The Bible in a Year
“They shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the Lord their God.”
Exodus 29:46
As we move steadily through the Scriptures together, Exodus 29:46 invites us to pause and consider a single verse that gathers together the heart of God’s redemptive intent. These words come at the conclusion of detailed instructions concerning the Tabernacle and the consecration of Israel’s priests. After the measurements, rituals, garments, and sacrifices, God reminds His people why all of this exists. The structure is not the point. The priesthood is not the end. The purpose is relational: “They shall know that I am the Lord their God.” Before God speaks of dwelling among them, He speaks of being known by them.
The knowledge described here is not mere information. In Hebrew thought, to “know” (yadaʿ) implies relational familiarity born of lived experience. God’s purpose in redeeming Israel was not simply to form a nation or establish religious order, but to make Himself known to them as their God. This challenges the way many of us approach faith today. We often settle for knowing about God—His attributes, His actions, His commands—while neglecting the deeper pursuit of knowing Him. A.W. Tozer once observed, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Scripture presses us further: it is not only what we think about God, but whether we truly know Him, that shapes faithful living.
God’s purpose is inseparable from His power. The verse continues, “that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt.” Israel’s knowledge of God was grounded in history, not abstraction. They knew Him as Deliverer before they knew Him as Indweller. The plagues, the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea—these were not isolated miracles but revelations of divine power directed toward salvation. At the same time, that same power brought judgment upon Egypt. God’s might was displayed both in rescuing His people and in confronting hardened resistance. As Scripture repeatedly reminds us, “The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name” (Exodus 15:3, italics mine). Power is not an optional attribute of God; it is essential to His identity and to our understanding of redemption.
This balance between salvation and judgment remains instructive. Modern faith often emphasizes God’s saving power while quietly minimizing His authority to judge. Yet Exodus will not allow such division. The God who saves is also the God who rules. His power does not fluctuate according to human preference. For the believer, this is not a threat but a reassurance. The same power that once broke the grip of Egypt is at work to redeem, correct, and sustain God’s people today. Knowing God means trusting that His power is both purposeful and righteous.
The verse then reaches its most astonishing declaration: “that I may dwell among them.” God’s presence is not assumed; it is given by grace. Israel had proven repeatedly that they were a stiff-necked and rebellious people. Still, God desired to dwell in their midst. The Tabernacle was not a reward for obedience but a testimony to mercy. Moses understood this better than most. When faced with the possibility of entering the Promised Land without God’s presence, he pleaded, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here” (Exodus 33:15, italics mine). For Moses, the presence of God mattered more than progress, security, or success.
That same question confronts us today. Do we value God’s presence more than outcomes? Do we desire Him, or merely what He provides? God’s dwelling among His people foreshadows the greater reality fulfilled in Christ. John declares, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14, italics mine). The God who once filled the Tabernacle with glory has chosen to make His home among us through His Son and by His Spirit. This presence is still an act of grace, not entitlement.
Finally, the verse closes with a reaffirmation of God’s person: “I am the Lord their God.” The name “LORD,” rendered in all capital letters, signifies YHWH—Jehovah, the covenant God revealed to Moses as “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). This declaration draws a clear line of distinction. Israel’s God was not one among many; He was wholly other, self-existent, and faithful. Any alternative deity was a distortion by comparison. As Walter Brueggemann notes, “The claim of YHWH is exclusive not because of insecurity, but because of truth.” To know God rightly is to reject lesser substitutes that cannot save, sustain, or dwell with us.
As we journey through the Bible this year, Exodus 29:46 reminds us what Scripture ultimately seeks to do. It reveals God’s purpose, displays His power, invites us into His presence, and grounds us in His person. The Bible is not merely a record of religious development; it is a testimony to a God who desires to be known. Our task is not to rush past that invitation, but to respond with reverent attention and faithful trust, allowing the knowledge of God to shape every other knowledge we pursue.
For further reflection on God’s presence dwelling among His people, see this article from Ligonier Ministries:
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/god-dwelling-with-his-people
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