The Tabernacle: Lesson 1
Overview
God's Desire to Dwell with His People
The Bible's grand storyline is bracketed by God's presence with humanity. In the beginning, the Lord walked with Adam and Eve in the garden until sin drove them out and cherubim were stationed to guard the way back (Genesis 3:8; Genesis 3:23). At the end, John sees the consummation of all things: "the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God"—and there is no temple, for the Lord God and the Lamb are its temple (Revelation 21:3; Revelation 21:22). The tabernacle stands in the middle of that story as God's gracious "in the meantime"—the way He chose to dwell among His people while sin still separates.
After the exodus, God revealed Himself in expanding circles: first to Moses at the burning bush, where holiness required reverence and distance Exodus 3; then to Israel at Sinai amid thunder, lightning, and trembling Exodus 19:16-17; and finally through the tabernacle, where the whole community could regularly encounter Him. Two Hebrew words capture its dual meaning: mishkan ("dwelling"), stressing God's abiding presence, and ohel ("tent"), stressing the physical site of worship and priestly service. When the structure was completed, the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord filled it; by day the cloud and by night the fire guided Israel's every step Exodus 40:34-38.
The tabernacle's purpose is summarized in God's own words: "have them make me a sanctuary, so that I may dwell among them… There I will meet with you" (Exodus 25:1-8; Exodus 25:22). Notice the order: before any blueprint is given, God invites every Israelite to contribute as the heart moves them. Building a place for God's presence was a shared calling, much as the risen Christ would later commission His whole church to build by carrying the gospel into the world. The detailed instructions that follow are not tedious bureaucracy; they are the loving provision of a holy God who has freed slaves and refuses to leave them. Sinful people cannot stand unmediated in the presence of holiness, so God Himself prescribes the way of approach—holiness, purity, reverence, and sacrifice.
For us, the tabernacle is more than ancient architecture. It reveals a God whose deepest intention—from creation to new creation—is to dwell with His people. It also exposes our need: we are no less stiff-necked than Israel, and we cannot draw near on our own terms. The hint of the whole story is already pointing forward to Jesus, in whom God tabernacled among us and through whom every barrier of separation is finally lifted. As you read Exodus 25-40 this week, let the careful detail move you to worship: the God of glory still desires to dwell with you, and has made the way.
Transcript
So excited to have our class today and before we get started, let's of course turn to the 3s
Lord in prayer. 11s
Let's pray. 12s
Lord, we thank you so much. 13s
We thank you for dwelling amongst us. 14s
We thank you for dwelling amongst us in your own Son, Jesus Christ. 16s
We ask that we would use this time of study to know you better, to love and appreciate your 21s
presence, and to love and appreciate what you have done through your Son that we would 30s
be able to dwell with you eternally. 37s
Lord, we lift all of this to you in the name of Jesus, amen. 40s
Okay, I have to give you a little bit of a backstory of why we're doing this tabernacle 44s
study and it's terrible, but I'm going to give it to you anyway. 50s
So, as I was reading, before I entered into seminary, I was reading through the Bible because 57s
I thought every person should read through the Bible. 66s
So I was reading through the Bible and I got to Exodus and I got to this really, really 69s
long detailed explanation of the tabernacle and the garments and I thought, okay, I know 77s
this is important because it's in the Bible, but man, this does not connect with me at all. 86s
And I thought, who is this therefore? 96s
Why is this in here? 100s
And I could not figure out why God had so much in so many details about the tabernacle 102s
and everything concerned with the tabernacle. 110s
Then, fast forward a couple of years, I was in seminary and in one of my Old Testament 115s
or in my Old Testament class, I was sitting there and one of my classmates, he said, I just 123s
love when God describes all the details and I thought, this is who it's written for. 130s
He is into architecture, he is into building and so it really resonated with him. 142s
So then this past summer, when we had a small group that was, again, reading through the 149s
Bible and I got to this tabernacle and priestly garments portion and I instead of thinking 155s
or instead of saying to myself, why? 163s
Instead I think that God lovingly nudged me and said, hey, adult ed classes, thinking 167s
about those is going to be coming up and guess what? 177s
So that's kind of how the tabernacle study or why we're doing the tabernacle study 180s
began because it started, and this is why I say it's terrible, it started with something 187s
I did not have an interest in, it started as something that I read because I had to 194s
do and now I'm really excited to get into this study with you and it really brings to 202s
mind what is the purpose. 212s
