Day 38 – Exodus 25-27

Talking Points

• God instructs the Israelites to acquire the materials and then assemble the tabernacle, that He might dwell among them.
• The most important furnishing of the tabernacle will be the ark. The golden lid to the ark is called the mercy seat. It is there that God will meet with His people. “There I will meet with you…” (25:22)
• The materials, furnishings, and setup of the tabernacle are described in great, specific detail, revealing the reverence and deep significance of this meeting place.

Thoughts

This is one of the sections of Scripture that may seem obscure or even pointless for modern readers. What can we take away and apply from the details of a tabernacle that no longer exists? We might be tempted to gloss over it quickly. Aren’t these just verses we read to get to the important verses?

Truth is, even this section is richly revealing great truths about our God, His character, and our salvation! Notice something here: people need God. He is our Creator, our Protector, our Caregiver. From Him comes direction, help, and salvation. We are ruined, hopeless, perishing apart from Him. We are actually lost. All is lost outside of God. And, as it was for them, so it is for all people. We need God.

However, here is the strangest thing, the most marvelous thing — we desperately need Him, but He wants us. Do you see that in this account? God wants us! He makes a way to be with His people, going to great lengths to do so. And He is the one who initiates it. God wants us.

“Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.” – Exodus 25:8

Praise the Lord! He doesn’t change. It is this desire for us, this love for us that, generations later, motivate the Cross. Where, in the Exodus account God makes a temporary, cumbersome way for sinners to approach Him, in Jesus, He makes an eternal, perfect way. Where, in the Exodus account, access was guarded through duties, priests, and a foreboding veil, in Jesus, the veil is removed — literally torn away, and access is granted! Praise the Lord! We need Him, but He wants us!

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them…” – Revelation 21:3

And God Himself will be among them…