Exodus 27
Exodus 27
As we continue reading about Yahweh’s instructions for building the tabernacle, I’d like us to ponder the following question: what else in the Biblical narrative do these instructions remind me of?
Read through the text for today one more time. Make note of any detail that might reference another biblical story or truth.
So far, we’ve learned that the tabernacle is the place where God, in his holiness, can dwell with his people. This is God’s deepest desire, and in his grace, he instructs the Israelites to set up the tabernacle to make it happen. They are the practical steps that allow moments of reconciliation between God and the Israelites to happen.
However, the beauty of these instructions doesn’t stop there. They don’t only describe the practical measures necessary for meeting with God; they also communicate God’s nature & character through symbolism and allusion to the narrative of scripture.
Let’s take a look at an example from our text today. Maybe you caught this one already.
Verse nine says this:
“Make a courtyard for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits long”
This courtyard also has curtains, posts, and bases to create a boundary for the tent. Imagine a large fenced outdoor area with a tent within it. When entering the tent, you’d pass through another outer court to get to the Holy of Holies, where God’s presence comes to meet with the priests who represent the people of Israel.
Earlier in scripture, we read of another outdoor area with a boundary around it. In the middle of this place is something that represents God’s presence & life-giving power. People - who are God’s image - dwell in this place with God. It’s the place where Heaven and Earth unite. Any idea of what this could be?
You got it. The Garden of Eden. The tabernacle reflects the same imagery as the garden. It’s the place where humans and God are united in his glorious presence. The instructions of the tabernacle are like a letter from Yahweh, beckoning his people back to union with him.
With continued meditation on the story of scripture, these allusions become more and more clear. More are discovered upon each reading. This beauty of the Bible allows it to be read for a lifetime. It’s okay if they are hard to spot at first glance.
As modern readers, we also know that Jesus was constantly making references to the Torah and using these references to make theological claims about himself. For example, Jesus calls himself “the light of the world” in John chapter 8. Light is a well-worn symbol in many religions & texts. It pops up all over the Torah. We even see it in our text today, as the lamps needed to be perpetually lit in the tabernacle.
Jesus is the ultimate union of heaven and earth. The tabernacle made flesh. Perhaps he had the ever-burning lights of the tabernacle in mind when he made this statement.
Today, we’ve explored how these tabernacle instructions communicate God’s nature & character through symbolism and allusion to the narrative of scripture.
But what is this nature? This nature is close, unwavering love. God desired to dwell with his people from the beginning of creation. The garden represented this. The tabernacle indicates the reinstatement of this union of Heaven and Earth. God just wants to be with us, no matter how messy our stories get.
Now, God lives within us. The tabernacle is no longer a location made of wood and curtain, but by the Holy Spirit, is the members of God’s church. Let us draw close to God today because he has drawn so close to us.
