In Numbers chapter seven, Moses sets up the Tabernacle. What is the Tabernacle? In the Christian faith, God instructed Moses to build a place for His presence to dwell. It was a temporary place of worship to be used as they wandered the desert.
A more permanent structure was built by King Solomon. His father, King David, dreamt about building it but lost the privilege because of the choices he made. Later, King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon destroyed the temple when he conquered Jerusalem.
A second temple was built. Zerubbabel, Nehemiah and Ezra all played a part in restoring God's temple for a second time. Zerubbabel was governor of Judah at the time. Ezra and Nehemiah instituted reforms that made the reconstruction possible. The Romans reclaimed Jerusalem in 70 AD, and in doing so destroyed the second temple. Only the Western Wall remained. The Western Wall continues to be a sacred site for Jewish parishioners to this day.
Without a place to dwell, where is God? How do we connect?
When Jesus Christ was crucified, on the third day he rose again and walked the earth for forty days teaching and preaching. When He ascended into heaven, He left behind the Holy Spirit to dwell within each one of us.
Where is God? – He is in each of us.
How do we connect? – Stay still, quiet and listen. He is the voice coming from inside yourself. His voice is not like your voice. It is not frantic. It is not imposing. It is not loud and abrasive. It is not fearmongering. It is loving and kind, soft and peaceful, consoling and edifying. If you are His, and He is yours; you will know His voice.
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