What is Tabernacle?

Source:http://www.the-tabernacle-place.com/tabernacle_articles/what_is_the_tabernacle.aspx

Tabernacle of Moses — what is it?

The tabernacle is a visual dwelling

Tabernacle means “tent,” “place of dwelling” or “sanctuary.” It was a sacred place where God chose to meet His people, the Israelites, during the 40 years they wandered in the desert under Moses’ leadership. It was the place where the leaders and people came together to worship and offer sacrifices.

The tabernacle was first erected in the wilderness exactly one year after the Passover when the Israelites were freed from their Egyptian slavery (circa 1450 B.C.). It was a mobile tent with portable furniture that the people traveled with and set up wherever they pitched camp. The tabernacle would be in the center of the camp, and the 12 tribes of Israel would set up their tents around it according to tribe. The instruction on how to build the tabernacle was first given to Moses in the wilderness, who then gave the orders to the Israelites.

“…make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8)

“Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them.” (Exodus 29:45-46)

And so God dwelled among His people in the tabernacle in the wilderness. He appeared as a pillar of cloud over the tabernacle by day and a pillar of fire by night in the sight of all Israel. The people would not set out on their journey unless the cloud lifted. It was an unmistakably powerful visual statement indicating God’s presence among them.

God knew that the Israelites needed visual evidence of His presence. When Moses went up to Mount Sinai for 40 days and the people did not see or hear from him, they grew impatient and gathered their gold to form a golden calf that they worshipped in place of God. After ten generations of living in Egypt, it was not surprising that the Israelites mimicked the Egyptians in fashioning a visual idol of their own. This act of disobedience demonstrated their need to follow and worship a God who was visually tangible. God’s provision of a tabernacle — itself a splendor to behold — not only allowed the people to sense His presence, but also to see their leader go in to meet with God in a concrete place and not disappear up a mountain.

The tabernacle of Moses is a lesson of unquestionable authority

The tabernacle was more than just a dwelling place. All the components of the tabernacle were part of an intricate visual aid to illustrate God's relationship with His people. One aspect of this relationship was God’s requirement for complete obedience. God told Moses to create the tabernacle exactly the way He commanded. It was not to stray from God’s blueprint.

“Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.” (Exodus 25:9)

To this end, God gave very specific instructions about the size of each component and the materials the Israelites were to use, as we will see in the following sections of this discussion. These seemingly cumbersome rules were not intended to burden the people, but to show God’s unquestionable authority and holiness, and emphasize that people could only come to God on God’s terms, not on their own. They had to obey reverently not only in the construction of the tabernacle, but also in the way they worshipped. Any irreverence or ritual uncleanness could result from an individual being cut off from his people or in death.

For example, the anointing oil for the tabernacle and the incense for the altar of incense(made from God’s own prescribed formulas of spices) were both declared holy by God and could only be used for the purpose of the tabernacle; anyone else using the same formula for their own consumption would be cut off from Israel (Exodus 30:34-38). The special garments for the priests were holy; if they did not wear the right clothing in serving the Lord, they could die (Exodus 28:2, 43).

The wilderness tabernacle is a projection of God’s redemptive plan

In the New Testament, John writes: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14) This word “dwelling” is the same word for “tabernacle” in the Old Testament. In other words, God came in living flesh to dwell or to tabernacle among His people. As He walked upon the earth and lived among the Jews, Jesus Christ Himself fulfilled the picture of the Old Testament tabernacle. In that and many other ways, as we will see, the tabernacle really was a prophetic projection of the Lord’s redemptive plan for His people.

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’” (Rev. 21:3)

Now, we will walk through the basic layout of the tabernacle and each component of the tabernacle.

