LEARNING DAILY

 

Exodus 25:9, According to all that I show you that is, the pattern of the tabernacle of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.

 

I find reading about the plan and the construction of the tabernacle is not as exciting to read as other parts of the Bible. It is detailed and it seems to go on for a long time. Every time I get to this part, I want to just skip over it. When was the last time you spent time reading and studying this part of the Bible? After taking time to consider my attitude, getting it adjusted to be what it needs to be I have come up with some thoughts on why reading about the tabernacle is important.

 

The tabernacle is to be constructed of the finest materials and done with very specific instructions because God Himself is going to fill the tabernacle with His presence. The tabernacle is going to be presided over by priests who have been given specific instructions regarding their clothing, various offering they will preside over as well as other ceremonies God has instructed. The tabernacle will include the ark, and the holy of holies where a priest will seek atonement once a year for the people’s sins. God has given specific instructions for the place He will inhabit and the details by which man will worship Him. Understanding that no detail for man’s worship of God is too small for His concern has changed how I look at this portion of Scripture.

 

God is very concerned with the purity of His people. In laying out the details of constant worship, the need for sacrifice and offerings, and the value He places on all that is dedicated to serving Him, God shows how much He values the details of each of our lives. The detail given here is a reminder of just how God is involved with the details of each of our lives. Once again, let me refer to the “if/then” statement from the last blog; He has great expectations for each of us as we are obedient to the commands He gives as we walk on the narrow way to His kingdom. His kingdom must be our focus each day as we try to live for Him by being obedient to His commands.

 

The tabernacle is a foreshadow of the more permanent temple to be built in the future – the church. John 1:14 speaks of Jesus coming to dwell among people and to show the grace and truth of the Father. But just like the tabernacle His time on earth was temporary. Let me give some thoughts from the notes in the Daily Reading of the Chronological Bible I am reading. In the tabernacle was the mercy seat above the ark suggesting the grace of Jesus which will cover the law. The blood of the animal sacrifices presents a time when Jesus will be slain as the Lamb of God. The veil which separates man from God will be torn in two by Jesus as He atones for our sins. And all who believe in Jesus Christ and obey the laws of His covenant will become as priests offering their lives to serve Christ. We no longer offer up lambs as our sacrifice because Jesus Christ became the only sacrifice we need. Jesus Christ now lives in our hearts – not temporarily but on a permanent basis. And we no longer approach Him for the forgiveness of sins once per year; we can do so any time of day, every day for forgiveness and to walk with Him on the narrow way to His kingdom.

It is best we approach the reading of the tabernacle differently and be thankful for God being active in every detail of our lives. He is working every day to cleanse us of unrighteousness in order to present us as we must be in order to walk into His kingdom for eternity!