The Tabernacle
God reveals the preparation, construction and the use of the tabernacle in the book of Exodus, Chapters 25 to 40. There are only 3 chapters in this section that do not deal with the tabernacle, and they are Chapters 32, 33 and 34.
Why did God desire to tabernacle, or to dwell among men? In Exodus 25:8, the LORD said, “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” In the book of Genesis there are many accounts, figures, and types concerning the sin of man and man’s path; but we never find a dwelling place on earth for God to dwell among men. This personal communication was cut off and no provision was made by God to dwell among men since the Garden of Eden.
Remember when the patriarch Jacob was sleeping on the desert floor and his pillow was a stone. It was here that God gave Jacob the great vision of a ladder that reached into heaven, and Jacob said, “Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not,” (Genesis 28:16). In Genesis 28:19, we find that, “he called the name of that place Bethel,” (house of God) but God did not dwell there. In Exodus 25:8, God said, “let them make me a sanctuary,” a place, “that I might dwell among them.” It was after the blood of the lamb was applied in Exodus 12:13 (when the people of Israel were redeemed out of Egypt), that God chose to dwell among men. The sacrificial lamb was a picture of our great Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:19). It was among redeemed men that God chose to dwell. Note that the people of Israel were redeemed from Egypt, and this does not refer to eternal salvation. Read Hebrews 3:14-19.
Man was, and is a sinner; lost and alienated from God, and without a way to approach God. It was God who made a path whereby man could approach Him, so that man could come into His very presence. God was also preparing and revealing to man a great thing that was to come — and that was when His Son would dwell among men and walk on the earth. The Lord Jesus Christ would be all the expression of God in His Person among men. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,” (Colossians 2:9). “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, . . .” (Colossians 1:14, 15). The tabernacle was not only a place to meet with God, but it was also a place to show forth the glory of God, the glory of heaven, and the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was an expression to Israel of all God’s glory: Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The tabernacle has been called by some, “a tent in the wilderness,” and in some places in the Bible, it is called, “a tent of the congregation,” but, it was much more than a mere tent. On Mt. Sinai, Moses received instructions from God on how to prepare, to construct, and to properly use the tabernacle. Moses was shown examples and was told by God to build exactly according to the pattern. 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].( Exodus 25:9) And look that thou make [them] after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.( Exodus 25:40) 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 8:5)
Consider the tabernacle as a picture or a type; for example, after Moses descended from Mt. Sinai, the tabernacle was constructed into three unified sections, as the Godhead is represented as three unified in one.
First, the outer court; secondly, the holy place and thirdly, the holy of holies. The holy of holies was where the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat were placed. This was the location where the blood of atonement was placed once a year by the high priest for the sins of Israel. In order for God to tabernacle among men, in order for God to dwell in this sanctuary there HAD to be an atonement for the sins of the people.
The Outer Court
Looking at the outer court, we see the brazen altar and the laver — this first section of the tabernacle was not only a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ in His humanity and sacrifice, but the brazen altar and the laver was man’s approach to God. In the outer court were the earthly things, this was where man’s sin was dealt with on an earthly basis. Man would bring his sacrifice and present it there to God — this is a type or figure of earth.
The Holy Place
Then we have the heavens, the holy place, which speaks to us of the illuminaries; those things which we can see in the heavens, the sun, stars and moon. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.”(Psalm 19:1) As we look up, we think of the inner place where the table of shewbread and the lampstand were placed to provide all the light of the tabernacle.
The Holy of Holies
Next, is the holy of holies, or the third place which was behind the veil, concealed from our eyes. In front of this veil was the altar of incense. It was here at this altar of incense that the high priest offered up incense to God — it was a place of acceptance. After offering up incense, the high priest would then proceed through the veil into the dark place to present the blood — the atoning blood for the sins of the nation of Israel. This is a picture of the third heaven where the throne of God is situated. “I knew a man in Christ about fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I can not tell: or whether out of the body, I can not tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.” (II Corinthians 12:2) It is here where the Lord Jesus Christ has gone into heaven for us where He has presented Himself as the sacrifice to God the Father for our sin.
“God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angles of God worship him.” Hebrews 1:1-6
Remember, that in any study of the Old or New Testament, the Bible is one, it is a complete whole. An unknown author once said that,” within the Old is the New concealed, within the New is the Old revealed.” Paul wrote in II Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” In Hebrews 8:5, we read, “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.” These things written in the Old Testament about the tabernacle were examples of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“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.” (Hebrews 9:24) Jesus Christ has offered that sacrifice once for all.
All these things in the Old Testament were given to us so that we might see and understand the glory of God the Father, the glory of God the Son, and the glory of God the Holy Spirit. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)
We receive comfort from these pictures or types, that God so loved man that even back in the book of Exodus, God was preparing a sanctuary (a place) where He could meet with man. These were all foreshadows of the coming of His beloved Son. God knew before the foundation of the earth that His Son would be the foundation stone of the church , and that through Christs’ propitiation man could have communion and fellowship with God. Therefore, this makes Christ our Tabernacle, our meeting place with God. Herein we see the mighty love of God that passeth all understanding. “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building.” (Hebrews 9:11) “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body thou hast prepared me.” (Hebrews 10:5)
We need to realize that the Lord Jesus Christ came to fulfill the whole law and by His sacrifice has become our Tabernacle. The Lord Jesus Christ has become our mercy seat, He has become our altar of incense, our laver and our guide; thus, He is the great antitype and fulfillment of the tabernacle.
For your further study consider the following scripture references. Chapter 10 of Hebrews.
He has entered into heaven once and for all and has put away our sins, that those who believe in Him would have redemption through His blood. He has become our mercy seat where God the Father can look upon Him and be satisfied once and for all in His beloved Son. “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” (Hebrews 3:6) We know, that in the believer, God has made His abode with us. Each and every child of God is a dwelling place for the Spirit of God. The Lord Jesus Christ in John 14:20 said, “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you,” so He is our Tabernacle or dwelling place. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost all dwell within the believer.
“And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.” (Revelation 15:5)
“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” (Revelation 21:3)
Let us review and consider the following points:
1. God desired a place that He might dwell among men.
2. God showed a pattern of the tabernacle to Moses and instructed him to construct it exactly according to this pattern, and to present it to Israel as their approach to Him.
3. The tabernacle was constructed in three main sections, representing the fullness of the Godhead.
4. The Lord Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of the tabernacle and all the articles within it.
Christ has become the better tabernacle that we might approach God through Him. Do you know Him as your Tabernacle?
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)
© 2007 Michael C. Haigh – may be used – but not for gain.
“freely receive – freely give.”