The Tabernacle in the Wilderness # 1
The Blueprint of a Dwelling Place for God
By Pastor Jim May
Exodus 25:8-9, "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it."
Never before had a people been so privileged and blessed as the nation of Israel was by Almighty God. Since the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden, mankind had not enjoyed the presence of God in an intimate manner. Even though God did move upon those who searched after Him and desired to know Him, He never had a people that He could call His own. Satan had laid claim to all that God had created through the power of sin. But God, in His great mercy and love, would not allow Satan’s victory to stand forever. God had a plan that was already in motion before man fell. It was a plan to reveal His love and His character to mankind and give man a second chance to commune with God.
How was this plan to begin? If you see that someone is doing something very dangerous, what is the first thing that you will do? You will warn them of the danger, let them see what you see, and then attempt to show them a way out of that danger. That’s what God decided to do when He set His plan for redemption into motion.
When you read through the Book of Exodus, you will find that God gave three very important things to through Moses that gave Israel the beginnings of God’s plan.
First, He had to show them what it meant to be holy, and to show them where they had already missed the mark and were an unworthy people, worthy only of death and judgment. He did this by giving them the 10 Commandments. The 10 Commandments are not suggestions on how to live a good life. They are God’s Perfect Law and must be obeyed fully before man could claim holiness. Of course the Law was only a Schoolmaster, a teacher, to show man that he had no hope of deliverance from eternal death without God.
Secondly, God gave Moses the Civil and Religious Laws that we read so much of in the Book of Leviticus and other books of God’s Word. These laws were meant to show man the way to living a sanctified and committed life that would result in the fulfillment of the 10 Commandment. Of course, man could no more obey all of these laws than he could the 10 Commandments and God knew it. These laws only drove the nails deeper into the coffins of condemned mankind. No man could fulfill the Law. None could attain unto holiness and righteousness because to fail in one point of the Law carried the same verdict of guilty as failing in all of the Law. The Law had power to teach, to show man where he was guilty, but it had no power to deliver or forgive sin. That’s why God gave Moses the third part of His plan to redeem mankind and through this part, to reveal to Israel, and the world, that God would send a Deliverer, a Messiah, perfect in all His ways, who would fulfill the Law perfectly and give his life for the cleansing of sin from the heart of sinful man.
That third part of God’s revelation for His plan of redemption was the detailed instructions for building a dwelling place for God among the nation of Israel. It was the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.
The Tabernacle was to be the place where God would dwell and guide His people during their wilderness journey. The building of the Tabernacle was to be one of the most joyful and momentous occasions in the history of Israel. As we shall see, everything about this tabernacle was meant to be a symbol of something far greater than a building made with hands. It was built to show every detail of how God’s very presence would one day dwell in the hearts of men.
With this in mind let us begin a journey through the Tabernacle and behold in amazement how great our God really is and what He has done for us.
Let me begin by giving you some Key Facts About the Tabernacle:
The cloud that guided by day was visible above the Holy of Holies to show that God was in their midst.
1. The Tabernacle was the worship center of Israel for a long, long time: more than 500 years from MOSES to DAVID - until Solomon’s TEMPLE was built
2. A Large Portion Of God’s Holy Word Is Dedicated To The Tabernacle:
-37 entire chapters discuss the Tabernacle: 13 chapters in the book of Exodus discuss the Tabernacle and its priesthood.
-18 chapters of Leviticus discuss the sacrificial system of the Tabernacle.
-2 chapters in Deuteronomy are set aside for the study of the Tabernacle.
-In the New Testament, the Tabernacle is discussed in detail in four chapters of the Book of Hebrews.
3. The Tabernacle Of Moses Is A Powerful Teaching Tool to teach us about God’s Grace
It was filled with symbols, types, pictures, and shadows that teach spiritual truths for the Believer. The symbolism of the Tabernacle is significant.
4. The Holy Sprit Inspired Moses To Write Everything Down That God’s People Would Need In Order To Know How God Wanted To Be Approached And Worshipped.
The Tabernacle and its priesthood were teaching tools for more than 500 years. Israel had to settle for an imperfect Tabernacle that was made with human hands. The believer today has a much better perspective of our redemption that was spelled out in the Tabernacle. The spiritual has come to fulfill the natural. We are no longer limited to the mere shadow of the Tabernacle and its priesthood; we have the reality of the Tabernacle’s message - the very Person to whom the Tabernacle pointed - THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Redeemer of the World.
Colossians 2:17, "Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."
Hebrews 8:5, "Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount."
Hebrews 9:23-24, "It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:"
The pillar of fire by night was comforting. The Children of Israel could always look toward the Holy of Holies and see the fire of God’s presence over their camps.
