The Building of the Tabernacle: A Dwelling Place for God

Following their miraculous deliverance from Egyptian bondage, the children of Israel stood at the foot of Mount Sinai, a nation redeemed and set apart by God. It was here, amidst thunderings and lightnings, that the Almighty revealed His desire to dwell among His people. This profound longing for fellowship birthed the divine command to construct a portable sanctuary – the Tabernacle. Far from being a mere architectural blueprint, the building of the Tabernacle was a sacred undertaking, meticulously detailed by God Himself, serving as a tangible representation of His presence and a prophetic shadow of a greater reality to come.

A Divine Command and Design

The instructions for the Tabernacle were not left to human ingenuity or preference. God called Moses up into the mount and there presented him with a heavenly pattern, a divine blueprint that left no room for deviation. The Lord declared, “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8). This was not a suggestion, but a command, accompanied by the stern warning: “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). Later, He reiterated, “And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.” (Exodus 25:40). Every dimension, every material, every piece of furniture had a specific purpose and symbolic significance, reflecting God's perfect order and His holiness. The Tabernacle was to be a microcosm of God's cosmos, a place where heaven touched earth, and where sinful man could, by divine provision, approach a holy God.

Freewill Offerings and Spirit-Filled Craftsmanship

The resources for this monumental task were to come from the people themselves, as freewill offerings. Moses presented God's call to the congregation, saying, “Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; 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…” (Exodus 35:5-7). The response was overwhelming; men and women, rich and poor, brought their most precious possessions, so much so that Moses had to restrain them from bringing more. “For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.” (Exodus 36:7). This outpouring of generosity demonstrated their eagerness to participate in building God's dwelling place.

Equally vital was the divine empowerment of skilled artisans. God specifically named Bezaleel, of the tribe of Judah, and Aholiab, of the tribe of Dan, as the chief craftsmen. Of Bezaleel, the Lord said, “See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.” (Exodus 31:2-5). This was not merely natural talent, but a supernatural endowment of skill and wisdom, enabling them to execute God's intricate design with divine precision. Their work was not just craft; it was worship.

Structure and Symbolism: A Path to God

The Tabernacle was a tent, yet it was a complex and highly symbolic structure, divided into three main sections: the outer court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies. Each element spoke volumes about God's character and His plan of redemption.

The Outer Court: Enclosed by linen curtains, it contained two primary pieces of furniture.
- The Brazen Altar: Located immediately inside the gate, it was where animal sacrifices were offered for atonement. It represented the necessity of shed blood for the forgiveness of sins, pointing to Christ, the ultimate sacrifice.
- The Laver: A basin of brass filled with water, where priests washed their hands and feet before ministering. It symbolized the need for cleansing and purification before approaching a holy God.
The Holy Place: Entered through a beautiful embroidered curtain, this section housed three items.
- The Candlestick (Menorah): Made of pure gold, it provided the only light within the Holy Place. It symbolized God as the source of light and truth, and later, Christ as the Light of the World.
- The Table of Shewbread: Upon it were twelve loaves of bread, representing the twelve tribes of Israel in constant communion with God, sustained by His provision. It foreshadowed Christ as the Bread of Life.
- The Altar of Incense: Located directly in front of the veil separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, incense was burned daily upon it. Its rising smoke symbolized the prayers of God's people ascending to Him.
The Holy of Holies (Most Holy Place): Separated by a thick, intricately woven veil, this was the innermost sanctuary, entered only once a year by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement. It contained only one item.
- The Ark of the Covenant: A gold-covered wooden chest containing the tables of the law, Aaron's rod that budded, and a pot of manna. Its lid, the Mercy Seat, was overshadowed by two cherubim. It was here, between the cherubim, that God's presence (the Shekinah glory) resided, and where atonement was made for the sins of the people.

Every aspect, from the curtains of fine twined linen and goats' hair to the shittim wood overlaid with gold, spoke of purity, sacrifice, divine beauty, and God's glory. The progression from the outer court to the Holy of Holies illustrated the pathway to God – through sacrifice, cleansing, and communion, ultimately leading to His very presence.

The Glory of God Fills the Tabernacle

Upon the completion of the Tabernacle, precisely according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses, a spectacular event occurred, confirming God's approval and His faithful promise. “Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34-35). This visible manifestation of God's presence, the Shekinah glory, was the ultimate validation of their obedience and the fulfillment of God's desire to dwell among His people. It signified that the Tabernacle was indeed His dwelling place, and from it, He would lead and guide Israel through their wilderness journey.

The Tabernacle: A Foreshadowing of Christ

While the Tabernacle served its purpose for centuries, its true significance lies in its prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. The New Testament reveals that the Tabernacle was a “shadow of heavenly things” (Hebrews 8:5). Jesus is the ultimate dwelling place of God among men. As John 1:14 states, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” The Greek word translated "dwelt" (ἐσκήνωσεν - eskēnōsen) literally means "tabernacled," emphasizing that Christ was God's living Tabernacle.

Every aspect of the Tabernacle finds its fulfillment in Him:

The Brazen Altar points to Christ's sacrificial death on the cross, the once-for-all atonement for sin.
The Laver speaks of the washing of regeneration and the cleansing power of His Word.
The Candlestick highlights Christ as the Light of the World, illuminating the path to truth.
The Table of Shewbread reveals Him as the Bread of Life, sustaining our spiritual lives.
The Altar of Incense signifies Christ's intercessory prayer for His people and the acceptance of our prayers through Him.
Most profoundly, the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat point to Christ as the very embodiment of God's presence and mercy. He is our propitiation, through whom we find forgiveness and grace.

The tearing of the veil in the temple at Christ's crucifixion (Matthew 27:51) symbolized the opening of the way into the Most Holy Place, not by the blood of animals, but by the precious blood of Jesus. Through Him, we now have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way (Hebrews 10:19-20). He is our High Priest, who ever liveth to make intercession for us.

A Dwelling Place Today

The building of the Tabernacle stands as a timeless testament to God's unwavering desire to dwell with His creation. While the physical Tabernacle no longer exists, its spiritual reality continues. In the New Covenant, God's dwelling place is no longer confined to a tent or a temple made with hands. The Apostle Paul teaches that individual believers are now temples of the Holy Ghost: “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?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Moreover, the church, as the collective body of believers, is described as “an holy temple in the Lord,” where God dwells by the Spirit (Ephesians 2:21-22).

The Tabernacle's construction reminds us that God's presence is holy, accessible only on His terms, and always through the provision of a sacrifice. For us today, that sacrifice is Christ. As we reflect on the meticulous detail and profound symbolism of the Tabernacle, we are drawn to worship the God who desires to dwell with us, and to praise the Lord Jesus Christ, who made that dwelling place intimately possible.