"89 And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him."
Numbers 7:89
The supreme point in this unusual chapter comes in its final verse, following the cata- logue of the totals of the offerings, massive and munificent as they were. When Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak with God the divine voice spoke to him from above the mercy seat on the Ark of testimony. Scholars are not certain whether what follows in chapter 8 gives the substance of what the Lord spoke to him, or whether 89 is intended 'as an independent statement and not simply as an introduction to a divine address' (North). What is important, however, from a spiritual point of view, is the fact that God spoke with Moses when the Tabernacle was completed and the altar consecrated and dedicated. In other words, when the ground of fellowship was properly established, according to the pattern shown in the mount, then God met with Moses, and through Moses with the people. This speaks to us of the only way in which fellowship with God is really possible on the ground of a Godappointed sys- tem of atonement and approach to Him. It is only through Christ the Mediator that we can have fellowship with God and that God can speak with us.
Furthermore, and from a spiritual point of view even more important, the possibility of God speaking with His people is linked here directly with the dedication of the princes and their gifts to the Lord. This is a consideration that merits further thought.