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The Goal and Mission of the Presence of God - Exodus 25-31 — 2/20/2026 10:00 AM
Today's speaker is Dr. Billy Marsh, Associate Professor of Theology, Director of MDiv Programs at Cedarville University. Dr. Marsh shows from Exodus 25-31 how the tabernacle represented the presence of God as both the goal, and the means, by which God's redemptive covenantal plan will be realized for all of creation.
Notes
Chapel Recap: The God Who Dwells With His People
In today’s chapel, Dr. Billy Marsh walked us through Exodus 25–31, unpacking the significance of the tabernacle in God’s redemptive plan. At first glance, these chapters full of detailed instructions about materials, measurements, and priestly garments may seem distant from daily life. But Dr. Marsh made clear that they reveal something central to the story of Scripture: God’s desire to dwell with His people.
“There is only one God, and He made everything,” Dr. Marsh began, grounding the message in the Creator-creature relationship. One dimension of God’s ultimate redemptive goal, he explained, is to restore that relationship so that we might dwell with Him forever. The tabernacle represented both the goal and the means by which God’s covenantal plan would move forward — His holy presence dwelling among a redeemed people.
The tabernacle also reminds us that sin separates us from the presence of God. The layers of curtains, sacrifices, and priestly mediation pointed to the reality that access to a holy God is not casual. Still, Dr. Marsh emphasized hope: “God is with us, and God is for us, even in the midst of our sin.” The tabernacle was not merely a symbol of separation; it was a promise of restoration. It pointed toward sanctification and a restored life in God’s presence.
Looking ahead, Dr. Marsh explained that the tabernacle anticipates a greater fulfillment. It foreshadows a people from every nation dwelling with God forever. “The God who is with us is the God who is for us; He is the God who sends us so that He might be with others too.” God’s presence fuels mission. To be God’s holy people is to proclaim reconciliation and the forgiveness of sins.
Dr. Marsh concluded by pointing to Christ. “Whether it’s the tabernacle, the tent, the temple, or the church, He has promised to dwell with us, but it’s in the one He makes with His own nail-scarred hands.” The church’s holiness, he reminded the chapel, is its visible testimony to the mercy and grace revealed in Jesus Christ.