Have any of you read the details of the tabernacle before? 215s
Okay, has anyone been more like me and gone, or like my classmates and went, wow, this 220s
is awesome, which, I mean you kind of fall into one or the other camp, right? 228s
So what's the purpose of it? 234s
It must be important because it's very, very clearly described. 237s
In Exodus we read a detailed order of what needs to be used, how it's used, and then 243s
a detailed explanation that feels like it's a repeat, but it's the detailed explanation 251s
of the execution of God's order being carried out. 258s
So it must mean something, it must have a great and very important purpose. 263s
So we're going to look at both the practical and the theological purpose of the tabernacle 270s
in this study. 279s
So let's begin in Genesis. 280s
I know, we just spent eight weeks in Genesis, we're going back just for a moment. 283s
Genesis chapter three, in verse eight it says, oh, if you all know where Genesis is, we've 289s
been here for a while. 301s
So if you can't find it, open your Bible to the first page and flip until you find Genesis. 303s
Genesis chapter three, verse eight, they heard the sound that's they being Adam and Eve, 309s
heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, 315s
and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees 320s
of the garden. 325s
And then skipped down to verse 23. 326s
So we know they have sinned, they are trying to hide from God. 329s
And verse 23 says, therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden to 334s
till the ground from which he was taken. 339s
He drove out the man and at the east of the garden of Eden, he placed the cherubim and 342s
a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life. 347s
When God created, and when he created an Adam and Eve and he walked in the garden and 353s
they heard him, we know that the intention was that God would be with man, 362s
one kind that he would be in their presence, that they would be in his presence without 369s
restraint, without separation, but they sinned and they were banished from the garden. 376s
Let's go to the last book in the Bible, Revelation. 383s
We're going to go to Revelation 21. 388s
So if you go to the end of your Bible and flip backwards, you'll find Revelation. 392s
Revelation 21. 396s
Wait, why does it say 21, but that's not right. 404s
Hold on. 410s
Oh no, no, no, that is right. 410s
Okay, sorry. 411s
I got scattered. 413s
Okay. 414s
Revelation 21 verse 3. 415s
It says, see the home of mortal. 418s
The home of God is among mortals. 421s
He will dwell with them as their God and they will be his peoples and God Himself will 423s
be with them. 429s
And then let's skip down to verse 22. 431s
It says, I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God, the Almighty and the 434s
Lamb. 441s
Revelation shows us the eternal plan, the restored relationship between God and man where 442s
he dwells with his people eternally without restraint, without separation, without limitations. 452s
So we see the Bible begins in a very open, presence, encountering, loving relationship with 462s
God and then it ends again eternally for all time, well outside of time, for all everything, 470s
eternity, where once again God will dwell without limitations, without separation and without 482s
restraint from his people. 488s
So we have Genesis and we have Revelation and there's a whole lot in between. 490s
And I call this in the meantime, in the meantime. 494s
So in the meantime, after Adam and Eve are banished from the garden in Genesis, we see that 498s
God had relationship with specific individuals. 505s
Abraham and Sarah, great example. 510s
He has a relationship with them, but God's presence and his dwelling amongst his whole 513s
people really didn't happen again until we see God in relationship with Moses and how 519s
it grows from there and how he then is in relationship with his people once again. 527s
So there's an order that we have in God's dwelling or two God's dwelling and meeting with 533s
his people. 541s
Let's turn to Exodus. 542s
This is the second book in all of Scripture, second book of the Bible. 544s
So Exodus chapter three, where did it go? 551s
Exodus chapter three, beginning in verse one, we see that Moses encounters God in a bush. 562s
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. 570s
He led his flock beyond the wilderness and came to Horib, the mountain of God. 575s
There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush. 580s
He looked and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. 584s
Then Moses said, I must turn aside and look at this great site and see why the bush is not burned up. 588s
When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, Moses, Moses. 595s
And he said, here I am. 601s
Then he said, come no closer. 604s
Remove the sandals from your feet for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. 606s
He said further, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 610s
And Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look at God. 618s
So we see Moses encountering Moses, but there are limitations set. 623s
He has to take off his shoes. 631s
Moses is in such fear that he hides his face. 633s
Then we see that Israel encounters God at Mount Sinai. 636s
