Exodus 24:12--25:9
"Then the Lord said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them."
So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. And he said to the elders, "Wait here for us until we come back to you. Indeed, Aaron and Hur are with you. If any man has a difficulty, let him go to them."
Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain.
Now the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
The sight of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Chapter 25
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "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.
And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the 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. 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."

We open our lesson with the reading of Hebrews, chapter 9.
The tabernacle of God in the wilderness of Sinai is the first habitation that the Living God ever caused to be built for Him! During the forty days and nights Moses spent on the holy mountain, he received not only the tables with the commandments of God, but also the divine instructions for this unique construction of the tabernacle.

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In order for the first tabernacle to be constructed, God instructed Moses to tell the people to bring Him an offering. There were fourteen different materials listed from which the people could select the item or items they could bring as their offering. In the course of one year, the tabernacle was erected at the base of Mount Sinai. Almighty God attested His pleasure with His presence in the bright cloudy pillar: "Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle." (Exodus 40:34)
Throughout the Scriptures, the Tabernacle is referred to by one of ten names given to it: The Tent of Meeting (Exodus 27:21); The Tabernacle of Jehovah (Leviticus 17:4); the Tabernacle of Testimony (Numbers 1:50); The tent of Testimony (Numbers 9:15); The Sanctuary of Jehovah (Numbers 19:20); The House of God (Judges 18:31); The House of Jehovah (1 Samuel 1:7); The Temple of Jehovah (1 Samuel 1:9); The Tabernacle of the Testimony (Acts 7:44); A Sanctuary of this world (Hebrews 9:1).
For about 500 years services were performed in this tabernacle by the priests who were from the family of Aaron.
The Divine purpose in the building of the Tabernacle is summed up in the key verse in the Exodus 25 passage which we have quoted, namely: "Let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them." (Exodus 25:8) God’s desire is to dwell in the midst of His redeemed people on His own terms and His own grounds. God follows the pronouncement of His purpose by giving a pattern that is to be followed in the construction of His dwelling place.
"For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For he said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." (Hebrews 8:3-5)
God made a dwelling place for man when He created the earth. The details of this creation are contained in two consecutive chapters in Genesis 1 and 2. Mankind marvels at the vastness of this material product of the creation of man’s dwelling. Scientists spend a lifetime studying and exploring the mysteries of this created dwelling. Yet infinitely greater is the mystery and wonder of God’s dwelling place, the Tabernacle.

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The Bible affords about 43 consecutive chapters, Exodus 25-40 and Leviticus 1-27 plus many other portions of Scripture to the subject of God’s dwelling place. If the two chapters concerning man’s dwelling place afford such a rich field of study and exploration, then the habitation of the Eternal God certainly must provide an abundance of food for the hungry student. A wealth of knowledge, truth and spiritual riches are hidden in this revelation.
The believer needs to place value and emphasis where God does, and this is that which concerns His dwelling place!
"How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainted for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." (Psalm 84)
As the writer of Hebrews has stated, the heavenly things were made visible on earth. God has always desired to dwell with and among His people. God dwelt with man before the entrance of sin in Eden’s dwelling or tabernacle for it was there that God walked and talked with Adam in the garden. (Genesis 3:8,24) God walked and talked with Noah and the patriarchs in their times, for He appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Not only did God dwell among men in the Tabernacle made by Moses, but also in the tabernacle during the reign of David and Solomon. God’s fullest and most perfect revelation was in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the "fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 1:19).
He is God in human form. He is The Tabernacle and the Temple (John 2:19-21). He was that Word made flesh who "dwelt, tabernacled" among us, and we beheld His glory. God was in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
God now dwells in the tabernacle or dwelling place of the Church. He dwells individually in each believer’s heart. He also dwells corporately and collectively in the Church as a Body (1 Timothy 3:15, John 14:29; Ephesians 2:20) the ultimate revelation of the dwelling of God is seen in the revelation of the Foursquare City of God. This is the New Jerusalem "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)
In the text which we have read in Exodus 25, we note that dwelling place of God was to be built by freewill offerings, each man giving willingly with his heart. (Exodus 25:2)
The Spirit of giving came upon the Israelites in thankfulness to the Lord who had delivered them out of the house of bondage in Egypt. It is interesting to notice where the children of Israel got all of the materials to

