Symbols

Prepare: The Tabernacle was a "copy and shadow" of what is in heaven. Heb.8:5
Read: Exodus 25:1-22

An offering: God could have made the whole tabernacle in an instant of creative power, but instead, He asked the people to bring Him their offerings. They were privileged to make a sanctuary for God. Today, we are helping to build His church (1 Cor.3:9-23).

A pattern: God gave Moses the pattern for the tabernacle just as He later gave David the pattern for the Temple (1 Chron. 28:19). When God wants a work done on earth, He has a plan for His people to follow. It is dangerous to turn from God's plan and follow the wisdom of this world (1 Cor.3:18-20). The book of Hebrews tells us that this earthly Tabernacle was patterned after the Tabernacle in heaven (Heb.8:5, 9:23, 24).

The ark was the throne of God in the Holy of Holies, and God's glory dwelt between the cherubim on the mercy seat (Ps.99:1) . Our mercy seat is in heaven (Heb.4:11-16), and the way to God is always open. God never said that He was going to live in the Tabernacle in the sense that He was restricted to a geographical spot. The Tabernacle was the meeting place of God and man.

The ark was a chest covered inside and outside with gold. It was made of shittim wood which was more or less indestructible and much like the redwood of California. It was a perfect symbol of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ's deity was represented by the gold and His humanity was represented by the wood.

Respond: Are you giving willingly to God what He has given to you?