Exodus 15-40 is all about this breathtaking glorious promise: ‘I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God‘ (29:45). As the book closes, this promise has been fulfilled: ‘Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle‘ (40:34-38)
But the story of Exodus 15-40 makes us see what a stunning moment this is. The God who makes this promise is powerful, merciful, compassionate, but above all holy. The people he makes this promise to are unfaithful, rebellious, ‘stiff-necked’ & unholy. How can these 2 parties possibly live together? How is it possible for an unholy people to live with their holy God? How can unholy people like us live with this Holy God? That’s the story of Exodus.
This is part 2 of our sermon series in Exodus. You can listen to sermons on Exodus 1-15 from last year here.