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build the Sanctuary in the Wilderness. They got it from the Egyptians! As the living God was about to lead His people out of Egypt, He commanded Israel before their departure from the house of bondage to ask for gold and silver articles and clothes from their heathen neighbors. Because of the horrible plagues, the Egyptians were gripped with terror. They were glad to be rid of these people at last and were therefore ready to give those who departed what they desired. In this manner the children of Israel "despoiled" the Egyptians (Exodus 3:22; 11:2; 12:36). The promise had been given 430 years previously to Abraham that his seed would be freed from slavery and depart with great substance. (Genesis 15:14) In this way the people possessed enough to dedicate a "Heave Offering" to the "Holy One of Israel." The reason why the offering was so named was because such gifts were lifted up toward heaven by the donor and in this way were dedicated to the Lord. When Moses presented the opportunity to give towards this building project, with willing hearts they gave generously! In fact, their generosity was so overwhelming that Moses had to restrain the people from bringing more! (Exodus 36:5, 6) Now that the materials were given, it was time to fashion them into items to be used in the Sanctuary for worship. This required divine wisdom, which is mentioned seven times in this connection. The Spirit of God filled two gifted men with this wisdom: Bezaleel and Aholiab. These men became the instructors to others who joined their energy and talents in this sacred task.
For the construction and the furnishing of the tabernacle God gave various dimensions and numbers.
Let’s observe some very interesting things about the outer court of the tabernacle. The only door through which one could gain entrance to the outer court was located on the east side. Illuminated by the morning sun, it presents an arresting sight to eyes of the worshiper. A gorgeous embroidery in four bright colors attracts his gaze. It is a wide entrance door--an invitation for everyone to enter into the Holy Place. It’s width is a full 36 feet!
As we study this ancient place of worship, we will frequently point out the spiritual lessons which we believe are applicable to the object or material used in its construction. Let us say right from the beginning that here for the first time we see a wonderful picture that points to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Remember, this was the only door available for entrance into this place of worship. Our Bible tells us that Jesus Christ

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is the Door. "Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep." (John 10:7) "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10:9) "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
All the details of the tabernacle constitute a glorious, impressive, pictorial language of God. The study of types and symbols is called TYPOLOGY.
We have noted that the curtain which hung at the entrance or door of the outer court consisted of four colors, namely; blue, purple, scarlet, and white byssus. These colors appear in the three entrance hangings, as well as in the cherubim covering over the Tabernacle.
It may be said the four colors correspond to the four evangelists. Blue may be said to represent the Gospel of John. This apostle described our Lord as the eternal Son of God who came from heaven. How often we hear Him say of Himself that He has "come out of heaven" (John 3:13,31; 6:32-33, 58). Purple reminds us vividly of the glory of Jesus Christ, who is the King of kings and the Messiah of Israel, just as the evangelist Matthew especially shows Him! In antiquity purple was a sign of highest might, thus, purple is thoroughly appropriate for the Lord Jesus to whom is due the highest glory and honor that He will one day receive. Scarlet, the color of blood, should remind us of the suffering Servant of God wherever we see it in the component materials of the tabernacle. In the Gospel of Mark we can see Him as the One who said of Himself: "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). Byssus. The byssus fabric is mentioned for the first time in Genesis 41:42. It was the clothing of honor for righteous Joseph in Egypt; the finest white cotton. The Israelites brought this bright white, extremely fine fabric with them when they left their bondage in Egypt.
The task and intent of the Gospel of Luke is to present our Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of Man in His sinless, holy life. "That holy thing which shall be born." (Luke 1:35) His spotless life as a man is aptly represented by the byssus fabric. The New Testament refers seven times to Christ as "the righteous One."
After going through this gate or door which we have just spoken about, one is surrounded

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by curtain walls of white linen.
This outer court measured 100 cubits by 50 cubits. These white curtains were hung on sixty pillars bound together by silver rods. This fine linen acted as a dividing wall between God in the tabernacle and man outside. The purpose of the Court was to prevent any wrongful approach to the Tabernacle of God. In the middle of the outer court stood the brazen altar for burnt offerings on a mound of sand. To the north there were several benches for killing the animals to be sacrificed. The brazen laver stood between the brazen altar and the tabernacle.
This curtain wall surrounding the court was 5 cubits high (90 inches), and the distance between each pillar was five cubits. Near the upper end of every pillar two silver hooks were attached. One was outside, toward the courtyard, the other side, facing the opposite direction. On every hook was hung a very strong rope whose free end was fastened to a brass peg, which was driven into the ground one inside the courtyard and one outside for each pillar. This two-side anchoring insured the immobility of the pillars. Once on the inside of the courtyard, the wall of curtains acted as a shield from the outside world of the desert.
As we proceed toward the Tabernacle inside the courtyard, the first object we see is a brazen altar for sacrifices.
"Using acacia wood, make a square altar 7.5 feet wide, 7.5 feet long and 4.5 feet high. Make a horn at each of the four corners of the altar so the horns and altar are all one piece. Overlay the altar and its horns with bronze. The ash buckets, shovels, basins, meat hooks, and firepans will all be made of bronze. Make a bronze grating, with a metal ring at each corner. Fit the grating halfway down into the firebox, resting it on the ledge built there. For the moving the altar, make poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze." (Exodus 27:1-6)
The primary message of the Brazen Altar is the message of the Cross. The horns of the altar are those which were touched by the blood on the Day of Atonement.
Let’s review for just a moment!
In coming to God, we are immediately confronted with the Person of Jesus Christ. He is the Door. And as soon as we open our heart to Christ, we learn that on the Cross two thousand years ago, He became the sacrifice for our sins. "Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ritual defilement. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our