• Diagram of the Tabernacle and Basic Layout
• The Gate
• Brazen Altar and the Tabernacle Sacrifices
• Laver (Basin)
• Menorah (Lampstand)
• Table of Showbread
• Golden Altar of Incense
• Holy of Holies and the Veil
• Ark of the Covenant

Further Lessons that we can learn from the Book of Exodus:-

1. Looking to the past ( Chapter 1:1-4:49)

Moses convinced that yesterday’s lessons were crucial for tomorrow’s living. He was recounting God’s unwavering faithfulness to Israelites. God’s faithfulness in the past inspired confidence for the future possession of Cannaan(1:6-8). God could equally trusted for future leadership and organization needs(1:9-18). And should there be times when the people of Israel could not understand God’s purpose, referring to the past experience showed that trust in his wisdom was not misplaced.

2. Looking at the present( Chapter 5-11)

The covenant at Sinai was a past event (4:40) but the obligations resulting from it remains in the present ( Chapter 5). Faithfulness and loving obedience remains today.

3. Looking to the future(chapter 12-26)

Moses reminded Israelites that holiness involved all aspects of life- religious law abiding, social and commercial. Social and justice is essential to the future.

4. Looking at the consequences (Chapter 27 -30)

List is blessings for those who obey and curses for those who disobey. Moses encouraged them to enter into the covenant of God with response of one of the commitment to God.

The law code stresses the seriousness of sin in God’s sight. Sin has its utterly disruptive effect on society. Roman 1:18-32 confirms that rejection of God brings natural and bad consequences in many daily lives, the falling apart of society.

 The Israelites had to put to death enemies and offenders(7:1-2), so are Christians to put to death our old self( Colossians 2:20-3:10), in order to enjoy the benefits of new life in Christ.

5. Moses’ blessing and death(Chapter 31-34)

Moses was forbidden to enter the promised land himself( 32:48-52), his final address was to those who entering the promised land without him.

The important warnings he wanted to convey was the danger of reacting to signs and wonders with amazement without any understanding of their true significance (30:1-10). He challenges them to go forward with courage, confident that God would lead them faithfulness(31:1-8).

Book of Exodus

The word “exodus” also means ‘departure’ or ‘ a journey out’

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Author: Moses was the author of the Book of Exodus (Exodus 17:14; 24:4-7; 34:27).

Date of Writing: The Book of Exodus was written between 1440 and 1400 B.C.

Purpose of Writing:  In God's timing, the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt marked the end of a period of oppression for Abraham's descendants (Genesis 15:13), and the beginning of the fulfillment of the covenant promise to Abraham that his descendants would not only live in the Promised Land, but would also multiply and become a great nation (Genesis 12:1-3, 7). The purpose of the book may be expressed as tracing the rapid growth of Jacob's descendants from Egypt to the establishment of the theocratic nation in their Promised Land.

Key Verses: Exodus 1:8, "Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt."

Exodus 2:24-25, "God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them."

Exodus 12:27, "'It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.' Then the people bowed down and worshiped."

Exodus 20:2-3, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me."

Brief Summary: Exodus begins where Genesis leaves off as God deals with His chosen people, the Jews. It traces the events from the time Israel entered Egypt as guests of Joseph, who was powerful in Egypt, until they were eventually delivered from the cruel bondage of slavery into which they had been brought by "...a new king...which knew not Joseph" (Exodus 1:8).

The book begins with the death of Joseph, and describes the increasing hardship of his descendents before their escape from Egypt and the start of their journey to Canaan, a land promised by God to Abraham and his descendents.

Chapters 1-14 describe the conditions of oppression of the Jews under Pharaoh, the rise of Moses as their deliverer, the plagues God brought upon Egypt for the refusal of their leader to submit to Him, and the departure from Egypt. God’s sovereign and powerful hand is seen in the miracles of the plagues—ending with the plague of death of the firstborn and the institution of the first Passover—the deliverance of the Israelites, the parting of the Red Sea, and the destruction of the Egyptian army. 

The middle portion of Exodus is dedicated to the wandering in the wilderness and the miraculous provision by God for His people. But even though He gave them bread from heaven, sweet water from bitter, water from a rock, victory over those who would destroy them, His Law written on tablets of stone by His own hand, and His presence in the form of pillars of fire and cloud, the people continually grumbled and rebelled against Him. 

