Exodus 40

Hebrews 11:39-12:3

Read Exodus 40:17-38

These verses conclude the many chapters in Exodus about the tabernacle, Exodus 25-31, and 35-40.

• Why do you think the writer of Exodus describes the creation of the Tabernacle in so much detail? (Especially considering how precious and expensive writing materials were in the ancient world!)

• What is the effect of reading these verses at the end of this section (and at the end of the book)

• What do you think it might have felt like to Moses and the Israelites, to have the cloud of God's glory settling on (and within) the tabernacle as they wandered in the desert?

Consider how things started in Exodus chapter 1, with the Israelites being terribly oppressed by Pharaoh in Egypt.

• How does this chapter conclude the story that began in Egypt? What threads from the story are tied up here? And what (if anything) is left unfinished?

• What is presented in this book that we find repeated in the work of Jesus? Are there any themes or concepts that you have noticed here?

One way of looking at the overall flow of Exodus as a book is to look at three big themes:

• Salvation (out of Egypt)

• Covenant (laws and promises at Sinai)

• Glory (in the tabernacle)

• How do we experience these three concepts as Christians?

Read Hebrews 11:39-12:3

The author of Hebrews has given a great deal of thought to the ways in which the events of Exodus (particularly the covenant) find their ultimate fulfilment in Jesus. In some ways, this is the conclusion of that...

• Has your faith been strengthened looking at the 'cloud of witnesses' in the book of Exodus? If so, share an example of this.

• Has reading this book helped you to 'fix your eyes on Jesus'? If so, share an example of this.

• Has reading this book helped you to 'run with perseverance' and 'not grow weary and lose heart'? If so, share an example of this.