And So It Ends

The last episode I have for you, and the first book I have for you

Hello! Hope you’re well. Here’s the latest;

At Last

I cried finishing this Season of Holy Ghost Stories.

Tears as I finished writing the final episode.

Tears as I listened to Kendall’s score of the last scene.

Tears as I sat in the car with my wife and kids, the just-played episode hanging in the air, heavy smiles on our faces.

Why the tears? Several reasons, I guess. Gratitude, for the privilege of telling this story the way I’ve been able to tell it. Sadness, because I hate to have to say goodbye to this season of my life in which I’ve been delightfully steeped in this memory of Yahweh’s And love, for my God and the beautiful way He brought this archetypal story into existence.

At any rate, I’m thrilled to share this episode with you. I pray that it transports you into His incredible presence. I pray that you encounter Him in a way you’ll never forget. I pray that we all behold Him with unveiled faces and find ourselves transformed into the image of His Son.

I called this episode “At Last,” for the obvious reasons and also because I thought some of the lyrics from Etta James’ classic might give expression to Yahweh’s state of mind during this Tabernacle-christening episode:

At last
My love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song

You smiled, you smiled
Oh, and then the spell was cast
And here we are in Heaven
For you are mine at last

Here are a few details from this one that might be of interest:

BITS AND BOBS

(Minor spoilers ahead)

Christ Before Christ - Again and again throughout the Exodus, Moses features as a type of Christ, prefiguring the coming Messiah. One key instance of this occurs in the first two scenes of this episode when Moses stands before Yahweh, arguing on behalf of the people. (He’s even, as we saw in Episode 9, been willing to lay down his life in their stead.) So much foreshadowing.

Three Zones - If you’ll notice, Yahweh’s plans for the Tabernacle echo Mt. Sinai’s varying levels of danger/access, which in turn echo what Adam and Eve encountered in the beginning:

1. CLOSE - Tabernacle Courtyard//Foot of Mt. Sinai//Land of Eden

2. CLOSER - Holy Place//Part of the way up Sinai (Ex 24:9-11)//Garden of Eden

3. CLOSEST - Most Holy Place//Sinai’s cloud-covered summit//Tree of Life

Hazefire Cameo - If you listen through the outro of each episode, you’ll hear me say that Holy Ghost Stories is a production of Hazefire Studios (the nonprofit home of HGS, Storied Family Camp, etc). I chose “Hazefire” as a name because I love this almost obsolete word and the phenomenon it describes: early morning mist illuminated by the sun’s rays. I think hazefire is the perfect picture of the stories Old Testament: beautiful, transluscent, and set ablaze by the Spirit of God. Anyway, I was delighted to be able to include some actual hazefire in the scene where Moses catches a glimpse of Yahweh’s glory.

Many Waters - In the theophany scene, I decided to reflect Yahweh’s unprecedented proximity in a fuller treatment of His voice. What an amazing thing it must have been for Moses to be so close and to hear Him speak there on the mountaintop. Niagara Falls can’t compare.

On the Mountain - Speaking of the Epiphany scene, a couple more details:

• I couldn’t help including an allusion to one of my favorite lines about love, from one of my favorite stories, About Time. Tell me if you catch it.

• According to Exodus 34:28, Moses does not eat bread or drink water during his time with Yahweh on the mountain. A fast from food is one thing, but 40 days without water would have necessitated miraculous provision. This, of course, would have been easy for Yahweh to offer.

• As I try to articulate this moment in the episode, you’ll notice some of the exact language appear again in the final scene. What a thing to envision.

Burning Bush, Take 2 - I love that after His time in the manifest presence of Yahweh, Moses’ glowing flesh brings our mind back to his first encounter with this radiant God. Moses, in effect, becomes a second burning bush.

Allusions Galore - Plenty of Scriptures sitting not so far below the surface in this episode. Don’t miss them.

• John 1:14 - The Word became flesh and made his dwelling [Tabernacle] among us.

• Ps 133:1-2 - How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together(A) in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.

• Phil 2:5-7 - In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Beyond the Veil - There’s a recurring theme, of course, connecting Moses’ veil, the tabernacle veil bounding the Most Holy Place, and later, the temple veil. The realm of deity’s highly-concentrated presence must be spearated somehow from fallen humanity. This division will shift greatly, though, at the atoning death of Christ with the tearing of the temple veil, and then later with the indwelling of the Spirit that begins at Pentecost. The theme finds further development with Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 about those who turn to the Lord under the New Covenant—“We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.” What a marvelous evolution.

