In fact, in Matthew 18:20, Jesus states, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them”.  There is a special blessing to be found when believers come together.

            Secondly, the “Tent of meeting” gave people an opportunity for times of private worship and reflection.  Those who wanted to “inquire of the Lord” would go out to the tent and meet him there.  Worshipping in a group is great, but for our faith to be real and alive we each need some time of private reflection.  We need to set aside time to think and to pray.  The “tent of meeting” provided this opportunity and helped reconstruct the link between God and his people.

            Interestingly, things have not changed that much.  Those times public of worship and private reflection are still absolutely vital to our faith.

            So it is worth asking:  “Do you have a ‘tent of meeting’ in your life?”

            (Ps.  Please know that you would be welcome to worship with us any Sunday.  As well, I have some hints that may help you start a “quiet time” with God.  If you are interested, please contact me at the church office)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Art of Noticing.... Seeing what we need to see and what we miss when we don't

 What we focus on in life matters. Here are some scriptural reminders that will help us see correctly.  https://youtu.be/Rn76tV0ZH8s    
Post a Comment
Read more

Consider This.... Which Way Are You Leaning?

   When Ben Patterson agreed to join three friends climbing Mount Lyell, the highest point in Yosemite National Park, he did not realize what he was signing up for.  Early in the day, it became clear that he was completely unprepared for the task.  In an effort to keep up with his more experienced friends, Ben took a shortcut.  It did not occur to him that there might be a reason the others had not selected this route, but he soon found out why.  Ben became stuck on the glacier.  He could not move up, down or sideways and one wrong move would send him sliding down a forty-five-degree slope to the valley floor miles below.   That is when one of his friends came to the rescue. His buddy leaned over the edge and carved some footholds in the ice.  He told Ben to step to the first foothold and immediately swing his other foot to the second, then his buddy would pull him to safety.  Lastly, his friend gave him one more piece of advice....
Post a Comment
Read more

Consider This: The Biggest Problem Is Not Out There!

In a time when everyone has a vocal opinion on everything and judgment is everywhere, maybe we need to reconsider the words of Jesus. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:3-5).  Here are two observations to consider. First, when we look for what others are doing wrong, we are starting in the wrong place.  “Take the log out of your eye” is the first move.  Start with yourself!  It is easy to judge others and make excuses for ourselves.  Yet, that is completely backwards! If we are honest, we never get past making ourselves better.  There is always more to do.  This, then, leaves very little time to point out...
Post a Comment
Read more