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DAY 15

I have enjoyed a day at a camp for primary school kids run by my church in Northern England (NEC Adventurer Camporee). Walesby Forest is a massive camp site, with lots of other groups camping there this weekend. But there in the corner of the site, was a large marquee with all the clubs tenting around it.

The speaker used the theme for the weekend, "Joseph's Journey". You get something of the idea of his life journey if you watch "Joseph and his Technicolour Dream Coat".

From at least the age of seventeen Joseph wound his brothers up. Reporting bad news about them to their father, and having dreams that suggested his elder brothers would bow down to him. They despised him so much that they sold him into slavery and led their dad to believe he was killed by wild animals. 

Joseph became prime minister of Egypt (large story jump there, sorry), and due to a famine ended up saving his family, only after they unknowingly bowed down to him!

Four hundred and thirty years later, the Hebrew people, Joseph's family descendants, left Egypt to return to Canaan. A land promised by God.

From that exit from Egypt, God showed these people how much He wanted to be part of their lives. God wanted to dwell among them, to have a representation of His presence with them.

Just like the marquee on the camp site today, with lots of tents camped around it, the Hebrew migrants, Israelites, were to camp around a large "tent", inside which was the presence of God.

These pictorial lessons have changed over time. When Jesus came to earth, he "made his dwelling among us." (John 1:14). In John, the Greek word "dwelling" is the same word used in the Greek translation of the Hebrew text of Exodus for "tabernacle" (meeting tent) [Exodus 40:34].

Through time God has wanted to be with us. He visited Adam and Eve in the garden, He requested a place in the Hebrew camp site during the journey to the new land, and through Jesus, God made His presence available on earth. Now through the presence of God (the Holy Spirit) He wants to be part of our lives. 

Adam and Eve messed up that relationship, the Hebrew nation rejected God, Jesus' followers left Him when the going got tough. What will you do with the presence of God? Where can God "tabernacle" with you?

-Pr Nathan Stickland

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