Yahweh in the Tabernacle — in addition to any specific symbolism that may be present in the furniture/features of the Tabernacle, I think there’s plenty of analogy to be found in the very architecture of this structure, especially as it stands in situ. I imagine Moses making the connection in this episode:

Finely embroidered linen, bronze and silver and gold, masterfully crafted wood and metal work…a symphony of textures. An oasis of symmetry and order in the midst of the chaos of this desolate place. Straight lines against the clash of craggy cliffs. Purple and scarlet splashed against the ochre landscape. Structure and harmony rising out of shifting sands. 

Moses smiles. It’s Him. 

And it could…it could be us.

Quite a Collection - Exodus records an impressive list of materials utilized in the building of the Tabernacle. The gold, silver, and jewels offered by the Israelites would of course have originated with the spoils given to them by the Egyptians upon their leaving. Here are a few photos of exactly the kind of items Israel would have had in their posession: New Kingdom era jewelry from various museums around the world. Amazing.

Indigo - As I mention in this episode, some of the Tabernacle materials (like dyes, for instance) wouldn’t have been things the Hebrews had on hand. Here’s a video where you can see someone making indigo dye from the green leaves of isatis tinctoria. It’s a little long, but fascinating to skim through.

Anatomy of a Kingdom Artist - Most translations render the word describing Bezalel and company in Ex 36:1 “skilled”: “Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability…” But I love Robert Alter’s more literal translation of the Heberw word: “wise-hearted.”

As it Was in the Beginning… - As Moses’ inspection of the Tabernacle begins, the careful listener might notice an homage to a scene in the episode of HGS my wife wrote a while back (it’s at 8:29 in “The Giver and the Taker” if you want to listen).

What is “Anointing”? - This is a great quick primer on the Biblical concept of anointing, which features in this episode.

Visualize It - If you’re a more visual learner, here’s a 3D rendering of the Tabernacle:

No Entry - Famously, Moses is not allowed into tabernacle once it’s complete. Much discussion has surrounded this detail, and the exact reasons offered by various commentators differ. In this episode, you’ll hear what makes the most sense to me.

Three Flashbacks - The final scene of this Season includes three successive flashbacks for Moses, each of which reminds us of the posture he’s lauded for in Hebrews 11:25. This willingness to “come down” connects him, of course to Someone else as well.

Refrain - The last words of this episode are, in many ways, the theme of the Exodus story, and they express the trajectory of Yahweh’s work in the world. See if you agree. Speaking of refrains, I can’t get enough of Kendall’s “I Am” leitmotif booming throughout those last few moments in all of its fullness.

THE FINAL JOURNEY

I hope this episode enables a fitting conclusion to your time with Yahweh in the story of the Exodus. Enjoy!

Kendall and I have loved creating these episodes for you, and we’ve worked tirelessly to bring you a Season worthy of a second (or third) listen. Speaking of which…

Bonfire is Here🔥

Great news: Bonfire is available now. The resource my wife (and HGS manuscript editor) and I created for you is now only one click away from being at your house the day after tomorrow.

It’s a 10-week guide to encountering God in the Exodus, and it’s a beautiful, helpful companion to this Season of Holy Ghost Stories.

Fair warning, though: this is not a Bible study.

The goal of Bonfire is not to lead you into a deeper understanding of the Book of Exodus. It’s to lead you into personal encounters with Yahweh that heighten your degree of intimacy with deity. Think meditation instead of study.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Day 1: You’ll listen to the podcast, looking especially for Yahweh’s work and character.

• Day 2: You’ll read the Exodus text, using a prescribed God-seeking method of annotation.

• Day 3: You’ll consider a series of meditation questions and prompts.

• Day 4: You’ll read a personal essay and consider the intersection of Yahweh’s identity and your deepest desire.

• Day 5: You’ll be lead in a series of open-ended prayers.

I’m thrilled for you to get Bonfire into your hands, because I’m convinced we don’t have enough resources like it. Intentionally gazing at God is un under-appreciated, under-practiced pathway toward love for Him. And Moses’ glowing face testifies: time spent in God’s presence leads to God-likeness.

If you’re looking for something to focus your attention on God and hold your hand as you try to understand Him, this is the resource for you.

Oh—and if you’d like to use Bonfire with a group, we’ll give you a bulk discount on 10 or more and a free leader’s guide to boot. Just reply to this email and I’ll set you up.

4 Cool Things

Smucker Does It Again - This poem is so beautiful.

Storied Family Camp - It’s almost sold out! So excited about this time for families in October. If you and your kids could use a getaway full of adventure and growth, grab a spot before they’re gone.

Big Miniature Vibes - So fascinating how Wes Anderson employs miniatures in his films. Here’s a feature on their use in Asteroid City.

Close. Not Too Close. Closer. - My wife shared one of the essays from Bonfire in her substack this week.

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That’s the latest!

I hope “At Last” blesses you richly. And I hope Bonfire brings you into Yahweh’s presence again and again.

Gratefully,
Justin