Bible Readings
Reading 55: Yahweh’s instructions for the Tabernacle
Read Exodus 26:1–37.
As can be seen from today’s Scripture passage, not all of Scripture is historical narrative. Just as we had read Yahweh’s detailed instructions for the big boat in Genesis 6, now we learn of Yahweh’s meticulous plans for Israel to build Him a portable worship tent.
When Yahweh explained that His personal name meant “I am”—meaning He was present with His people—He really meant it. And to make the point, He asked Israel to construct a dwelling place for Him, a worship tent, to be placed in the center of Israel’s camp. It was called the Tabernacle. Here, His presence in the form of the column of cloud would rest over the tent. It would be a visible sign to every Israelite that Yahweh was indeed present with them.
The Tabernacle consisted of two sections. Today’s reading of Exodus 26 gives the details of the inner tent which became known as the Holy Place. This was a completely enclosed tent where no external light could enter. It was tall—24 metres (15 feet).
Within the Holy Place, there was an inner room called the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place. It was sectioned off by a specially decorated curtain (verses 31–33). The Holy of Holies was a cube—its width, length and height were the same dimensions.
The ark of the covenant was placed in this room. This was the special wooden box overlaid inside and out with gold. It contained the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments written by Yahweh Himself. And it was over the Holy of Holies that Yahweh’s presence hovered, in the form of the column of cloud.
In Exodus 27, God gave details of an altar for burnt sacrifices to be placed outside of the Holy Place. And in Exodus 30, God also gave details for a washbasin to be placed near the altar. The altar symbolised the need for a sacrifice to be made for the people and the washbasin symbolised the need to be cleansed before God.
The Holy Place, the washbasin and the altar were all in a courtyard that was surrounded by an outer wall made of portable wooden frames, metal fittings and curtains (long cloth pieces). When assembled it was approximately 46 metres long and 23 metres wide (150 feet by 75 feet).
The entire structure was a visual reminder of two important truths.
1. Yahweh would be in the midst of His people.
Wherever the Israelites were in their camp, they could look towards the centre and see the Tabernacle with Yahweh’s presence hovering over it. What a sight it must have been and what a comfort to know that God was near.
2. Sin separates people from Yahweh.
The Tabernacle was closed off with curtains. There was a main entrance made up of highly-decorated curtains, and the Holy of Holies was closed off with another set of highly-decorated curtains. Only on a specific day could the High Priest enter, and only by bringing in the blood of a sacrificed animal (God explained the procedure in Leviticus 16). These curtains and strict rules reminded the people that sinful mankind could not approach the Creator-God casually. They had to be righteous, covered by the blood of an innocent substitute before they could approach God. The message was this: Yahweh was with them and yet Yahweh would only relate to people whom He had declared righteous through their faith.
For us, Yahweh also wants to be at the centre of our lives. Knowing God loves us, is with us, and wants to lead and guide us is very comforting. For believers, God has declared us righteous through the blood of Christ. Our Father-child relationship with Him is secure and permanent.
But in our daily lives, we need to walk in God-pleasing ways or risk spoiling our daily fellowship with Him.
How do we treat God each day? Are we grateful for how He has justified us? Do we live in ways that will honour Him or will our behaviour cause God to be distant from us? If we have lived in a way that would displease God, remember that He is ready to forgive us when we go to Him and confess. As a child of God, we have the privilege of going to Him to repent, and have our fellowship restored. Be grateful for what God has done for us but do not take God for granted.