Heavy Temporary Dwelling Place

Heavy Temporary Dwelling Place

Exodus 26: ¹⁴ “You shall also make a covering of ram skins dyed red for the tent, and a covering of badger skins above that.

 

¹⁵ “And for the tabernacle you shall make the boards of acacia wood, standing upright. ¹⁶ Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the width of each board. ¹⁷ Two tenons shall be in each board for binding one to another. Thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle. ¹⁸ And you shall make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side. ¹⁹ You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under each of the boards for its two tenons. ²⁰ And for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, there shall be twenty boards ²¹ and their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under each of the boards. ²² For the far side of the tabernacle, westward, you shall make six boards. ²³ And you shall also make two boards for the two back corners of the tabernacle. ²⁴ They shall be coupled together at the bottom and they shall be coupled together at the top by one ring. Thus it shall be for both of them. They shall be for the two corners. ²⁵ So there shall be eight boards with their sockets of silver—sixteen sockets—two sockets under each of the boards.

 

============

 

GOD gave Moses very specific instruction to cover the tabernacle. HE also provided details into the structure that could easily be assembled and disassembled.

 

My Observations:

• GOD chose a sturdy wood that was rot and water resistant and very heavy.
• GOD gave the instructions on how to make a tongue and groove structure that was not flimsy.
• GOD wanted a temporary meeting place that would need to be carried around for forty years.

 

The tabernacle weighed about seven to ten tons. Its top was red and had a dark center. GOD seems to want the structure noticed and carefully carried. This enormous structure would require a large group of people to build, assemble and disassemble it when GOD said to move from one location to the next.

 

There was no other structure like it at the time. The Egyptians had stone pyramid tombs and huge grain vaults, made by the children of Israel. GOD was preparing the children of Israel for HIS presence. HE would be with them and wanted a formal structure. I notice that the structure came after the curse mentioned in Genesis. The structure was more for humans than it was for GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the top and walls of the tabernacle?
• Has GOD called you into something that requires a stronger structure?
• Does GOD want you to strengthen the flimsy idea and make it into something sturdy with components?

Second Set of Curtains for the Tabernacle

Second Set of Curtains for the Tabernacle

Exodus 26: ⁷ “You shall also make curtains of goats’ hair, to be a tent over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains. ⁸ The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; and the eleven curtains shall all have the same measurements. ⁹ And you shall couple five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves, and you shall double over the sixth curtain at the forefront of the tent. ¹⁰ You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain of the second set. ¹¹ And you shall make fifty bronze clasps, put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one. ¹² The remnant that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. ¹³ And a cubit on one side and a cubit on the other side, of what remains of the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on this side and on that side, to cover it.

 

============

 

GOD gave Moses additional detailed instructions for the second set of curtains.

 

My Observations:

• A scapegoat would be instituted as a symbolic representation of taking on the guilt of sin and JESUS became our scapegoat.
• JESUS also said HE would separate the sheep from the goats, meaning believers would be separated from non-believer in HIS salvation.
• GOD called for the use of bronze on these curtains, which is a lesser metal that would patina due to the cheap metal ingredients.

 

I believe the second set of curtains represent the human part of the relationship with GOD. Goat’s hair could be shaved off without killing the animal. Bronze would be used to hold up the goat hair curtains. I believe GOD allows humans to temporarily do their own thing, but is will have lesser results, like bronze compared to gold.

 

I also believe that human results require the need for JESUS to become our scapegoat. The overwhelming number of curtains and the extreme extra care it would take to fashion the curtains would remind the high priests of the need for GOD’s forgiveness.  GOD was very intentional in HIS choice of materials.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the details regarding the curtains made from goat’s hair?
• Has GOD focused your attention on HIS mercy HE has for you?
• Have you placed your human efforts and expectations under GOD’s control?

First Set of Curtains for the Tabernacle

First Set of Curtains for the Tabernacle

Exodus 26: “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them. ² The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. And every one of the curtains shall have the same measurements. ³ Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. ⁴ And you shall make loops of blue yarn on the edge of the curtain on the selvedge of one set, and likewise you shall do on the outer edge of the other curtain of the second set. ⁵ Fifty loops you shall make in the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is on the end of the second set, that the loops may be clasped to one another. ⁶ And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains together with the clasps, so that it may be one tabernacle.

 

============

 

GOD gave Moses very detailed instructions on how to make the first set of curtains for the tabernacle.

 

My Observations:

• GOD wanted representation of angels HE would use to protect the people.
• GOD was very specific in terms of colors, measurements and numbers.
• GOD would provide the talent to the people who made the tabernacle curtains.

 

JESUS’s robe would be scarlet and purple, similar to the colors of the curtains. HIS robe mocked HIS kingly status. But the curtains were supposed to be special. Eventually there would be twenty-one curtains

 

Some of the curtains would be used to separate the three main sections of the tabernacle, namely the Outer Court, Holy Place and the Most Holy place or the Holies of Holies. The designs, colors and measurements were for humans to see and be reminded of GOD’s presence and protection. GOD provided the measurement and the skill it would take to make everything.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the detailed measurements of the first set of curtains?
• Has GOD ever given you detailed instructions?
• What are you working on that is preparing you for your meetings with GOD?

 

Pattern of the Tabernacle

Pattern of the Tabernacle

Exodus 25: Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ² “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering. ³ And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze; ⁴ blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair; ⁵ ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; ⁶ oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; ⁷ onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate. ⁸ And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. ⁹ According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.

 

============

 

Moses and Joshua went up the mountain as GOD told them to do. There GOD gave directions on what to build for HIM to go along with the children of Israel on their journey.

 

My Observations:

• GOD asked for people to willingly give an offering so they could be part of the process of building the tabernacle.
• GOD was making a temporary meeting place that had HIS specifications that mimicked the temple revealed to the writer John.
• GOD was preparing the people to address HIM with sovereignty versus commonality.
• GOD used lots of colors including gold, silver, bronze, blue, purple, red, white and black.
• GOD used textures that rounded out the senses of humans like soft hair and smooth stones.

 

Before GOD gave any law, HE provided a place to put the law HE would make. Sinai means jagged stone. This is the place GOD would write HIS law in something that would not smudge or fade. The tablets were to be placed in the tabernacle they were about to build.

 

GOD shows us HIS promise that HE would never leave us or forsake us. HE wanted a place where HE would come and be with HIS people. HE knew what the temple in heaven looked like and HE wanted to mimic this in the tent. The temple seen in heaven would be slightly different, because there would be no need to confess sin or sacrifice due to sin.

 

A tabernacle is a tent. This could be carried around and temporarily erected at the place GOD guided them to. GOD knew the two-week journey would take forty years.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about the offering instructions for the tabernacle?
• Has GOD become too common in your life?
• What can you learn about GOD’s formality when it comes to HIS instructions for holiness?