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Why did the LORD call for the building of the Tabernacle? What are we supposed learn from it? How are we supposed to apply the lessons to everyday life today? These are questions answered in the double-header reading ויקהל Vayaqel (“and he assembled”) and פקודי Pekudai (“accounts”), covering the last six chapter of the book of Shemot (Exodus 35:1–40:38).
It’s a second telling about the construction of the Tabernacle, but it’s not just the world’s most lengthy non-IKEA instruction manual. When God repeats Himself, it’s for a good reason. When we look at these plans and compare them to the construction of Solomon’s temple, Solomon’s Temple certain had more and bigger items than what the Tabernacle had. One might ask if bigger always better? Herod’s Temple was even grander than that, but which one had more of God’s glory?
Our ancestors in faith started in a house of bondage and received freedom but that freedom came with a high price. Our Passover includes a memorial to the first born of Egypt who died. How do we do that? When we bless our first born sons, we are commemorating the first born of Egypt who died.
The freedom from Egypt was not just in Pesakh (Passover) but also through the sea. It shut the door on Egypt having a grip on them. The people had to go out, they had to step forward when the door opened. They had to walk in the salvation that was offered them. The stain of Egypt was washed away when they walked through the sea.
The sea was a terrifying place to those who lived in the ancient world. They didn’t have satellite phones and GPS to be able to find when when lost at sea. The sea was terrifying, yet God pushed the children of Israel to walk right through it, using it to drown Israel’s enemies and bring them to safety on the other side. God is the One who cleared the path for our ancestors in faith.
When Moses received the 10 commandments on the mountain and the laws that accompanied them, the people didn’t sit patiently and wait to hear, instead building a Golden Calf to worship. The fallout from that was over reaching. Moses had to personally intercede for the people to go between the people and God’s wrath and disappointment. Fortunately for the children of Israel, God was willing to renew His covenant with them.
I appreciate how the book of Exodus is organized in that it ends with God reaffirming His desire for the children of Israel to build Him a house, even after their great betrayal at the Golden Calf. God is willing to forgive that and help them walk in a new way of life.
Entering God’s Presence
The purpose of the Tabernacle was to enter God’s presence. As we see, when the Tabernacle was completed, God kicked everyone out, even Moses. The presence of the Lord is set aside, separate from how the world operates. The tabernacle underscores and emphasizes that truth over and over again.
At the end of the books of Isaiah and Revelation tells us that God’s people will again gather to a central location to meet with God.
The goal of the tabernacle is to enter God’s presence. This is the emphasis of the book of Leviticus. We don’t enter God’s presence as we are, but as we will become with Yeshua’s help.
“ ‘Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it.” (Exodus 25:8–9 NASB)
“ ‘But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!’ ” (1Kings 8:27 NASB)
The Tabernacle and the Temple were not the Lord Himself. Israel lead themselves away when they fell into that temptation and engulfed themselves into idolizing the Tabernacle and Temple.
The Gate
All who wanted to approach the LORD must do so through the door designated. The first thing we notice as we approach the sanctuary is that there is only one door. Not even a fire exit! The witness to the world is there is a living Tabernacle/Temple (John 1:14). There is one Door to approach the Presence.
“So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:7-10 NASB)
The sheep were free to come and go. God’s home is not a cage. It’s supposed to be a place of comfort.
The Altar
Immediately upon entering the door of the courtyard, the centerpiece of the courtyard was the brazen altar of burnt offerings. It is at the altar where qorbanot (offerings) “go up” as a “soothing aroma” before the LORD. The Letter to the Hebrews ties a connection between the altar of the Tabernacle and the red heifer offering whose ashes cleansed deeper but was offered outside the camp.
“We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” (Hebrews 10:10–13 NASB).
The servant is not above the Master. The Master suffered, the servants will as well. We can’t be surprised that those of us who walk in “otherness” separated from the world, will be attacked by the world.
Washbasin
Yeshua cleanses us from unrighteousness as we approach the Father.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” (1 John 1:9-10 NASB)
The realm of good is the realm of God. His way is the only way that is good. If you aren’t walking in his direction, you aren’t fully exiting the world. You must allow yourself to be transformed before God can accept you.