5. The Tabernacle Symbolizes Three Major Things:
The ministry of JESUS CHRIST
The ministry of the CHURCH.
The Christian believer who TRULY follows God
1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s."
The Tabernacle was the dwelling place for God’s presence upon earth, standing as a strong witness to the Lord. The believer, his body - is the very TEMPLE OF GOD, the sanctuary and dwelling place for the presence and witness of God upon earth.
One Bible scholar says this about the Tabernacles’ relationship to you and I as Believers.
The Body can be compared to the OUTER COURT; it is the outer and visible part of our personality.
The Soul can be compared to the HOLY PLACE; it’s the part of our personality that enjoys fellowship with other believers, worships, eating at the table, walking in the light, and interceding in prayer.
The Spirit can be compared to the HOLIES OF HOLIES; it’s the believer’s deepest hidden life, the individual and personal communion of one sheltered under the BLOOD; it is the place of spiritual victory.
The Purposes of the Tabernacle:
The Tabernacle had 2 main purposes. 1) It was to be God’s sanctuary in Israel, and 2) It was designed to force God’s people to look for the coming Messiah, the One who would fulfill all of the symbols of the Tabernacle.
Names and Titles Given to Tabernacle
In the Old Testament we see that there were many different names by which the Tabernacle of Moses was called. Each of these names brings out its own particular aspect of the truth, even as the various names for the New Testament Church speak different aspects of the Church. This Tabernacle was called:
The Tabernacle (Exodus 25:9) - The word tabernacle simply means "tent" or "dwelling place." This tabernacle was to be the dwelling place of the Most High.
The Sanctuary - (Exodus 25:8) - The word "sanctuary" means "a holy place" or "place set apart." This Tabernacle was to be a place set apart for the habitation of a holy God.
The Tent of Testimony or Witness -The Tabernacle received this title because it contained the Ark of the Covenant that contained the Tables of the Law. The Tables of the Law were called the "testimony of a holy God." They were His moral standard for redeemed Israel.
The House of - This was God’s house in which He was to be Lord.
The Tent of the Congregation - This was to be the place where the congregation gathered together at the door for festival days and worship. Even as they gathered unto the door of the Tabernacle, so today we gather to THE DOOR, the Lord Jesus Christ, who declared, "I am the DOOR."
God gave Moses and the Children of Israel some specific Requirements For Building The Sanctuary
The dwelling place of God was to be built:
1. By Freewill Offerings -
Exodus 25:2-8, "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood, Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them."
Where did a nation, slaves for 400 years, get all this material to build the sanctuary? They got it from the Egyptians. This was a direct fulfillment of prophecy given to Abraham years before that Israel would come out with great substance:
These blessings that the people received from the hands of the Egyptians were not received to make the people rich. They were given to them to be given back to the Lord. There came a time to give and the people responded. The same principle works today. God doesn’t pour out blessings of prosperity on us so that we can horde it up and create a grand lifestyle. He opens the windows of Heaven that we may have more to give back to His work, to the church and to help those in need.
2. By A People who were Stirred Up, Willing to give, freely of their own hearts and not coerced, but were cheerful givers.
Exodus 35:21-22, "And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD."
We should be stirred up today and conduct ourselves as Believers when it pertains to the building of God’s house. We should ask the Lord to stir our spirits up to be as close to Him and as LIKE HIM as we can possibly be.
3. By the Wisdom of God
The Tabernacle was built by the wisdom of God through Moses. The Temple was later built by the wisdom of God through Solomon. Likewise the New Testament Church will only be built by the wisdom of God.
4. By the Spirit of God
The equipping and enabling power of the Holy Spirit upon men built the Tabernacle. The New Testament Church must be built accordingly.
Zechariah 4:6, “… Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
5. By the Divine Pattern of God alone
Exodus says 17 times that Moses built the Tabernacle "as the Lord commanded Moses." Nothing was left to the mind or imagination of man. Everything was to be made according to God’s pattern. God can only bless and seal that which is done according to the standard of His Word. The Church must be built according to the pattern of God. That pattern may not be the same for each church but we must find out what the will of God is for our churches, and our lives and then we must walk in His pattern!
The Tabernacle And The Revelation Of The Cross
The nation of Israel consisted of 12 tribes at the time of construction of the Tabernacle. These 12 tribes were divided into four groups in regard to their positioning around the Tabernacle. Each group of three Tribes had their own particular standard under which they encamped.
On the EAST side under the standard of the LION were positioned the Tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulon. These armies totaled 186,000 individuals and comprised the largest of the groups:
On the WEST side under the standard of the OX were the three tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin. This was the smallest group of tribes involving 108,100 people:
On the NORTH side under the standard of the EAGLE were the Tribes of Dan, Asher and Naphtali. This camp was comprised of 157,000 individuals.
