17 Now in the first month [h]of the second year, on the first day of the month, the [i]tabernacle was erected. 18 Moses erected the tabernacle and [j]laid its [k]sockets, and set up its boards, and [l]inserted its bars and erected its pillars. 19 He spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent [m]on top of it, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 20 Then he took the testimony and put it into the ark, and [n]attached the poles to the ark, and put the [o]mercy seat [p]on top of the ark. 21 He brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up a veil for the screen, and screened off the ark of the testimony, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 22 Then he put the table in the tent of meeting on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil. 23 He set the arrangement of bread in order on it before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 24 Then he placed the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle. 25 He lighted the lamps before the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 26 Then he placed the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the veil; 27 and he burned fragrant incense on it, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 28 Then he set up the [q]veil for the doorway of the tabernacle. 29 He set the altar of burnt offering before the doorway of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the meal offering, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 30 He placed the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing. 31 From it Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet. 32 When they entered the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 33 He erected the court all around the [r]tabernacle and the altar, and [s]hung up the veil for the gateway of the court. Thus Moses finished the work.
Here we see Moses (presumably with assistance) setting up the tabernacle for the first time exactly one year after their deliverance from Egypt. In the NLT, it is indicated that their covenant with God is what the stone tablets contained. It wasn’t JUST the law, not just a bunch of rules and regulations. Those commandments came with promises as well. They were promises of how God would bless them, give them long life, and prosper them in a land that they did not yet possess. When God asks us to do something, it isn’t just a whim. He does everything for the good of those who love Him.