February 14th

Exodus 39:32-40:38

Numbers 9:15-23

Moses examined all the work of Bezalel and Oholiab, the craftsmen who were gifted for and assigned to constructing the Tabernacle and its furnishings. “Moses inspected all their work and blessed them because it had been done as the Lord had commanded them” (Exodus 39:43).

Evidently, Moses was pleased with their work; but he wasn’t the only one pleased. Their work pleased the Lord as well. He commanded Moses to set up the Tabernacle on the first day of the first month, New Year’s Day on the Hebrew calendar. Moses did all that God commanded and “the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.” In fact, “Moses was not able to enter the Tabernacle because the glory of the Lord filled it” (40:34, 35). He now had an earthly sanctuary in which to dwell.

Though the Tabernacle would be a place in which God would temporarily reside, and it would be the place from which He would communicate with Moses, it would also be a vehicle through which He would lead His people. We read that the pillar of cloud was constantly hovering over this desert sanctuary; but, at times, it would lift, which the people took as a sign that it was time to pack up and move to another place. When the cloud would stop, the people would stop and set up camp. Wherever the cloud went, they went; no matter how long it stayed in one place or how far it went when traveling, they followed the cloud in obedience to God.

If only it were that easy today. Just imagine there being a cloud over everyone’s head, which the Lord used to direct our lives; knowing and following His will wouldn’t be so mysterious. However, no matter how difficult it is to know the will of God, we should still seek it. He is the Lord of our lives and, thus, He is the leader, and we should do everything we know to do to follow our leader. I guess you could say, then, that it’s okay to have your head in the cloud!

Daily Reflection

What are some ways that you keep your “head in the cloud,” to know and follow God’s will for your life?

Are there times when “the cloud” goes one way but you want to go another? What do you do then? What consequences have you experienced when you decided to depart from “the cloud”?

 “If any man wishes to come after Me, let him deny Himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

BiAY.org | Day 45 — 320 Days to Go