EXODUS 25:1-2 FAITH AND SIGHT JOIN For forty days Moses was out of sight of the Israelites while God gave him the design, the plan, the materials list and the purpose of the Tabernacle. It was obviously not something to be taken carelessly or even something to be added to or anything taken from. God was giving a visible representation of Himself that would link the faith of the people of God to their everyday life with - and for God. This was not a graven image made in some form so people could see God looking in some way like themselves. The pattern, the model, the representation of God was an unusual structure similar to a building, only uniquely different. This building was to denote and illustrate in ways people could see, what the God in whom they had put their faith was like. God wasn't getting any input at all from Moses. God gave the size, the form and the material from the pins to hold the fence in place, to those things that wouldn't be seen like a rod going from end to end in the walls, to the undergarments of the priests, to Moses and all was to be made exactly as He instructed.
Divine instructions are not something to be tampered with. If the type is to be so carefully made, how much more that which is the reality. We dare not haphazardly make images of God. We dare not adapt the ideas of men about the Lord Jesus Christ into some frame of human design so He is more acceptable to the wishes of sinful men. We dare not make the teaching and practice of the Church, the Body of Christ or the local church composed of obedient believers into something of our own design. The Gospel is "the Gospel of God." The assembly I am a part of is "the house of God." The work I am involved in is "the work of God." None of these are open to being changed by the opinions or preferences of mine or anyone else. It took forty days of constant communication with God for Moses to get everything clear in his mind and be able to transfer those instructions into a visible reality to be a type of God among His people.
There are around 50 chapters of the Bible devoted in various ways to teaching regarding the Tabernacle. It certainly is important to God, and it should be to us. The things written about it are for our learning - particularly teaching concerning the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before God led Israel out of Egypt, He connected with people like Adam, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as individuals. Now this nation of ex-slaves was a bona fide nation - not with a king as their leader, but with God Himself their Leader dwelling in the midst of His people. Right in the middle of them - not in front or above them, but in the middle with them placed in orderly fashion around Him. God was moving in with them. In time to come people would sing, "How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!" God was with them.
The same is true for us today. He dwells in the middle of His people today. We don't have to go to a building a few times a week to connect with God. We gather unto Him 24/7. He has left a pattern for us to follow. Those who ultimately made the physical Tabernacle with great skill, were given that ability by the Holy Spirit who guided them to properly make what God intended the way He wanted it. He does the same with us today. The Holy Spirit leads, guides, empowers God's people and the Spirit indwells us constantly because we are "body of Christ, and members in particular."
This large company of people, the children of Israel, were going to have visible evidence of the unifying presence of God. They would be unified around the Sanctuary. Equal groups of people on the four sides of the Tabernacle were set in orderly rows by their tribes and they all would be able to see evidence of the presence of God during the day by the cloud over the Tabernacle, and during the night by the pillar of fire. There would be a sense of awe on the part of those who loved the Lord. For those who only saw the Tabernacle and didn't have faith in God, the sense of awe would eventually dissipate. This holy, set-apart place where nothing that defiled could enter, was not really understood or believed by all. This was the "Tabernacle of the Lord" and it was the "Tabernacle of the congregation" as well as the "Tabernacle of
Testimony." Unfortunately, the holiness associated with the presence of God is not appreciated nor accepted by all who claim to be believers in this day and age too.
The precise careful details of the construction and form of the Tabernacle teach us of the greatness of God and how much higher and holier He is then we are. Yet He has made provision for us to come to Him because of the altar where offerings can be made, the laver where cleansing for service can take place, and the holy place where testimony is made. Inside the "Holiest of all" that was veiled off so no one but the high priest could enter, and that only once a year with blood, God dwelt between the cherubim on the mercy seat. Now because of the sacrificial work of Christ, offering has been made once for all and we can approach to God ourselves with "reverence and godly fear." The moral perfection of God kept Him separated from the intimacy that is hindered by what is common or unclean. The Tabernacle was made so it could be moved when God led His people toward the promised land. God does not remain distant from His own but desires to be with them even today as we journey toward our heavenly home.
The typology of the Tabernacle gives visible evidence of the meaning and character of our Lord Jesus Christ. The furnishings of the Tabernacle, the materials used to construct the Tabernacle, all have special meaning as they give verbal understanding of what we normally could never grasp. We can visualize the materials used in the construction, but now we see the application of the materials and the uses are very different then the way we use them or perceive their use. God is not wanting to display Himself before people who have no faith in Him. What the people saw would have been only a faint glimpse of what they could not see. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him." What God's people could actually see would confirm the reality of what they could not see. How carefully God is that we put our faith in Him, not just in all the evidence of Him we can see all around us! That is the difference between a believer and an unbeliever!
I haven't seen with my eyes the Savior But by faith in Him I truly believe. He knows each motive behind my behavior And the purpose behind each day I live. I see evidence of Him around me That testify there is a Living God. What counts most is the proof of reality I find inside when I apply His Word.
It is possible to believe there is a God But never come to know Him by faith. One only needs to look around the world And see evidence in every place. Even demons believe He exists And tremble at the sound of His name. But controlling powers of darkness persist And try to find ways to avoid their own blame.
For God to dwell with mortal men Seems in every way too good to be true. Yet because of the divine love in Him He wants to share life with me and you. We don't see Him with natural eyes We couldn't do that in the flesh and live. But by faith's eyes it is no surprise That by His grace new life to us He gives.
I don't look around to see badger's skins grey Nor do I need to see boards covered with gold. Those types to me do have a lot to say About the Savior and the truths to be told. All those Tabernacle things help my vision To link faith and the Savior together. Each part of the Tabernacle has a reason That my faith in Christ will go even farther.
"Gracious Father, I know it has been awhile since I put on paper some of my thoughts like this. Thou dost know the reason better than I do. This morning though, I felt it best to go beyond just learning of Thee and writing of Thy Gospel, to enjoying what must have given Thee a lot of joy. I know You loved Thy people in the past and wanted to be with them. May You find joy in Thy people today and may our faith be strong to bring glory to Thee. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."