God in the Midst....Exodus 40

Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. ³⁵And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. ³⁶ Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. ³⁷ But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up. ³⁸ For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.--Exodus 40:34-38



Dear Girls,


Read that last verse again...


For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

Israel's God dwelt in the tabernacle which was located in the very center of camp.  No matter what tribe you were from if walked out of your tent you would be looking toward the center of camp and would see the cloud resting on the tabernacle by day or the fire by night.  How is this possible?

The camp of Israel was set up in the shape of a cross...the tabernacle where the glory of God dwelt was at the center.  To the North were the tribes of Dan, Asher and Napthtali.  To the West were Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin. To the East were Judah, Issachar and Zebulun.  Finally to the South were Reuben, Simeon and Gad.  The Levites surrounded the tabernacle...some families to the North, some to the South and others to the East and the West.

What a wonderful reminder of God's presence.  God was at the very center of their camp and at the very center of their lives.  Praying now that each of us would have this kind of awareness of His presence in our lives.  That He would be the center and focal point of all our "doings" and all our "relationships" in this life.  I will end with these Charlie Hall Lyrics...

Christ be the center of our lives
Be the place we fix our eyes
Be the center of our lives


We lift our eyes to heaven
We wrap our lives around your life
We lift our eyes to heaven, to You


Love
Mom