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the Word of God____Unit 1: The Law |
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Exodus: Birth of a Nation
Making the Tabernacle
Chapters 25 - 27
God had set out the terms of his covenant, and the Israelites had agreed to obey (Exodus 24:3). As a visible sign that he would always be with his people, God gave Moses instructions to build a special tabernacle. God was to have a home amongst the Israelites. He would guide and accompany them wherever they went. They would know that he was no local god, whose power was limited to Sinai (adapted from Eerdman's’ Handbook to the Bible, p. 166).
| ARK, TABLE AND
LAMPSTAND CHAPTER 25:10-40 |
Verses 10-22: The ark: This box, 3.75 feet long, 2.25 feet wide and 2.25 feet high, was made of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold. It contained a jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that budded and the stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written (Hebrews 9:4).
The "mercy seat" (NKJV), the golden lid of the ark, illustrated how God’s throne was not only a throne of judgment, but one of grace (Leviticus 16:2-16). Over the mercy seat two golden cherubim stood facing each other (Exodus 25:20).
Verses 23-30: The table for the "shewbread" (NKJV): Made of acacia wood, it was 3 feet long, 21⁄4 feet high and 11⁄2 feet wide, and overlaid with pure gold. Upon it was placed the 12 loaves of shewbread. The bread was renewed every Sabbath and was eaten by the priests only. This bread typified Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life. It is Christ, our High Priest, who nourishes Christians (Matthew 4:4; John 6:33-58).
Verses 31-40: The golden lampstand: The seven-branched lampstand (Hebrew: menorah), a symbol of life and light, pointed to God as the source of Israel’s blessings (compare Job 29:2-3 with Jeremiah 25:10).
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| God-centered Religion: "The general truth expressed by the tabernacle, then, is that the Lord determined to live among his people and the will of God — what he wants — equally governs the whole plan of the great tent and its construction. From 25:10 onwards the description moves from the inside to the outside: first the furnishings, the ark, table and lampstand (25:10-40), then the tent-covering (26:1-37), then beyond it to the altar and the court (27:1-19).... | |
"One
might reasonably have expected that the ‘building’ would come first
and then the things it housed. But this would have been to start from the
visible, and the whole tabernacle exists as the necessary ‘wrapping’
for the invisible God when he comes down to be with his people. God and
his nature determines all, not man and his needs. In this way the
tabernacle sums up a basic biblical truth about religion: it must conform
to the will and nature of God. Much in the Bible exists to expose man’s
tendency to make religion suit his own pleasure, or (as might be said)
match what he finds ‘helpful’. But if religion does not match the will
of God it is ultimately futile (see, for example, Isaiah 29:13)" (Eerdmans’
Handbook to the Bible, eds. David Alexander and Pat Alexander, William
B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1973, p. 168). 
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| THE GENERAL
CONSTRUCTION OF THE TABERNACLE CHAPTER 26 |
Verses 1-6: The 10 linen curtains: These were made of fine linen, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with artistic designs of cherubim embroidered into them.
Verses 7-37: The tabernacle coverings, frames, curtain ("veil," NKJV) and outer curtain: The veil of the tabernacle separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, the inner sanctuary where the ark of the covenant was located. The veil represents humanity’s separation from the presence of God, which ended when Christ was crucified. At the moment of Christ’s death, the veil was "torn in two from top to bottom" (Matthew 27:51). Although the Old Testament high priest could go behind the veil only once a year, Christ, as our High Priest (Hebrews 9:11-12), provides continual access to the presence of God to everyone who enters "by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain [veil], that is, his body" (Hebrews 10:20).
| THE BRONZE ALTAR AND
COURTYARD CHAPTER 27 |
Verses 1-8: The bronze altar: This was the great altar for animal sacrifices. It was 7.5 feet square and 4.5 feet high. It was located at the entrance of the tabernacle, thus signifying that the shedding of blood is central to humanity’s approach to God. The altar typifies the cross, and the burnt offerings made on it typify Christ, who offered himself unblemished to God (Exodus 12:5; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:19).
Verses 9-19: The courtyard: The curtains of fine linen surrounding the courtyard demonstrate that righteousness is required for true worship (Revelation 19:8). They prevent access to anyone who does not come in by the entrance. The entrance of the tabernacle represents Jesus Christ. As our "gate," he is our access to God by virtue of his redemptive work (John 10:7-9).
Verses 20-21: The oil for light: The fine olive oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit (1 Samuel 16:13).
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