One of the most glorious Divine mosaics portrayed in the Scriptures is contained in the latter books of the Pentateuch. Moses was the artist, impelled by Divine inspiration. The Israelites, ordained as a nation of Divine witness and worship, formed the tessellated pieces in a setting of wilderness and desert. Viewed from some neighbouring height, the encampment of this holy people formed a mighty square some twelve miles in circuit! Yet how irresistibly would the eye be drawn to that isolated Tent outstanding in their midst! What meant the Tabernacle to Israel? The answer would depend entirely upon the type of Israelite to whom the question was addressed.
Here was a tabernacle or tent, easily erected, pulled down and transported, yet made of the costliest materials and most exquisite workmanship. The mere materialist would perhaps see only its adornment of gold, silver and precious gifts; but to the spiritually minded, the Tabernacle, even in its inception, called for gladness and joy. It meant that the Invisible God “tabernacled in their midst.” Here was an opportunity to respond to the goodness of God by sacrificing some personal treasure toward the building of a memorial to their great Deliverer. That there were many such spiritually minded Jews in Israel is evident in that the appeal for gifts was quickly over-subscribed. There had been no coercion about this appeal: the instruction of God to Moses was that only “of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take My offering”; and now Moses had proclaimed throughout the camp, “‘Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary’. . . .for the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.”2 Thus to thousands, the Tabernacle became a memorial and a thank-offering to the saving power of the Deliverer from the Egyptians and the One who opened up the Red Sea; but it meant much more than this. There was a deep and present significance in the detail of its construction and furnishing that would surely strike deep into the hearts of the godly.
The Tabernacle was built “according to a divine pattern”. “See that thou make the Tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shown thee in the mount”3 was an oft repeated injunction to Moses. There was to be no deviation even in what perhaps seemed to Moses to be almost meaningless detail; for, let it be remembered, it is exceedingly doubtful whether Moses perceived in the least degree the anti-typical significance of what he was doing. Paul comments in the New Testament that “all that was done” was a figure for the time then present.”4 Thus it was that Israel was shown the futility and utter presumption of seeking to “improve” upon the ways of God, since that would call forth the divine displeasure.
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Author: H. Dowell
Keywords: Tent of meeting, Tabernacle, Construction of the tabernacle, Construction of the tent of meeting, Erection of the tabernacle, Erection of the tent of meeting, Holy of holies, Sanctuary, Ark of the covenant, Most holy place, Inner sanctuary
Bible reference(s): Exodus 25, Exodus 26, Exodus 27, Exodus 28:43, Exodus 29:4, Exodus 29:10, Exodus 29:11, Exodus 29:30, Exodus 29:32, Exodus 29:42, Exodus 29:44, Exodus 30:16, Exodus 30:18, Exodus 30:20, Exodus 30:26, Exodus 30:36, Exodus 31:7, Exodus 33:7, Exodus 35, Exodus 36, Exodus 37, Exodus 38, Exodus 39, Exodus 40, Leviticus 1:1, Leviticus 1:3, Leviticus 1:5, Leviticus 3:2, Leviticus 3:8, Leviticus 3:13, Leviticus 4:4, Leviticus 4:5, Leviticus 4:7, Leviticus 4:14, Leviticus 4:16, Leviticus 4:18, Leviticus 6:16, Leviticus 6:26, Leviticus 6:30, Leviticus 8:3, Leviticus 8:4, Leviticus 8:10, Leviticus 8:31, Leviticus 8:33, Leviticus 8:35, Leviticus 9:5, Leviticus 9:23, Leviticus 10:7, Leviticus 10:9, Leviticus 12:6, Leviticus 14:11, Leviticus 14:23, Leviticus 15:14, Leviticus 15:29, Leviticus 15:31, Leviticus 16:7, Leviticus 16:16, Leviticus 16:17, Leviticus 16:20, Leviticus 16:23, Leviticus 16:33, Leviticus 17:4, Leviticus 17:5, Leviticus 17:6, Leviticus 17:9, Leviticus 19:21, Leviticus 24:3, Numbers 1:1, Numbers 1:50, Numbers 1:51, Numbers 1:53, Numbers 2:2, Numbers 2:17, Numbers 3:7, Numbers 3:8, Numbers 3:23, Numbers 3:25-26, Numbers 3:38, Numbers 4:3, Numbers 4:4, Numbers 4:15-16, Numbers 4:23, Numbers 4:25-26, Numbers 4:28, Numbers 4:30, Numbers 4:31, Numbers 4:33, Numbers 4:35, Numbers 4:37, Numbers 4:39, Numbers 4:41, Numbers 4:43, Numbers 4:47, Numbers 5:17, Numbers 6:10, Numbers 6:13, Numbers 6:18, Numbers 7:1, Numbers 7:3, Numbers 7:5, Numbers 7:89, Numbers 8:9, Numbers 8:15, Numbers 8:19, Numbers 8:22, Numbers 8:24, Numbers 8:26, Numbers 9:15, Numbers 9:18-20, Numbers 9:22, Numbers 10:3, Numbers 10:11, Numbers 10:17, Numbers 10:21, Numbers 11:16, Numbers 12:4, Numbers 14:10, Numbers 16:9, Numbers 16:18, Numbers 16:19, Numbers 16:42, Numbers 16:43, Numbers 16:50, Numbers 17:4, Numbers 17:13, Numbers 18:4, Numbers 18:6, Numbers 18:21, Numbers 18:22, Numbers 18:23, Numbers 18:31, Numbers 19:4, Numbers 19:13, Numbers 20:6, Numbers 25:6, Numbers 27:2, Numbers 31:30, Numbers 31:47, Numbers 31:54, Deuteronomy 31:14, Joshua 18:1, Joshua 19:51, Joshua 22:19, Joshua 22:29, 1 Samuel 2:22, 1 Kings 8:4, 1 Chronicles 6:32, 1 Chronicles 6:48, 1 Chronicles 9:21, 1 Chronicles 16:39, 1 Chronicles 21:29, 1 Chronicles 23:26, 1 Chronicles 23:32, 2 Chronicles 1:3, 2 Chronicles 1:5-6, 2 Chronicles 1:13, 2 Chronicles 5:5, Judith 9:8, Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 24:10, Sirach/Ecclesiasticus 24:15
Source: “Its Significance to Israel,” The Testimony, Vol. 8, No. 87, March 1938, pp. 136-8.
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