And if we go to Exodus 19, Exodus 19, verses 16 and 17, 642s
on the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, as well as a thick cloud on the mountain, 657s
and a blast of a trumpet so loud that all the people who were in the camp trembled, 663s
Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. 669s
They took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 672s
So then, so we have Moses encountering God. 677s
Then we have the people of Israel encountering God. 680s
And this is after they have been brought through the Red Sea. 684s
Then they get the instructions to build or construct the tabernacle. 687s
And that is constructed in order for the people of Israel to be able to encounter God on a regular basis. 694s
And we see all of that in chapters 25 through 40. 702s
We're not going to read through all of those right now. 707s
But you certainly should and can when you go home. 710s
And then we see or an interesting part. 714s
So we have the order Moses, the people of Israel, and then a constant encountering or ability to encounter God. 718s
What's really interesting is that everyone, everyone was called to make a contribution to the tabernacle, to the construction. 727s
If we turn to Exodus 25, beginning in the first verse, 739s
This is the offering that you shall receive from them. 759s
Gold, silver, and bronze, blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and fine linen, goats hair, tanned ramskins, fine leather, acacia wood, oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense, on ex-stones and gems to be set in the ephod. 763s
And for the breastpiece, and have them make me a sanctuary so that I may dwell among them. 782s
In accordance with all that I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle and all of its furniture, so shall you make it. 788s
Before any of the construction begins, before he gives any of the detailed orders, he first calls his people to give. 796s
Which is a lovely coincidence on stewardship Sunday, on pledge Sunday. 808s
But it's really incredible that he details out what is going to be necessary. 813s
And his people are called to build just as when Jesus comes and then is resurrected. 820s
And before he ascends to the Father, he gives the people really the order of building his church on earth to go and share the gospel. 828s
And so in Exodus is giving those orders, giving those details. 841s
And the people, as their heart tells, they give to build the tabernacle. 847s
Everyone was called to contribute. 856s
So when we talk about the tabernacle, there's a both-and understanding of what the tabernacle is. 859s
Is it a place? Is it a presence? Yes. It is both a place and a presence. 868s
The locale, where one worships God, but also the residents of God. 875s
And there are a couple of Hebrew words that we'll look at. 882s
The first one is Mishkan. 886s
Mishkan. 892s
And that means dwelling. 899s
It means it's stressing the dwelling of God, the presence of God, where he dwells. 903s
If we go over to Exodus 40, that's the last chapter in Exodus, actually the last paragraph in Exodus. 912s
Chapter 40 verses 34 through 38. 923s
So the tabernacle has been constructed according to every specification that God has given. 927s
And we see, then the cloud covered the tentative meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 934s
Moses was not able to enter the tentative meeting because the cloud settled upon it. 941s
And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 946s
Whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on each stage of their journey. 949s
But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day that it was taken up. 955s
For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, 961s
before the eyes of all the house of Israel at each stage of their journey. 966s
So the tabernacle was the visible sign of God's presence of His dwelling in Israel, or with the Israelite people. 973s
It was a sign of His presence and a sign of His power to Israel. 986s
Then we also have another word, O'Hill. 991s
And that means tent. 999s
O'Hill means tent. 1006s
And today, it's very interesting today, the O'Hill is a structure that is used, but it's a structure that's built around a Jewish grave. 1009s
So if you see a Jewish grave and there's a structure around it, it's built around that as a sign of prominence of the deceased. 1019s
But how we're using it is in the Old Testament, it literally means tent. 1028s
So when the Bible uses this in reference to the tabernacle, it is stressing the site where humans are encountering God. 1035s
And specifically, where they perform the priestly activities. 1044s
And we're going to get into all the priestly activities. 1049s
But just for our time today to sort of set up what we're doing, we have the dwelling, the presence of God, and the tent, the physical location of God, as well as where man interacts or encounters God, 1053s
especially through priestly activity, it's referring to that physical structure, that physical place of worship. 1071s
So why the tabernacle? 1085s
Why would God give them the orders for the tabernacle? 1088s
Why would he be so specific and so direct down to the smallest, minutest details? 1097s
