GOD AMONG HIS PEOPLE

Exodus 25:1-9

The Tabernacle built in the wilderness by Moses was a place where God wanted to dwell constantly among His people. What a wonderful picture! A picture of assurance of God’s ever abiding presence. In the wilderness, God’s abiding presence stimulated confidence in the people, brought about the fear of God, ensured protection of Israel as they travelled through rough and uncharted terrain. Nomadic and warlike groups and nations saw the miraculous manifestations of Yahweh and feared to get close to Israel.

This Theme of God’s abiding presence is repeated throughout the Bible. It is God’s ultimate purpose concerning us, the crown of His creation to dwell among us (Revelation 21:1-4). The Tabernacle in the wilderness was a picture if things to come, a picture of Christ and His redemption. I pray that God will give us understanding as we explore the richness of the Tabernacle.

The Tabernacle In The Wilderness

Designed In Heaven Complete With Material Specification and Dimensions (Exodus 25:9, 40)
People Gave Willingly For The construction (Exodus 36:1-7)
The Furniture Of The Tabernacle

The Tabernacle was an earthly figure of the temple of God in Heaven (Hebrews 9:23-24). Its specification and materials were handed over to Moses by God. God was very particular about Moses making the tabernacle according to the pattern shown him on the mountain (Exodus 25:9, 40). To make sure that the Tabernacle was constructed exactly according to the supernatural design, God chose two men and filled them with the Spirit of wisdom to design the intricate furniture and ornaments of the Tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-6).

For the people of Israel this was a very important piece of design, which came directly from God, and they took it very seriously (Exodus 36:1-7). What a lesson this is to us to learn to do as these people of God of old did (

The Tabernacle

The Tabernacle was a very dominant piece of work among Israelites. The Tabernacle has three sections as shown in the diagram -  the outer court in which we have are the Altar of burnt offerings and the Bronze Laver, a large basin filled with water where the priests can was after sacrifice. This outer court is not covered over. It was lighted by the sun. Then the next structure is covered over and divided into two parts – The Holy Place in which are the Golden Lampstand or The Menorah, the table of Show Bread and the Altar of Incense. Separating this was a thick veil. Within the veil was the Holy of Holies.

 

 

The Altar Of Burt Sacrifice

On this Altar the priest offered burnt sacrifices for his own sins and for the sin of the people. By this sacrifice an Israelite would be forgive and become accepted by God (Leviticus 1:4). A ram, a goat, a bullock or a pigeon without blemish may be offered, depending on a person’s ability.

Why was it important to offer sacrifice for sin? God said in Ezekiel 18:4, “All souls are mine…, the soul that sinneth it shall die”. The penalty of sin is death (Rom.6:23). The Law required a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. The Law was pitiless. But God provided the solution for sin (Leviticus 17:11, 8). Either you must die for your sin or an animal dies in your place – life for life. Through the life-blood of the animal, atonement is made for your sin!

God provided Himself a solution, a sacrifice. His only Son Jesus Christ would be the one and only sacrifice required for the atonement of the sin of the world.

 

The Altar of Incense

Once a year the High Priest would make an atonement for the altar by sprinkling of the of the blood of the sin offering on the horns because the altar was holy to the Lord (Exodus 30:10). Also note that it was in the Holy Place that Zechariah went into to burn incense before the Lord. As He was offering incense before the Lord on this Altar, the angel Gabriel appeared to him to announce the birth of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29; 3:16).

 

 

The Table Of Show Bread

The Table of the Showbread or bread of the Presence is a reminder that God was always with His people and would commune with them. It was 3 feet long and 1 ½ feet wide. It was 2 feet and 3 inches high. The priest baked 12 loaves of bread representing the 12 tribes of Israel and kept it before the Lord till the Sabbath. Every Sabbath day the priest would remove it and eat it in the Holy Place and replace it with freshly baked bread. Jesus is the bread we eat, the bread of life (John 6:35, 49-50) 

 

 

 

The Menorah (Golden Lampstand)

This was the only source of light in the Holy Place and the priests need the light of it to be able to move around and perform their service to God. The light must burn continually (Leviticus 24:1-3). This was God’s dwelling place and the priests needed the light to interact with God and do service of prayer and supplication to Him for the people. Relate this to the sayings of Jesus (John 1:9; 8:12; 12:46).

 

The Ark Of Covwnant

Bezaleel made the Ark according to the pattern given by God and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in His heart (Exo.37:1). This placed in the Holy of Holies. The High priest only was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies. He was not allowed to enter and go at will (Exodus 25:22; Leviticus 16:2). The Ark was a symbol of power wherever it went because of the presence of God in the Holy of Holies. The Ark contained three items

The Two Tables of The Ten Commandments

An Omer of Manna

 Aaron’s Rod that Budded

Obviously The Lord had a reason to command these three memorials to be kept. The ten Commandment show the character of God and what He required of His people. The Manna was to remind them of God’s continuous provision for His people. Israel ate manna everyday for 40 years, paying nothing for it.

Aaron’s rod was to remind Israel not rebel against God or His servants (Numbers 17:10).

The cover is usually called the Mercy Seat in the King James Bible, but it literally means the Atonement cover. It was here that God would appear to Moses to speak to him about His people.

Concerning the pot of manna, we see that Jesus was the True Bread from heaven, the true Manna, which if any one eats will have eternal life (John 6:32, 48-50)

 

God's Purpose For The Tabernacle

Exodus 25:8-9; Psalm 68:18; John 17:23; 2Corinthians 6:14-18; Revelation 21:1-3

 

The tabernacle was a very functional facility. The tabernacle served as a meeting place between God and men, and was thus known as the “tent of meeting.

The tabernacle solved one problem with its portability. The tabernacle also solved the problem of a holy God dwelling in the midst of a sinful people. The tent curtains, and especially the thick veil, served as a separator, a dividing barrier, between God and the people. The tabernacle was a facility which displayed fabulous wealth and beauty. The building of the tabernacle involved all of the people. All of the people would benefit from the tabernacle, and thus all were permitted to participate in its construction, either by their donations of materials, or of skilled labour, or both. The tabernacle testified to the character of God. The excellence of the tabernacle, both in its materials and its workmanship, was a reflection of the excellencies of God. The tabernacle was also a holy place, because abiding in it was a holy God (Exo.30:37-38) (Bob Dafinbaugh, bible.org)

When the Tabernacle was completed and erected, God immediately appeared in His glory and covered it (Numbers 9:15; Exodus 40:33-35). God’s final ultimate purpose is to have His Tabernacle among His people. (Rev.21:L1-3).

 

The Tabernacle, A Foreshadow Of Christ's Ministry

Hebrews 6:18-20; 8:1-2; Heb.9:8-12; 23-26; Rev.21:16; Heb.11:10

The Holy is holies was a type of Heaven itself. The high Priest that ministered their foreshadowed Christ our High priest. There was no physical or artificial light in the Holy of Holies. The Shekinah Glory of God lighted the place. In the same way there will be no artificial light in heaven (Rev.21:23).

Jesus is our High Priest who enters into the Holy of Holies in Heaven to appear on our behalf before God. Let us follow the light of God’s word as we travel through this year. God is with us.