The last third of the book describes the construction of the Ark of the Covenant and the plan for the Tabernacle with its various sacrifices, altars, furniture, ceremonies, and forms of worship.

Brief Chapter Narratives:-

1.The journey begins( Chapters 1-18)

2.Laws and responsibilities( Chapters 19-24)

3.Preparing for worship ( Chapters 25 – 40)

Foreshadowings: The numerous sacrifices required of the Israelites were a picture of the ultimate sacrifice, the Passover Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. The night of the last plague on Egypt, an unblemished lamb was killed and its blood applied to the doorposts of the houses of God’s people, protecting them from the angel of death. This foreshadowed Jesus, the Lamb of God without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:19), whose blood applied to us ensures eternal life. Among the symbolic presentations of Christ in the book of Exodus is the story of the water from the rock in Exodus 17:6. Just as Moses struck the rock to provide life-giving water for the people to drink, so did God strike the Rock of our salvation, crucifying Him for our sin, and from the Rock came the gift of living water (John 4:10). The provision of manna in the wilderness is a perfect picture of Christ, the Bread of Life (John 6:48), provided by God to give us life.

Practical Application: The Mosaic Law was given in part to show mankind that they were incapable of keeping it. We are unable to please God by law-keeping; therefore, Paul exhorts us to “put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16).

God’s provision for the Israelites, from deliverance from captivity to the manna and quail in the wilderness, are clear indications of His gracious provision for His people. God has promised to supply all our needs. “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful” (1 Corinthians 1:9). 

We are to trust in the Lord, for He can deliver us from anything. But God does not allow sin to go unpunished forever. As a result, we can trust Him in His retribution and justice. When God removes us from a bad situation, we should not seek to go back. When God makes demands of us, He expects us to comply, but at the same time He provides grace and mercy because He knows that, on our own, we will not be able to fully obey.

Main Source: http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-summary.html

Further Lessons that we can learn from the Book of Exodus:-

The Burning Bush

Using a burning bush to get Moses’ attention, God chose this shepherd to lead his people out of bondage in Egypt. Try putting yourself in Moses' sandals. Can you see yourself going about your daily business when suddenly God appears and speaks to you from the most unexpected source? Moses' initial reaction was to get closer to inspect the mysterious burning bush. If God decides to get your attention in an unusual and surprising way today, will you be open to it?

The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments or the Tablets of the Law are the laws that God gave to the people of Israel through Moses after leading them out of Egypt. In essence, they are a summary of the hundreds of laws found in the Old Testament Law and are recorded in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. They offer basic rules of behavior for spiritual and moral living.

The challenges of the Ten Commandments( Exodus 20):-

1. Vs 3: Is pleasing God my main priority?
2. Vs 4-6: Do I accept God as He is, or do I cut Him down to my size?
3. Vs 7: Am I willing to honour Him in my daily life?
4. Vs 8-11: Am I prepared to put His worship and service before my material gain?
5. Vs 12: Do I acknowledge my responsibilities to my parents and family?
6. Vs 13: Do I respect all human life?
7. Vs 14: Am I faithful in thought, word and deed to my marriage partner?
8. Vs 15: Do I treat other people’s property with care I would give my own?
9. Vs 16: Am I truthful in all I say about others?
10. Vs 17: Am I always wishing that I had more than I got, or am I content with my possessions?

A journey for life

This book is more than a geographical journey but a journey for life. The Jews today still look at this event as celebration to the birth of their nation. Christian today sees God’s act in bring triumph over injustice and oppression. It shows how God hates injustice and so challenges people of all generations to live justly.

This story also shows God’s patience and love in bringing His purpose for both individuals and nations. This we can see from the initial triumph of Israelites and their continuous ingratitude, rebellion, complains and failures and yet God is faithful in His provision of food, water and protection.

Despite human success and failure, God is still sovereign and works out His purpose through all type of human affairs.