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hearts from deeds that lead to death so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered Himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why He is the One who mediates the new covenant between God and people, so that all who are invited can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant." (Hebrews 9:13-15 New Living Translation)
It was the Outer Court in which sin was to be judged. There was the sacrificial cleansing by the blood of the animal sacrifice, and there were ceremonial washings to wash away all defilement.
Located mid-way between the altar and the entrance to the Tabernacle was the Brazen Laver. Of all the pieces of furniture, we have the least information in regard to the laver. It is described as a brazen vessel containing water, standing on a pedestal or foot. The priests would use the basin for washing their hands. The other pieces of furniture were used particularly in reference to God but the Laver was used especially for the priests.
The ministry of the laver points us to the ministry of the Word of God in our lives.
The Laver speaks of that cleansing that comes as the Word exposes areas of our life that are not in conformity to the standard of God.
Now we have come to the Tabernacle itself!
The Tabernacle consisted of a framework of 48 boards overlaid with gold. These boards stood in 96 sockets of silver and were braced by five bars on each of its three closed sides. At the entrance or open side of the Tabernacle, facing the Laver and Altar, was a hanging called "the Door of the Tabernacle." The Tabernacle did not have any solid ceilings as is customary in our houses--no beams of wood, no walls of stone. It was built like a tent, as its name indicates (Tent of Meeting), and was covered with four coverings. Two coverings of skins and two of woven carpeting enclosed the Tabernacle.
It measured fifteen feet wide and forty-five feet in length and 15 feet high.
"The framework of the Tabernacle will consist of frames made of acacia wood. Each frame must be 15 feet high and 2.5 feet wide. There will be two pegs on each frame so they can be joined to the next frame. All the frames must be made this way. Twenty of these frames will support the south side of the Tabernacle. They will fit into forty silver bases--two bases under each frame. On the north side there will also be twenty frames. (Exodus 26:15-20)

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Over this three-sided wall structure were stretched four coverings secured by pegs in the sand on each side. The appearance of this covering was not attractive. The innermost covering was the cherubim covering, then the covering of goat’s hair, then the covering of ram’s skins, and the outer covering was badger skins. The 15 feet by 45 feet structure was divided into two sections. The first section was 15 feet by 30 feet and it was called The Holy Place. The second section was 15 feet by 15 feet and it was separated from the first section by a curtain called the Veil.
In the first section, three pieces of furniture were located: the Altar of Incense, the Table of Shewbread, and the Golden Candlestick. The smaller section was known as the Most Holy Place which contained the Ark of the Covenant. It measured 3.75 feet long, 2.25 feet wide and 2.25 feet high. It was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. On the top of this box structure was the Place of Atonement covered with gold. Using hammered gold, two cherubim were placed facing each other. The cherubim were looking down on the atonement cover with their wings spread out above it. Inside the Ark were placed three items: Aaron’s rod that budded, the two tables of the Ten Commandments, and a jar of manna.
The High Priest entered The Most Holy Place only once a year on the Day of Atonement to place the sacrificial blood for the sins of the nation. The Holy Place was entered daily to attend to the lamps and the altar of incense which burned night and day. This altar was placed in front of the veil separating the two sections.
Now we have a picture of the place that God had instructed Moses to build so that He might have a place to dwell among His people.
The Tabernacle is gone and the ancient rites have ceased. The wonderful news of the Gospel is that God has made us His dwelling place. "...or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own." (1 Corinthians 6:19)
On that Cross two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ became the sacrifice for our sins. The Veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom and we now have access into the very throne of God! Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest who ever liveth to make intercession for us. And God still seeks to dwell with us. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20)