Exodus is finished, and before I post my final thoughts I figured I'd comment one last time on my impressions of the tabernacle and ancient Jewish worship. Essentially Exodus is a book split in two. The first half of the book is very storylike and sequential (meaning that it reads like an epic poem or a fast-paced narrative). But the second half of Exodus suddenly grinds to a halt and we are met with a barrage of rules, instructions, and regulations. The second half of Exodus is essentially an inside look at a very important conversation that took place between God and His prophet Moses. The action-packed events of the first half culminate in a mass of people alone in the desert waiting for something to do next. And this is when Moses's real purpose comes into play. Of course leading his people out from slavery and into freedom was an extremely significant accomplishment. But the events of the first half of Exodus in and of themselves don't tell us much. We see God's wonders, which is awe-inspiring, but in the second half we see God's plans, which is what pertains to us today. So now that the Hebrews are free and in the desert, what's next? What's next is precisely how they should live their lives if they are to remain in God's favor. How they are to worship, how they are to behave, how they are to approach their Lord. Many people, especially today, like to pretend that these things don't really matter; that anyone should be able to behave any way he or she likes; that anyone should be able to approach the Lord in any way, shape, or form. If there is anything I've learned from the Book of Exodus, it's that God is a meticulous God. He prefers one way to another way. And though the particular details of worship may have changed with the coming of the New Law, God Himself does not change.
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