Because of their lack of faith, for forty years the Israelites were made to live in various spots in the desert, never having a permanent home, never building a city, never owning real property. 

God, though, was there with them. His very presence could be found in a tent dedicated to Him called the tabernacle. Within this dwelling place of God was a smaller chamber called the Holy of Holies. Within that chamber one could find the Ark of the Covenant, which could contained the tablets on which were written the Ten Commandments. 

Before the people of Israel crossed over the Jordan into the Promised Land, the tabernacle and all that was within it would be taken across, in front of them. God literally led the way. 

Jesus, in his 33 some-odd years of human life, was the embodiment of the tabernacle. This is signified in John chapter 1, where we see the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus like a dove. Though Jesus was fully God and also fully man from the minute of his miraculous conception, John paints a picture with which the Jews can identify by recounting the baptismal of Christ: the presence of God can be found within the person of Jesus, the Christ. 

In Acts 2, we see the twelve Apostles together with well over a hundred other believers, gathered in the upper room. It is a full 7 weeks after the resurrection of Christ. They are waiting. And, praying. 

On the first day of the eight week, the Holy Spirit descends on those believers in a miraculous fashion, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that God was present. It is on that day, day number fifty, the Day of Pentecost, that the very presence of God, the Holy Spirit, filled the lives of that small band of believers. From that day forward, all believers, even you and I, are the Tabernacle of God. 

Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3:16 calls us the Temple of God; it’s the same concept. We are the house of the Lord. You and me. God lives in us. He goes with us and before us into battle. He fights for us. The victory is His. 

Someday, when we cross over the River Jordan into the Promised Land, we have the assurance that He crossed over before us.  He will be with us, too, on that final journey. On that day, we meet Him face-to-face. 

Fear Not, for the Lord goes with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you.