What Does Exodus 39:42-43 Mean?
The law in Exodus 39:42-43 defines how the people of Israel completed all the work of the tabernacle exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that it was done exactly as God directed. Because they obeyed faithfully, Moses blessed the people.
Exodus 39:42-43
According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work. Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it. Then Moses blessed them.
Key Facts
Book
Author
Moses
Genre
Law
Date
Approximately 1440 BC
Key People
- Moses
- the people of Israel
Key Themes
- Obedience to God's commands
- Faithful stewardship of sacred work
- Divine approval through exact compliance
Key Takeaways
- True worship is shown through faithful obedience to God's instructions.
- God blesses those who follow His commands exactly.
- Jesus fulfilled the law by perfect obedience on our behalf.
Context and Meaning of Exodus 39:42-43
This passage wraps up the long process of building the tabernacle, the sacred tent where God would live among His people.
After months of work, the people finished every piece exactly as the Lord had commanded through Moses. When Moses saw it, he didn't merely approve it - he blessed the people, showing how much God values faithful obedience.
Their careful work demonstrated trust in God rather than mere skill or enthusiasm.
The Significance of Obedience in Action
The people’s complete obedience shows that following God’s directions exactly is itself an act of worship.
The Hebrew word 'asah,' meaning 'to do' or 'to make,' appears repeatedly in Exodus 39 - 40, emphasizing that the people didn’t merely try - they fully carried out every task. This careful repetition highlights how seriously God values faithfulness in the details, not merely the big picture. Other ancient cultures built temples for their gods, often mixing personal ideas or political motives. Israel’s work, however, was defined by submission, not self‑expression.
What God said, they did - no more, no less.
This pattern of doing 'just as the Lord commanded' isn’t merely about rules - it reveals trust in God’s wisdom over human preference, a theme echoed later when Samuel says, 'To obey is better than sacrifice' (1 Samuel 15:22).
How This Law Points to Jesus
The people’s full obedience in building the tabernacle points forward to Jesus, who perfectly obeyed God in every detail of His life and mission.
Jesus said He came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17), and He did this by living without sin and completing God’s plan of salvation - something the tabernacle only symbolized. Now, because of Jesus, we don’t offer sacrifices or build sacred tents. Instead, Hebrews 10:19‑22 tells us we can come directly to God through faith in Christ’s finished work.
This means the old laws about the tabernacle aren’t commands for us today, but they still teach us about trusting and obeying God exactly as He says.
Blessed for Keeping God's Word: From Moses to Jesus and Beyond
As Moses blessed the people for obeying God’s instructions exactly, Jesus promises blessing to those who faithfully follow God’s words to the end.
In Matthew 25:21, Jesus says to the faithful servant, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master,' showing that obedience still matters deeply in the life of faith. And in Revelation 22:7, John hears the final promise: 'Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book,' connecting back to the same principle seen in Exodus - faithfulness in doing what God said.
Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy.
The heart of the matter is trust: when we obey God’s Word, even in the small or unseen things, we show that we believe He knows best - and that kind of faith still brings His blessing today.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
Imagine working for months on a project, not for a paycheck, but because you believed every instruction mattered to someone you deeply respected. That’s what the people of Israel did with the tabernacle. They weren’t merely building a tent - they were showing God they trusted His way over their own ideas. I remember a time when I tried to 'improve' a decision God clearly guided me toward - only to end up stressed and off track. Like the Israelites, I had to learn that obedience isn’t about perfection. It’s about trust. When we follow God exactly, even when it seems small or inconvenient, we’re saying, 'You know better than I do.' And that kind of faith brings peace, clarity, and yes, blessing - even if no one else notices.
Personal Reflection
- Where in my life am I tempted to tweak God’s instructions to fit my own wisdom or comfort?
- What 'small' act of obedience am I avoiding because it feels insignificant or hard?
- How can I show trust in God’s way today, even when I don’t fully understand the reason behind it?
A Challenge For You
This week, pick one clear instruction from Scripture that you’ve been ignoring or downplaying - maybe it’s forgiving someone, giving generously, or speaking truth in love - and obey it exactly, without adding your own conditions. Then, take a moment to thank God that your obedience, like the Israelites’, is not about earning favor, but about walking in the trust Jesus made possible.
A Prayer of Response
Lord, thank You for showing us that obedience is an act of trust, not merely duty. Forgive me for the times I’ve changed Your instructions to fit my own plans. Help me to follow You exactly, especially in the small things, because I believe You know what’s best. As Moses blessed the people, I ask for the joy that comes from faithful obedience - through Jesus, who obeyed perfectly for me. Amen.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Exodus 39:32
This verse marks the completion of all the tabernacle components, setting the stage for Moses' inspection and blessing in verses 42-43.
Exodus 40:1
God commands Moses to set up the tabernacle, directly continuing the narrative of obedience and divine presence established in Exodus 39:42-43.
Connections Across Scripture
Deuteronomy 28:1-2
Blessings come from obeying God’s commands, reinforcing the same principle seen when Moses blessed the people for their faithful work in Exodus 39.
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, fulfilling the tabernacle’s meaning as God’s presence with His people through Christ.
Revelation 21:3
God will dwell with humanity forever, showing the eternal fulfillment of the presence first symbolized by the obediently built tabernacle.