Single lesson
God's Glory Fills the Tabernacle
Exodus 40:1–38
In this lesson, children will follow the order of what Moses was told to do, notice how carefully he obeyed, and see what happened when Yahweh’s glory filled the tabernacle.
Before you teach
This passage records Yahweh’s instructions for setting up the tabernacle, placing its furniture, preparing Aaron and his sons for priestly service, and finishing the work. After Moses does what Yahweh commanded, the cloud covers the Tent of Meeting and Yahweh’s glory fills the tabernacle.
Students will be able to put the main events of Exodus 40:1–38 in order and explain that Moses obeyed Yahweh’s commands and Yahweh’s glory filled the tabernacle.
Welcome: What happened first, next, and last?
4 minBegin by telling the children they will hear a true Bible story with clear steps in it. Ask them to listen for two big ideas: what Moses was told to do, and what happened when the work was finished. Explain that the tabernacle was the Tent of Meeting, and this passage shows it being set up and prepared for worship.
Exodus 40:2, Exodus 40:33, Exodus 40:34
Read and explain: Yahweh gives careful instructions
7 minRead selected verses slowly, showing that Yahweh told Moses where to place the ark, table, lamp stand, altars, basin, and court. Point out simple meanings of terms from the passage: anoint means to set apart with oil, sanctify means make holy, and priest’s office means serving Yahweh in that role. The instructions are detailed and orderly.
Exodus 40:2, Exodus 40:3, Exodus 40:4, Exodus 40:5, Exodus 40:9, Exodus 40:12, Exodus 40:13, Exodus 40:15
Discuss the sequence: Moses obeys what Yahweh commanded
6 minHelp children trace the events in order: Moses raised the tabernacle, placed the ark, table, lamp stand, and altar, set up the screen, offered at the altar, filled the basin with water, and finished the court. Keep repeating the phrase in the passage, ‘as Yahweh commanded Moses’, so children notice the choice Moses made again and again.
Exodus 40:16, Exodus 40:18, Exodus 40:21, Exodus 40:23, Exodus 40:25, Exodus 40:27, Exodus 40:29, Exodus 40:32, Exodus 40:33
Make and respond: Build the story order
8 minChildren make simple sequence cards or a small scene showing key moments from the passage. As they work, ask them to place the events in order: instructions, set-up, washing, finished work, cloud and glory, then the people travelling when the cloud moved. Remind them that the craft helps us remember the order, while the Bible gives the truth of what happened.
Exodus 40:1, Exodus 40:17, Exodus 40:30, Exodus 40:33, Exodus 40:34, Exodus 40:36
Closing: Yahweh’s glory fills the tabernacle
5 minFinish by reading the ending clearly. After Moses finished the work, the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and Yahweh’s glory filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter while the cloud stayed on it. The cloud also guided Israel’s journeys, because the people moved when it was taken up and stayed when it remained.
Exodus 40:33, Exodus 40:34, Exodus 40:35, Exodus 40:36, Exodus 40:37, Exodus 40:38
Questions to explore
What words are repeated through the passage to show how Moses acted?
Look for the repeated line after several actions and explain what it shows about Moses’ response to Yahweh’s instructions.
Exodus 40:16, Exodus 40:19, Exodus 40:21, Exodus 40:25, Exodus 40:29, Exodus 40:32
What happened after Moses finished the work?
Answer from the ending of the passage by naming the cloud and what filled the tabernacle.
Exodus 40:33, Exodus 40:34, Exodus 40:35
How did Israel know when to travel and when to stay?
Use the verses about the cloud to describe both situations, when it was taken up and when it was not.
Exodus 40:36, Exodus 40:37, Exodus 40:38
Make, think or respond
Tabernacle Story Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or scrap card
- pencils or textas
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Draw six simple pictures for key events: Yahweh speaks to Moses, the tabernacle is raised, the ark is placed, the basin is used for washing, the work is finished, and the cloud fills the tabernacle.
- Cut out the pictures to make cards.
- Mix the cards up and ask children to place them in the order given in the passage.
- Invite each child or pair to explain one card using words from the verses.
This activity helps children remember the order of Exodus 40:1–38 and notice that Moses did what Yahweh commanded before Yahweh’s glory filled the tabernacle.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, use four large picture cards instead of six and say the main sentence together: ‘Moses did what Yahweh commanded.’
- For older children, ask them to add short verse labels to each card and explain how the cloud guided Israel’s journeys from the final verses.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: ‘Yahweh, thank you for showing your glory in the tabernacle. Please help us listen carefully to your word and remember that you are holy and worthy of worship.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Exodus 40
1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “On the first day of the first month you shall raise up the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting.
3 You shall put the ark of the covenant in it, and you shall screen the ark with the veil.
4 You shall bring in the table, and set in order the things that are on it. You shall bring in the lamp stand, and light its lamps.
5 You shall set the golden altar for incense before the ark of the covenant, and put the screen of the door to the tabernacle.
6 “You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting.
7 You shall set the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and shall put water therein.
8 You shall set up the court around it, and hang up the screen of the gate of the court.
9 “You shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and shall make it holy, and all its furniture, and it will be holy.
10 You shall anoint the altar of burnt offering, with all its vessels, and sanctify the altar, and the altar will be most holy.
11 You shall anoint the basin and its base, and sanctify it.
12 “You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and shall wash them with water.
13 You shall put on Aaron the holy garments; and you shall anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office.
14 You shall bring his sons, and put tunics on them.
15 You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to me in the priest’s office. Their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”
16 Moses did so. According to all that Yahweh commanded him, so he did.
17 In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was raised up.
18 Moses raised up the tabernacle, and laid its sockets, and set up its boards, and put in its bars, and raised up its pillars.
19 He spread the covering over the tent, and put the roof of the tabernacle above on it, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
20 He took and put the covenant into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark.
21 He brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the covenant, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
22 He put the table in the Tent of Meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside of the veil.
23 He set the bread in order on it before Yahweh, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
24 He put the lamp stand in the Tent of Meeting, opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle.
25 He lit the lamps before Yahweh, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
26 He put the golden altar in the Tent of Meeting before the veil;
27 and he burned incense of sweet spices on it, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
28 He put up the screen of the door to the tabernacle.
29 He set the altar of burnt offering at the door of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the meal offering, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
30 He set the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water therein, with which to wash.
31 Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and their feet there.
32 When they went into the Tent of Meeting, and when they came near to the altar, they washed, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
33 He raised up the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.
34 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and Yahweh’s glory filled the tabernacle.
35 Moses wasn’t able to enter into the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud stayed on it, and Yahweh’s glory filled the tabernacle.
36 When the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys;
37 but if the cloud wasn’t taken up, then they didn’t travel until the day that it was taken up.
38 For the cloud of Yahweh was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.