The focal point of the Tabernacle of the congregation is twofold: (1) physical/literal; (2) figurative/spiritual. This structure established the holy and immutable relationship between the nation of Israel (Church) and the Lord God.
The details given to Moses illustrate the proper and acceptable worship of the Holy God. It separates God, elevates Him and places Him into the Holies of the Holy of our lives.
Bible Reading
In this week’s insight, we will look into Exodus 25-27 & Matthew 19:27-20:28.
Please, check our previous week’s insight – The Lost Sheep Of The House Of Israel
Overview
Prehistory. So now, the children of Israel are saved in the hands of God and dwelling in the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai (Exodus 16:1). However, they raised their complaint to Moses and Aaron that God has brought them to the wilderness to die by starving death (Exodus 16:2-3).
God heard their supplication and miraculously provided His people with the daily bread, heavenly manna. The Lord God instructed Moses how they shall collect their food for six days; on the sixth day, they will have twice more than any other day; and God has designated the seventh day for them to rest.
Here we can see the true meaning of the Holy Sabbath to the Lord: God has commanded His people to gather their daily portion of the food according to their needs and eat as much as they need to without worrying for tomorrow. Because the next day, God has promised to provide them with their daily bread again.
God’s goal is to teach Israel daily reliance upon Him – just like Jesus Christ taught His disciples to pray, Give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). The Sabbath is a gift from God, but man has no heart for God’s rest (Exodus 16:27-29). The nature of man is wicked; he can neither rest with nor work for God.
Ten Commandments
There were two tablets which God wrote with His finger (Exodus 31:18; Deuteronomy 9:10):
- the first tablet contained commandments 1-4 with the obligations of men and women before God as His creatures;
- the second tablet set down the responsibilities of men and women towards each other within family and society.
The other laws and regulations
In chapters 21 through 23 of the book of Exodus, God gives regulations of proper conduct:
- Exodus 21:1-6 listed the laws about male slaves and female slaves in Exodus 21:7-11. It is worth mentioning that the first ordinance given after the Ten Commandments is to protect the most vulnerable and humble members of society;
- the rules regarding personal injuries – Exodus 21:12-36;
- the law pretraining to private property – Exodus 22:1-15;
- the laws of proper behaviour and proper justice – Exodus 22:16-23:9;
- the commands about worship to God – Exodus 23:10-19;
- and Exodus 23:20-33 is the laws about just conduct toward enemies.
In chapter 24, God has sealed the covenant regarding all that He commanded to Moses with the blood. In the New Testament (Covenant), Jesus Christ shed His blood and gave a new promise to those who will repent and follow Him (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3).
Exodus 25 – 27. These are the chapters where all the headaches start :). I do not understand why the children of Israel agreed on all that the Lord has said (Exodus 19:8; 24:3 and 7). I mean, why would not they ask for God’s mercy; it is simply impossible to keep all that laws and statutes. Nevertheless, Moses and his people did.
Let me clarify, God’s Law is perfect in all its ways – we are not. God’s Law is like a mirror – it shows the reality of your personhood, I am sorry to say, the ugliness of our human nature. That is why we need something other than a mirror that will change our inward and outward appearance.
If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not now!? Do not wait until it is too late! Embrace God’s Grace, Mercy and Love now – Accept Jesus Now!
The sanctuary of God – the Tabernacle
At the beginning of Exodus 25, God has asked Moses to bring Him an offering from every man that gives it willingly with his heart (Exodus 25:2-7). God asked for an offering of gold, silver, brass and other valuables and instructed Moses, very detailed, on how to build a sanctuary for Himself.
The Moody Bible Commentary defines the purpose of the Tabernacle in the following:
- give order to the worship of God;
- provide a tangible sense of God’s presence;
- furnish a place of stability and security amid the wilderness;
- foster nation’s unity and social coherence;
- and foremost, it is a visible glory of God, His sovereignty and protection over His people.
Furthermore, the Moody Bible Commentary summed it up in three theological basics: (1) relationship – fellowship with the Lord God, devotions through the offerings; (2) worship – a visible center of worship to the one true God; and (3) typology – the Tabernacle served the purpose of the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
The Complete Bible Commentary by George Williams put it in this way, man’s inability to keep the Law being foreknown and demonstrated (Exodus 32:1; Deuteronomy 31:21), God committed it to the Tabernacle, i.e. Christ in type. The Tabernacle, therefore, is a manifestation of the glory of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of His relationship with sinners who draw nigh unto Him.
New Covenant
Matthew 19:27-20:28. In chapter 20, Jesus taught His disciples the parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard. The verse in Matthew 20:15 shows us the great principle of God’s grace, election and sovereignty. No one can enter the Heavenly Kingdom in self-will. And in Matthew 20:18-19, Jesus told the twelve that the price for such access into the Heavenly Kingdom is His blood.
Salome was the wife of Zebedee and mother of James and John. In Matthew 20:20-23, probably impressed by Jesus’ words in Matthew 19:28, she asked Jesus to reward her sons right away. But the Lord gently rebuked such a petition (Matthew 20:23) and explained that it is not His will, but Father’s.
The essence of rewards that Christ spoke about in Matthew 19:27-30, He explained it in Matthew 20:24-28. Jesus emphasized the importance of the spirit of service, the perfection of which was in Himself. Two times Jesus said that the first shall be last, and the last shall be first (Matthew 19:30, 20:16).
Insights Into The Scriptures
The Tabernacle of the congregation that God instructed Moses to build is a preview of the Christian life and relationship with the heavenly Father. The word sanctuary (Hebrew miqdash) means the holy place, and the word tabernacle (miskan) means the place for God to dwell.
And here is what the Bible has to say about you. In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, it says, 16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Also, the children of Israel were the first, and the Church is the last as chosen people of God, but in respect of receiving Jesus Christ as King, the last shall be first.
Later on in Exodus 28:1, God commanded Moses to assign Aaron and his four sons into the priest’s office with all the benefits which come with such a high position. And in Matthew 20:26-27 the High Priest, Jesus Christ, reminded His disciples that those who will be chief (first) among you, let them be your servant, even as Jesus Christ who came to give His life as a ransom for many.
If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not now!? Do not wait until it is too late! Embrace God’s Grace, Mercy and Love now – Accept Jesus Now!
Insights
- God wants you to be His tabernacle. The holy place where His Spirit will dwell for your goodness, for His glory and His name’s sake (1 Corinthians 10:31).
- Live your life according to the Spirit that indwells in you (Galatians 5:16). Keep your body, that God gave you, holy (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
- Devote your time to God; every day, give thanks and praise to the Lord most high (Psalm 7:17).
- Be in unity with the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) and serve one another.
- Be the light and the salt of this world so you may glorify your heavenly Father (Matthew 5:13-16).
Related Posts
Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer: Matthew 6:9-13