The Holy Place
Most of the tabernacle was made of copper, which was a play on words with the Hebrew word for snake. The few pieces tat were mere made of silver. The Hebrew word for silver is a play on word for sheep.
Bread of the Presence
The number 12 signified the 12 tribes of Israel and 12 apostles of Jesus who were to feed God’s people with the bread of life – which is also a symbol of the Bible (Matthew 4:4).
Yeshua is the Bread of Life and His bread is sufficient to feed all the tribes of Israel but it is also sufficient to feed all the nations.
Menorah
The menorah would constantly be a source of light. The Lord saw the showbread and His light, which came into the world, is what we are to take and make it shine. Yeshua said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Yeshua also said, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). The lamp is a symbol of the Word of Elohim, as well (Psalm 119:105).
Altar of Incense
“Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.” (Revelation 8:3 NASB)
Its purpose was to represnet the prayers of intercession.
Veil
The veil represents the body of Yeshua (Hebrews 10:19,20). The tearing of the veil symbolized the death of the Lamb of God, which now permits the believer in His atonement immediate access to the most holy place through the new High Priest – Jesus Christ – the one and only Mediator between man and God. It was only by passing through this veil that access was possible to the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 4:16).
“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NASB)
“… there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” (Hebrews 7:19 NASB)
“The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:23-25 NASB)
Confidence is not arrogance. An example of arrogance might be found in Acts 15 with the question of whether circumcision is necessary for salvation. Do we praise God or do we pat ourselves on our back because we jumped through some hoop to enter in?
What do we do now?
The book of Shemot, or Exodus, ends with the exclusion of Moshe and everyone else from God’s Presence. The book of Vayiqra, or Leviticus, is God’s instructions for how to respond to His call to enter His presence.
Purpose of the offerings and sacrifices described in Vayiqra are to “bring near” the worshiper: Those “far off” were “brought near” via Yeshua. Just because God brings His presence down to a particular place at a particular time doesn’t mean He is limited to one time or one place. There is no container that can contain or limit God’s reach.
If the snake on the pole becomes a hindrance, God can take it out. Any idol that takes focus off of God can be removed, even if that idol is the Tabernacle or Temple itself.
“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:19-25 NASB)
We need to be the light of the world when everyone else is running to darkness.
“Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called ‘Uncircumcision’ by the so-called ‘Circumcision,’ which is performed in the flesh by human hands — remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.” (Ephesians 2:11–16 NASB)
Much of we look at when we read about “Law of commandments contained in ordinance,” we will learn about in Leviticus. These laws were to teach us how to enter the presence of God. Messiah Yeshua is an integral part of what we will read in Leviticus.
“AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR [Isa. 57:19]; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:17-22, NASB)
We must prepare for the time in our lives or times to come that the nations will need the Testimony. It’s God’s plan that all of us will be part of building of God’s tabernacle. The young servant girl who brought Naaman to the prophet to be healed of his leprosy was acting as a priest in her own simple, humble way. We can do the same.
“‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “It will yet be that peoples will come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; I will also go.’ So many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD.” ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”” (Zechariah 8:20–23 NASB)
Which God are we representing and showing in the way we live our life. Is it the God we read in Scripture or is it someone else?
With or without the Tabernacle or Temple, our offerings still go up before the Father by way of the Living Tabernacle, Yeshua the Mashiakh (Messiah). Our bodies are supposed to be a living sacrifice by what we do. We aren’t to bring glory to ourselves but to God. We are to bring people to experience God’s glory.
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1–2 NASB)
How do we offer what is acceptable? Proclaim our Leader’s glory above all that’s on Earth by our character’s transformation to become like His. Do we look like this? Do people see us and see Our Father or some other “father”?
“Then the LORD passed by in front of [Moshe] and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.’” (Exodus 34:6-7 NASB)
Summary: Tammy
Banner Photo: What did Jerusalem look like in Yeshua’s time? When did God show His glory there? (Computer animation by www.LumoProject.com)