God had delivered his people from Egypt, sorry. 1108s
He had brought his people through the Red Sea, he had brought them out of slavery, and he wasn't going to bring them and then say, see you later, good luck guys, because every time he was not leading them, even when he was leading them, when the Israelites are left to their own. 1115s
It is not good. Even when he's with them, the Israelites, it is not good. 1142s
They really are a stiff-necked people. 1149s
And anytime, I do want to give this little caveat, anytime we speak of the Israelites being a stiff-necked people stubborn going after their own ways, understand that we are like the Israelites, we are a stiff-necked people or can be, we certainly don't mind going our own ways. 1155s
So it is not, when we talk about the Israelites and those chrised Israelites, it's not a downplaying of them as if we were better. 1178s
But so he had brought them through, out of slavery, already performing miracles, already having called Moses to be his servant, and he is promising that not only is he going to have a relationship with Moses, but he's going to have a relationship and dwell amongst all. 1190s
This is different than what they had seen prior. Remember, after the garden, when Adam and Eve were banished, then God may have, he had relationship with some people, but it was not the whole. 1219s
And here he has called all his people out, and he has said, I'm going to dwell amongst you. I am your God. I will be your God. You will be my people. 1233s
For the first Israelites in the wilderness, the tabernacle was mobile. We just read about that, how when the cloud was filling the tabernacle, then they stayed put. 1244s
But when the cloud ascended, when it lifted, they knew they needed to move, and they followed where the cloud led. So they were following the visual presence of the Lord. 1260s
He was with them, he was leading them, and he was moving with them. He could not be present as he is other than through that tabernacle. 1273s
It was too dangerous. Absolutely too dangerous for sinful man to be encountering or in the presence of holiness itself. God is holy, and he is holy other than man. 1288s
And in our sinfulness, we cannot be in the presence of God in his holiness. If we go to Exodus 25, 1308s
Exodus 25, starting in verse 8, where he is called all the people to bring their offerings, and he says, have them make me a sanctuary so that I may dwell on it. 1335s
And we will come to the end of the world among them in accordance with all that I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle. And all of its furniture so you shall make it. 1349s
Jump down to verse 22, where he says, there I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat from between the two cherubim that are on the arc of the covenant, I will deliver to you all my commands for the Israelites. 1357s
So he is telling them, you need to build this special place. And this is where I will meet with you. Remember when he encounters or when the Israelites first encounter God at the base of the mountain, it is thundering, it is lightning, they are trembling any aspect of his presence, strikes fear. 1373s
And the Israelites are told not to touch the mountain or they will be smote. They cannot be close to God in his holiness. And so God out of his grace, out of his love, provides a way for his people to encounter him, for his people to encounter his presence. 1397s
He gave very, very specific instructions on how to build it, on what to build, on even the materials to be used. And that would serve as the means through which Israel could approach God. And how they approach God is with holiness, with purity, and with reverence. 1423s
And we are going to get into these rituals of purification before they can enter into his presence. So this is the starting point for us, understanding that the tabernacles purpose and all of the details that come with the tabernacle for the Israelite people has meaning. 1447s
And all of it really comes down to God intended in creation to dwell with his people. And he intends eternally to dwell with his people. So in the next four weeks, we are going to study the tabernacle through the lens of holiness. 1476s
We are going to study the presence of God, of sin, sacrifice, and the relationship that his people have to him or with him in the tabernacle. 1499s
God created with the absolute intention of tabernacling or dwelling with his people. And we see in Revelation that that's still his intention. And it's very interesting in that revelation verse that we read where it says God will dwell with his people. 1514s
The word is tabernacle, that he will tabernacle with his people. He will have his presence with his people, his people will be in his presence. But we'll find that the restrictions are lifted, that the separation is lifted. And of course, we'll talk about how those are lifted or why those are lifted. I'll give you a hint, Jesus. 1534s
So chew on that. I do encourage you to read chapters of Exodus 25 through 40. And especially if you've not before, because I'm really interested to hear what your reaction is. Which can't you fall in? The wow. 1560s
So anyway, I will see you again here next week at 10 a.m. And we will continue with the tabernacle. God bless. 1581s