On the SOUTH side under the standard of the MAN were the tribes of Rueben, Simeon and Gad. The total number of people in this group was 151,450.
The Tribes arranged on the NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST with the Tabernacle in the midst form a heavenly view of a CROSS. If you look at the picture you can see how it may have appeared from the sky.
The New Testament fulfillment is that God’s camp of HIS SAINTS around the world is seen in relation to each other and in relation to JESUS CHRIST ON THE CROSS!
There are many voices in the Body of Christ today telling us we should “move on” or “go beyond” the cross. Neighbor when we move away from the cross we backslide! The apostasy that is in the church today is a result of the church abandoning the foundational message – that man is a sinner who stands condemned before God without hope unless man repents and embraces the cross of Christ. Any other message than that is “another gospel,” that embraces “another Jesus,” and is empowered by “another spirit.” The Tabernacle rebukes all such foolishness. It’s central message – even in the way it was organized in the wilderness is that God’s prescribed order of our walk with Him starts and ENDS with the cross of Christ!
Everything we have today as believers – be it salvation, baptism in the Holy Spirit, miracles, gifts of the Spirit, fruit of the Spirit, wisdom, knowledge, etc. all come through the HOLY SPIRIT. The Holy Spirit is here today to do one thing – to fulfill the FINISHED work of Christ on the cross in our hearts and lives. The Holy Spirit does not work any other way! He WILL not work in any other circumstance and there are no exceptions to that rule!
This is Divine Order. Just as God had order then, He has order now in the Church.
The picture, symbolism and revelation of the Cross will also be seen In The Furniture of the Tabernacle, both in the Order of its appearance and its Position within the structure.
The ARK of the Covenant was placed at the HEAD in the MOST HOLY PLACE, or the HOLY OF HOLIES, the Holiest of All
The STAVES were on the sides.
The CHERUBIMS were on the ends
The MERCY SEAT faced the East.
The STAVES were left in the rings. Hence the ARK was placed with the Staves running NORTH and SOUTH.
Though Scripture does not expressly state all in their position, yet it can be seen that if a straight line is drawn from the Ark of the Covenant, passing through the Incense Altar, and through the Brazen Laver to the Brazen Altar, and then another straight line is drawn from the Golden Candlestick across to the Table of Showbread, the revelation of the Cross is beheld in the positioning of the furnishings.
Evidence thus shows the furniture in the form of a CROSS! The Divine message is clear: All of God’s dwelling with His people is upon the basis of the work of the CROSS, which is in CHRIST JESUS.
The Time of the Building of the Tabernacle
Our God is a sovereign ruler of the universe, and when He tells us that "all these things happened to them for an example" to us, he means ALL THINGS! Every detail of the Tabernacle speaks some truth to the end of this age we live in today. The time it took to construct the Tabernacle holds an important revelation as well. It is a prophetic shadowing of what was to take place 1500 years later in the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ.
When we correspond Exodus 19:1 and Number 9:1 with tradition in Jewish history, we find that the Tabernacle took about NINE MONTHS to complete. After nine months it became the habitation of God. In the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word which dwelt among us, was in the womb of the Virgin Mary for NINE MONTHS:
The Message of the Tabernacle
The Tabernacle of Moses was simply a portable tent with various curtains and coverings over a wooden structure. It had three apartments or places to it. The scriptures refers to each of these as
The Holiest of All contained: The Ark of the Covenant
The Holy Place contained: The Golden Altar of Incense; The Table of Shewbread; The Golden Candlestick
The Outer Court contained: The Brazen Altar and the Brazen Laver
The message of the tabernacle is graphically illustrated with one simple word - the WAY. It is God’s appearance or approach to man in grace or Man’s approach to God in faith. As man comes to God, he must begin at the Gate, accept the Blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. From there on he progresses step by step, line upon line, until he comes to the ultimate, the full of Glory of God as seen in the Most Holy Place.
From the Brazen Altar to the Ark of the Covenant - Man’s Approach - Faith
From the Ark of the Covenant to the Brazen Altar - God’s Approach – Grace
The Tabernacle is a picture of God’s plan of salvation to man. It is illustrated in seven main ways:
The Way of Introduction - THE GATE OF THE OUTER COURT;
Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
The Way of Reconciliation - THE BRAZEN ALTAR;
2 Corinthians 5:19-21, "… God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
The Way of Separation - THE LAVER;
John 13:10, "Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all."
The Way of Illumination - THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK;
John 8:12, "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
The Way of Satisfaction - THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD;
John 6:35, "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."
The Way of Intercession - THE ALTAR OF WORSHIP or INCENSE;
Hebrews 13:15, "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."
The Way of Communion - THE ARK OF THE COVENANT;
1 John 1:3, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
