Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
What if God's purpose has never been simply to save individuals—but to form a people in whom He can dwell?
In Chapter 5 of The Coming Shift, we follow the story from Abraham's covenant family into the formation of Israel—a people delivered from Egypt, brought to Mount Sinai, and invited into something extraordinary:
“You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” — Exodus 19:6
God didn't bring Israel out of Egypt simply so they could be free.
He brought them out so they could be His.
In this episode of The Coming Shift LIVE, Rachel Baxter is joined by Matt Enns and Margaret Alberts as they explore Chapter 5: “Israel — A People Formed for God's Presence.”
Together, we consider what Israel's story reveals about what God desires to accomplish in His people today.
At Sinai, God invited an entire people to draw near. Yet when they encountered His presence, they were afraid. Rather than hearing God themselves, they asked Moses to stand between them and God.
But God's desire did not change.
He still wanted to dwell among His people.
The tabernacle became a provision for His presence—and a pattern pointing forward to something greater that would ultimately become possible through Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
In this conversation, we explore:
Why Israel was formed as a covenant people
Why deliverance from Egypt was about belonging to God, not merely escaping bondage
God's invitation for Israel to become a kingdom of priests
What happened when Israel chose distance rather than direct encounter
The difference between God dwelling among His people and within His people
Why the tabernacle reveals God's continuing desire for relationship
The difference between information and transformation
Why God is forming a corporate people rather than merely transformed individuals
What it means to find our identity as part of the Body of Christ
Why relationships and community expose areas within us that still need transformation
How surrender, humility, forgiveness, and healing prepare us for unity
Why our freedom and healing ultimately have a purpose beyond ourselves
What it means to become a people who carry and reveal the presence of God
One of the central realizations of this chapter is simple but profound:
God's desire has always been to dwell with His people.
From Eden, to Israel, to the tabernacle, to Christ, to the indwelling Holy Spirit, the pattern continues.
And perhaps part of The Coming Shift is recognizing that God's purpose does not end with each of us having an individual relationship with Jesus.
He is forming a Body.
A people under one Head.
A people learning to hear Him, trust Him, surrender to Him, forgive one another, walk together, and ultimately become a dwelling place for His presence.
The question is not whether God can accomplish it.
The question for each of us is whether we will say yes to being part of what He is forming.
📖 Follow Along in The Coming Shift
The Coming Shift follows the biblical story from Eden through covenant, Israel, the tabernacle and temple, Jesus Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and ultimately toward the fulfillment of God's purpose to dwell with and within His people.
Get the physical book through Tholioil.com or Amazon.
The digital edition is also available FREE through Tholi so anyone who wants to join this journey can participate.
🎙️ The Coming Shift LIVE
Join us each Monday at 4:00 PM Central as we journey chapter by chapter through The Coming Shift.
Bring your Bible. Bring your questions. And come ready to consider what the biblical story means for God's people today.
Reflection Question:
What changes when you stop seeing your walk with God primarily as an individual journey and begin seeing yourself as part of the people He is forming?
#TheComingShift #BibleStudy #Israel #BodyOfChrist #HolySpirit #KingdomOfGod
What if God's purpose has never been simply to save individuals—but to form a people in whom He can dwell?
In Chapter 5 of The Coming Shift, we follow the story from Abraham's covenant family into the formation of Israel—a people delivered from Egypt, brought to Mount Sinai, and invited into something extraordinary:
“You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” — Exodus 19:6
God didn't bring Israel out of Egypt simply so they could be free.
He brought them out so they could be His.
In this episode of The Coming Shift LIVE, Rachel Baxter is joined by Matt Enns and Margaret Alberts as they explore Chapter 5: “Israel — A People Formed for God's Presence.”
Together, we consider what Israel's story reveals about what God desires to accomplish in His people today.
At Sinai, God invited an entire people to draw near. Yet when they encountered His presence, they were afraid. Rather than hearing God themselves, they asked Moses to stand between them and God.
But God's desire did not change.
He still wanted to dwell among His people.
The tabernacle became a provision for His presence—and a pattern pointing forward to something greater that would ultimately become possible through Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
In this conversation, we explore:
Why Israel was formed as a covenant people
Why deliverance from Egypt was about belonging to God, not merely escaping bondage
God's invitation for Israel to become a kingdom of priests
What happened when Israel chose distance rather than direct encounter
The difference between God dwelling among His people and within His people
Why the tabernacle reveals God's continuing desire for relationship
The difference between information and transformation
Why God is forming a corporate people rather than merely transformed individuals
What it means to find our identity as part of the Body of Christ
Why relationships and community expose areas within us that still need transformation
How surrender, humility, forgiveness, and healing prepare us for unity
Why our freedom and healing ultimately have a purpose beyond ourselves
What it means to become a people who carry and reveal the presence of God
One of the central realizations of this chapter is simple but profound:
God's desire has always been to dwell with His people.
From Eden, to Israel, to the tabernacle, to Christ, to the indwelling Holy Spirit, the pattern continues.
And perhaps part of The Coming Shift is recognizing that God's purpose does not end with each of us having an individual relationship with Jesus.
He is forming a Body.
A people under one Head.
A people learning to hear Him, trust Him, surrender to Him, forgive one another, walk together, and ultimately become a dwelling place for His presence.
The question is not whether God can accomplish it.
The question for each of us is whether we will say yes to being part of what He is forming.
📖 Follow Along in The Coming Shift
The Coming Shift follows the biblical story from Eden through covenant, Israel, the tabernacle and temple, Jesus Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and ultimately toward the fulfillment of God's purpose to dwell with and within His people.
Get the physical book through Tholioil.com or Amazon.
The digital edition is also available FREE through Tholi so anyone who wants to join this journey can participate.
🎙️ The Coming Shift LIVE
Join us each Monday at 4:00 PM Central as we journey chapter by chapter through The Coming Shift.
Bring your Bible. Bring your questions. And come ready to consider what the biblical story means for God's people today.
Reflection Question:
What changes when you stop seeing your walk with God primarily as an individual journey and begin seeing yourself as part of the people He is forming?
#TheComingShift #BibleStudy #Israel #BodyOfChrist #HolySpirit #KingdomOfGod
