Part 2 - Day 6
Read Exodus 25 and Exodus 40
God commands the Israelites to build the tabernacle. The word tabernacle means a place of habitation or a place of dwelling. In the simplest terms, God is commanding the Israelites to make him a place for His presence to stay among them. While it may seem like random details at face value, every element of the tabernacle is loaded with purpose and imagery about who God is and what His presence among the Israelites means.
Element of the Tabernacle/Purpose or Meaning of the Element
The Ark of the Covenant - The Ark was a gold-plated chest that held the two stone tablets on which the 10 commandments were written. God’s law was hidden within this ark that was in the center of the tabernacle. This would point forward to how God would eventually write His law on our hearts and His law would be hidden within our hearts. (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
The Table with the Bread of the Presence - This table was covered in gold and placed in the tabernacle. It always had 12 loaves of bread to represent the 12 tribes of Israel. As priests came in, they would eat the bread of presence and in doing so, share a meal with God. This would point forward to Jesus being the bread of life and should even remind us of Jesus’ last meal with the disciples where he broke bread with them, telling them that this bread represented His body. (John 6:48, Matthew 26:26-28)
The Lampstand - The lampstand was made of pure gold and would have 7 lamps on it that would burn 24 hours a day, every day. These lamps would completely bring light to and illuminate the tabernacle to God’s people. The lampstand would point to the Holy Spirit that illuminates God’s truth in our heart and life and allows us to see God for who He is. (John 16:12-15)
This is a little glimpse into some of the rich intentionality God put into every element of the tabernacle when He commanded the Israelites to build it. But as for the Israelites, the greatest part was simply that God Himself was making a way to be with them and to dwell among them. He would lead them each day by His presence, and He would go with them wherever they went. All of this leads us to the ultimate truth that God has come, in the Holy Spirit, to dwell in the heart of every believer. In the same way God led the Israelites and traveled with them. God, in the Holy Spirit, goes with you wherever you go. He wants to guide you day-to-day and help you to glorify Jesus with your life.
As we wrap up Exodus, it’s a great point to reflect on where we’ve been. After mankind fell in the Garden of Eden, God has continued to work towards a solution to the problem that we created. Now, God has found a way to be with His people once again. Even if it is just a temporary dwelling place before God would ultimately dwell in believers through the Holy Spirit. All this time later and God so clearly has a plan to reunite His people to Him once again.
Questions to consider.
How do you think the Holy Spirit helps guide you in day-to-day life? How has He guided you personally?
The Holy Spirit helps us glorify Jesus, one main way this happens is through convicting us of our sin. When is the last time the Holy Spirit convicted you of your sin? What sin might you need to repent of today?
Reflect on all God has done to be able to dwell with His people, and ultimately all he would do to be with us through the sacrifice of Christ. Think about how valuable we are to God, that He would go to those measures to be in relationship with us. How should this shape the way we view ourselves and view Him?
God commands the Israelites to build the tabernacle. The word tabernacle means a place of habitation or a place of dwelling. In the simplest terms, God is commanding the Israelites to make him a place for His presence to stay among them. While it may seem like random details at face value, every element of the tabernacle is loaded with purpose and imagery about who God is and what His presence among the Israelites means.
Element of the Tabernacle/Purpose or Meaning of the Element
The Ark of the Covenant - The Ark was a gold-plated chest that held the two stone tablets on which the 10 commandments were written. God’s law was hidden within this ark that was in the center of the tabernacle. This would point forward to how God would eventually write His law on our hearts and His law would be hidden within our hearts. (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
The Table with the Bread of the Presence - This table was covered in gold and placed in the tabernacle. It always had 12 loaves of bread to represent the 12 tribes of Israel. As priests came in, they would eat the bread of presence and in doing so, share a meal with God. This would point forward to Jesus being the bread of life and should even remind us of Jesus’ last meal with the disciples where he broke bread with them, telling them that this bread represented His body. (John 6:48, Matthew 26:26-28)
The Lampstand - The lampstand was made of pure gold and would have 7 lamps on it that would burn 24 hours a day, every day. These lamps would completely bring light to and illuminate the tabernacle to God’s people. The lampstand would point to the Holy Spirit that illuminates God’s truth in our heart and life and allows us to see God for who He is. (John 16:12-15)
This is a little glimpse into some of the rich intentionality God put into every element of the tabernacle when He commanded the Israelites to build it. But as for the Israelites, the greatest part was simply that God Himself was making a way to be with them and to dwell among them. He would lead them each day by His presence, and He would go with them wherever they went. All of this leads us to the ultimate truth that God has come, in the Holy Spirit, to dwell in the heart of every believer. In the same way God led the Israelites and traveled with them. God, in the Holy Spirit, goes with you wherever you go. He wants to guide you day-to-day and help you to glorify Jesus with your life.
As we wrap up Exodus, it’s a great point to reflect on where we’ve been. After mankind fell in the Garden of Eden, God has continued to work towards a solution to the problem that we created. Now, God has found a way to be with His people once again. Even if it is just a temporary dwelling place before God would ultimately dwell in believers through the Holy Spirit. All this time later and God so clearly has a plan to reunite His people to Him once again.
Questions to consider.
How do you think the Holy Spirit helps guide you in day-to-day life? How has He guided you personally?
The Holy Spirit helps us glorify Jesus, one main way this happens is through convicting us of our sin. When is the last time the Holy Spirit convicted you of your sin? What sin might you need to repent of today?
Reflect on all God has done to be able to dwell with His people, and ultimately all he would do to be with us through the sacrifice of Christ. Think about how valuable we are to God, that He would go to those measures to be in relationship with us. How should this shape the way we view ourselves and view Him?