S4: Week 14 Day 1: Annotating Exodus 40:34-38 - A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace

Summary

A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace Season 4, Week 14 Day 1: Annotating Exodus 40:34-38 Release Date: March 31, 2025

Introduction

In the fourteenth week of Season 4 of A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace, hosts Beth and Alexa delve into Exodus 40:34-38, exploring the profound intersections between the Old Testament and the life and mission of Jesus Christ. This episode marks the beginning of their annotation series, aiming to unpack scripture deeply and reveal how every page of the Bible points to Christ.

Study Overview

Beth opens the session by outlining the focus for the week:

"Today we are diving into week 14 of Christ and all of Scripture. And so we'll be starting off with the annotation day on Exodus 40, 34, 38..."
(01:36)

The goal is to analyze two passages weekly—one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament—to uncover their connections to Jesus, thereby highlighting His central role throughout the Biblical narrative.

Exegesis and Annotation of Exodus 40:34-38

Beth reads the selected passage from Exodus 40:34-38, setting the stage for a detailed examination:

"The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud rested on it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. The Israelites set out whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle throughout all the stages of their journey..."
(1:36)

Theological Insights

Alexa shares her insights on the passage, highlighting key attributes of God revealed through the text:

"When noting any attributes of God in the text... I noted that God is holy. And we see that because Moses is unable to enter the tent of meeting because God's glory is in the tabernacle."
(02:25)

She further elaborates on the dual nature of God's presence:

"We also see that both the cloud by day and the fire by night was visible to all of Israel throughout their entire journey. So both of those verses made me think how God is both transcendent and imminent. In other words, he's above and beyond all things. He's distinct from his creation, but he's also near to his creation or imminent."
(02:25)

Beth echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the relational aspect of God's nature:

"It really is truly amazing that the God who created everything and knows everything about everything wants a relationship with us small humans. And that's what he's doing here in Israel as well."
(03:34)

Christological Connections

Alexa cautiously introduces the connection between the Old Testament passage and Jesus, referencing New Testament theology without delving too deeply:

"I also don't want to get too far into the Christ connection this early in the week. So the only word or phrase I want to mention that points to Christ... is in verse 35 with the phrase unable to enter the tent of meeting. Because that reminded me of what Hebrews 9 talks about, how Jesus has gone beyond the curtain as our great high priest, and because of him, we're able to enter into God's presence freely."
(03:50)

This brief connection sets the stage for more in-depth exploration later in the week, linking Old Testament themes to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Beth wraps up the episode by expressing excitement for the upcoming discussions:

"I can't wait to go deeper in all of that throughout the rest of this week."
(04:21)

Alexa provides listeners with resources and encourages continued engagement:

"Be sure to check out our show notes for some helpful links and resources related to today's episode, and make sure you're following a daily Grace Podcast and hedaily grace Co on Instagram for more Bible study resources and encouragement."
(04:35)

Key Takeaways

God’s Holiness and Presence: The inability of Moses to enter the Tent of Meeting underscores God's holiness and the manifestation of His glory among the Israelites.
Transcendence and Immanence: God is portrayed as both transcendent—distinct and above creation—and immanent—present and near to His people.
Foreshadowing Christ’s Mediation: The reference to Moses being unable to enter the Tent of Meeting foreshadows Christ's role as the mediator who grants believers direct access to God, as discussed in Hebrews 9.
Structured Biblical Study: The hosts emphasize a methodical approach to studying scripture, encouraging listeners to see the cohesive narrative that centers on Jesus.

Quotes for Reflection

Beth:
"It really is truly amazing that the God who created everything and knows everything about everything wants a relationship with us small humans."
(03:34)
Alexa:
"God is both transcendent and imminent... He's distinct from his creation, but he's also near to his creation or imminent."
(02:25)
Alexa:
"Jesus has gone beyond the curtain as our great high priest, and because of him, we're able to enter into God's presence freely."
(03:50)

Final Thoughts

This episode serves as a foundational exploration of Exodus 40:34-38, setting the tone for a week-long study that intertwines Old Testament narratives with the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ. Beth and Alexa effectively guide listeners through theological concepts, encouraging a deeper understanding of God's character and His redemptive plan as revealed in scripture.

Listeners are invited to engage with the provided resources and continue their journey through the Bible, uncovering the intricate ways in which every passage points to Christ.

Transcript

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Beth (1:00)

Welcome to A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace. This year we want to spend a few minutes with you every day walking through our study Christ in All of Scripture. Each week we will dive deeply into two passages of Scripture, one from the Old Testament and one from the new, seeing how they connect and point to Jesus.

Alexa (1:17)

Whether you are doing the study yourself or just following along with us here, we are hopeful that through studying these passages each week, you will see how Christ is not only present throughout the entire Biblical story, but the center of it. Hey friends, welcome back to A Year in the Bible. My name is Alexa and I'm here with my co host Beth.

Beth (1:36)

Hi everyone. Today we are diving into week 14 of Christ and all of Scripture. And so we'll be starting off with the annotation day on Exodus 40, 34, 38 and this passage says the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud rested on it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. The Israelites set out whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle throughout all the stages of their journey. If the cloud was not taken up, they did not set out until the day it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and there was a fire inside the cloud by night, visible to the entire house of Israel throughout all the stages of their journey. So, Alexa, how did the sanitation day go for you?

Alexa (2:25)

Yeah, I thought it was interesting because there's a lot of things being described in this passage that could be a little hard when it comes to looking for Christ and attributes of God. So when noting any attributes of God in the text, and then in verse 35, I noted that God is holy. And we see that because Moses is unable to enter the tent of meeting because God's glory is in the tabernacle. Without going too deep into this passage, we do see a connection between the cloud and God's presence. And in the rest of the passage, we read how the Israelites set out whenever the cloud is taken up from the tabernacle, but they remain where they are, if not. And we also see that both the cloud by day and the fire by night was visible to all of Israel throughout their entire journey. So both of those verses made me think how God is both transcendent and imminent. In other words, he's above and beyond all things. He's distinct from his creation, but he's also near to his creation or imminent. So God's glory in this passage shows that he is distinct, but the cloud and fire show to the Israelites that He has come near to them, giving them his presence.