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CHAPTER 12: The Pattern Seen On The Mountain- The Tabernacle, The
Priesthood, And The Services In TheirArrangement And Typical Meaning
- The Sin Of The Golden Calf - The Divine Judgment - The PleaOf Moses -
God's Gracious Forgiveness - The Vision Of The Glory Of The Lord
Vouchsafed ToMosesExodus 24:12; 25-33
NEVER assuredly have we stronger proof of the Divine origin of what we call grace,
and of theweakness and unprofitableness of human nature, than in the reaction which
so often follows seasonsof religious privilege. Readers of the New Testament will
recall many instances of this in theGospel-history, and will remember how our Lord,
ever and again, at such times took His disciplesaside into some desert place for
quietness and prayer. But perhaps the saddest instance of how nearthe great enemy
lingers to our seasons of spiritual enjoyment, and how great our danger of
giddiness,when standing on such heights, is furnished by the history of Israel,
immediately after the solemncovenant had been ratified.
Now that God had set apart His reconciled people unto Himself, it was necessary to
have somedefinite place where He would meet with, and dwell among them, as also to
appoint the means bywhich they should approach Him, and the manner in which he
would manifest Himself to them. Toreveal all this, as well as to give those "tables of
stone," on which the commandments were graven,God now called Moses once more
"up into the mount." Accompanied by "Joshua, his minister," heobeyed the Divine
behest, leaving the rule of the people to Aaron and Hur. For six days he had towait,
while "the glory of Jehovah abode upon the mount" On the seventh, Moses was
summonedwithin the bright cloud, which, to the children of Israel beneath, seemed
"like a devouring fire",Joshua probably remaining near, but not actually with him.
"Forty days and forty nights" "Moses wasin the mount," without either eating bread or
drinking water. (Deuteronomy 9:9) The new revelationwhich he now received
concerned the Tabernacle which was to be erected, the priesthood whichwas to serve
in it, and the services which were to be celebrated. Nay, it extended to every detail
offurniture, dress, and observance. And for what was needful for this service, the free-
will offerings ofIsrael were to be invited. (Exodus 25:1-8)
We have it upon the highest authority, that, not only in its grand outlines, but in all
minutest details,everything was to be made "after the pattern" which God showed to
Moses on the mount. (Exodus25:9) And so we also read in Acts 7:44, and Hebrews
8:5; 9:23, teaching us, that Moses wasshown by God an actual pattern or model of all
that he was to make in and for the sanctuary. Thiscan convey only one meaning. It
taught far more than the general truth, that only that approach toGod is lawful or
acceptable which He has indicated. For, God showed Moses every detail toindicate
that every detail had its special meaning, and hence could not be altered in any, even
(^)