Instructions for the Tabernacle
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Exodus 25:1-40, Exodus 26:1-14, Genesis 3:24, Hebrews 9:6-14
BY Tameshia Williams
These last few years, I’ve had the opportunity to visit various cathedrals, and duomos, throughout Italy. They are both similar—marked by aesthetic and medieval architecture—and unique. The gothic-style design of Milan’s cathedral is accented with white marble and a record number of statues. Florence’s cathedral is renowned for the red-tiled dome that tops its mammoth structure. The cathedral in the hill-top city of Orvieto (my favorite Italian city, by the way) features a facade with beautiful mosaics and massive bronze doors. Each duomo was built with the idea that it would, for years and years, be the dedicated space where people could worship God and experience His presence. Centuries before these buildings were planned, God commanded the tabernacle’s construction for the same purpose.
“They are to make a sanctuary for me so that I may dwell among them.” —Exodus 25:8
When Adam and Eve sinned, humanity’s relationship with God was broken, and He removed them from the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24) and His presence. Still, God wanted to fellowship with His people and designed the tabernacle to be the sacred space where Israel could come before Him. The portable sanctuary, carried throughout the wilderness, is a monument of God’s grace. The devastation of sin is that it separates us from God. But He made way for His people to interact with Him despite the reality of sin. And this was how He would live with His people—through a tabernacle free of impurity, crafted from the choicest materials and furnished with the highest quality items.
Unlike the duomos of Italy, the tabernacle was not meant to be forever. Scripture progressively reveals God’s plan for redeeming humanity, and we discover that God had something more in mind than only dwelling among His people. He planned to live in us—without the requirement of a physical sanctuary to access His presence. Jesus’s once-for-all-time sacrifice makes it possible to enjoy fellowship with God. Because of Him, we get to experience the “good things that have come” (Hebrews 9:11).
How amazing of a holy and perfect God to invite flawed and broken people into His presence without any geographical requirements. Instead of needing to meet Him in a tabernacle or a cathedral, we get to carry His presence with us wherever we go—at church, at a football, or home. He is with us, and He is in us. Always and forever (v.12).
35 thoughts on "Instructions for the Tabernacle"
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Lord prepare me to be your sanctuary!
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I guess I’m relating to these passages in a different way. We’re in the middle of a big move across county. We will close on our home in 3 weeks. In the meantime we’re in an Airbnb. We have lists, boxes, storage pods and an air-conditioned storage locker. We have a million phone calls & address changes. We are imagining we this or that piece of furniture will go. It’s very exhausting.
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Off the ventilator and thinking how could we have the strength to do it? Yet all 25 of us held hands and did it together. It was truly a peaceful moment in a sad time for our family. But how lucky he gets to have all of you by his side. Even in the darkest of times God is good.
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@Tina praying for you guys! In such a hard time for your family it’s so nice to be able to see the tender mercies God has for us. I remember when my grandpa passed away and we had to take him
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I have to admit, in the past I kinda dreaded this section with all the detail. It seemed very dry to me. This time tho, I took a different approach and looked a little deeper into the details of building the arc and tabernacle. Some cool things I found:
God sits on the mercy seat! I had not noticed this before and it was so cool to me imagine God sitting there to meet with the priests.
The detail it took to build the arc. They did not have modern tools like we do; this took incredible mastery to build the arc. I found a couple videos of modern day blacksmiths trying to build the arc with tools the Israelites had, so interesting to watch. The historian estimated to cover the arc in gold, it would have taken 20,000 wedding rings. Imagine that!
Tina, praying for you and your siblings. It’s a hard thing to experience. Praying God’s peace and comfort over all of you.
Gwineth52- praying for your relationship with your stepdaughter.
Heidi- praying that your daughter has an excellent 1st day of school! -
TINA- praying for you and for your siblings! I pray for peace, comfort, and hope for you all and that God would show you how to grieve well! Much love sent your way from TX!
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Praying for you Heidi and your daughter. Prayers for you Gwineth 52 for your relationship with your step daughter. Praying for you Tina as you travel to be with family as you say goodbye to your stepdad. Jennifer Loves Jesus and Angie Mills Amen. Praying for other ongoing requests as well♥️
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GWINETH52 – I went through this with my stepdaughter for years. It was a very difficult time. I knew she wasn’t ready for me, but didn’t expect it to go so long. She was 14 when I met her. She is now 31. We are in a better pace, but we are just two very different people. I pray that God will protect you through this hard journey.
TINA – Prayers for peace for you and your family.
HEIDI – Continued prayers for your girl.
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