Let us continue to worship our God as we learn more about Him in the Book of Exodus. God took the Hebrews out of bondage in Egypt and led them through the dessert to bring them to the Promised Land of Canaan. How long were the Hebrews in the dessert??
Because of their sinfulness, the Hebrews (God’s chosen People) were in the dessert for one generation (40 years) before entering the Promised Land!
As they traveled through the dessert for 40 years, God taught and disciplined His Chosen People. God had the Hebrews build a “tabernacle” where He could be with the people!
show map….
Open your Bibles to Exodus 26…. We will also look at chapter 27 this morning. Read along with me starting with v1 of Exodus 26-27….
God asked the Hebrews under Moses to build a “tabernacle” (a portable sanctuary). Let us highlight the details and try to picture in our minds what all of these things look like.
- 10 curtains with twisted linen of 3 colors and a cherubim (angel portrait)
- 2 sets of 5 curtains joined together with loops and clasps to hold them together
- 11 curtains made of goat hair for over the tent
- tent covering made of dyed ram skins and sea cow hides
- tent frames and crossbars are to be made of acacia wood overlayed with gold
- tabernacle is to have a Holy Place and a Most Holy Place separated by a curtain
- Ark of the Testimony is to be in the Most Holy Place
- Table and Lampstand is to be in the Holy Place
- Entrance to the Tabernacle must have a special curtain
God asked for a special “Altar” (offerings were to be made)
- made of acacia wood, about 10 feet high, 15 feet square
- horns on each corner and overlayed with bronze
- all utensils and pots are bronze
- is to be portable (goes wherever the tabernacle goes)
God asked for a “courtyard” (a public place for anyone) – this surrounded the tabernacle
- about 300 feet long and 150 feet wide
- front faces the sunrise
- posts having silver bands and bronze bases surrounds the courtyard
- surrounded with intricate curtains
God asked for “lamps”
- lit with olive oil
- in front of the Ark of the Testimony, lamps are to be always lit in the evening by the priests
What does this all mean? Show picture…. picture yourself in the dessert in this place: the courtyard draped with beautiful curtains, the priest dressed for God, the special Holy rooms, the Ark of the covenant, reminders of angels present and where God is truly present… sacrifices, offerings, and worship happen there!!
Can you see yourself with the Hebrews by the courtyard?
Now, you’re traveling in the dessert, show map again…… for 40 years, wherever you go, this Tabernacle with God goes with you!!! Now, with all these things in mind, In general, why do you think God asked for the Tabernacle, the Altar, the courtyard, the lamps and all the other items for the Hebrews??
Basically, all the items asked by God were used for a close relationship with God! Here’s an application for us to think about: Ever wonder why God asks us for things? God desires a loving relationship with each one of us!
And so, all of those things in Exodus were for a loving relationship between the Hebrews and God! What about us today?
How can we have a loving relationship with God today??
We read in Romans 8:38-39… "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
We have a loving relationship with God today as we believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!
Now, does the Tabernacle, Altar, Courtyard, Priests, and other items used by the Hebrews of old have any significance to us today? What does Jesus Christ have to do with all the stuff called by God from the Hebrews as they traveled to the Promised Land?
The loving relationship with God to the Hebrews of old required blood sacrificed by animals. The Tabernacle, Altar, Courtyard, Priests, and all the items called for in Exodus were all meant for the blood sacrifice of animals for the forgiveness of sins!
Let’s read what god states about all of this in relation to Jesus Christ. God initially spoke to Hebrews who became Christians about 2000 years ago. All Christians can learn from God with these truths in the Letter to the Hebrews.
Turn with me to the New Testament to the Book of Hebrews Chapter 10…. Read along with me… Hebrews 10:1-25….
What God did in the dessert with the Hebrews of old was in preparation for all people to believe in Jesus Christ as the sole and final Savior and Lord! As Believers of Jesus Christ today, we have been part of God’s loving relationship with people ever since Adam and Eve; we are part of God’s calling of Abraham; we are part of what the Hebrews of old did in the dessert; we are part of that first communion with His first disciples; we are part of that gathering when Jesus appeared with His resurrected body to the disciples; we will be part of the Great Banquet in heaven in the near future with all the Believers of Jesus Christ!! How should we respond to this God??
