Exodus 40:9
“Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it may become holy.
Truth: God must consecrate and make things holy, no matter if they were made according to His pattern.
The above verse was written after all the tabernacle, ark and utensils were completed and then set up in the wilderness. The men Moses appointed to construct and fulfill the design of the tabernacle had completed the work and it was now completely set up in the desert. Imagine the scene. The nation of Israel had given the silver, gold and precious stones; the land had given the special wood, the talented had given their talent. The work was completed by God's design, done by God's people, done with God's resources. Yet, it still was not complete. Designed by God and completed by God's people doesn't mean a thing is holy. The entire process still needed to be touched by God and consecrated to Him. You can build a church building and put ceremonial objects, dress and people inside and still not have a place inhabited by God. When the ark was taken captive by the Philistines and the priest, Eli and his sons, were killed in the battle, the daughter-in-law named one of her children in honor of this terrible moment:
1 Samuel 4:21
And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
The Philistines had the ark but had no glory. They had the furniture but not the Person who was to be honored with through the furniture. God must make something holy for Him to use it. That nation of Israel may have had made it all according to the pattern but unless God consecrates the objects there is no glory to Him or by Him. After Moses consecrates the tabernacle God will come and fill the temple with his presence. We can do all the motions of belief and still not have God's consecration. Note what Christ said about this, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew:
Matthew 7:22
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
These souls had the actions and mission down to a tee. Yet, they didn't have the consecration of God. God must make something holy no matter the pattern.
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