² For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place.

The place of worship for the Jews was the tabernacle, which was actually a tent within a larger tent. Specially designated pieces of furniture were to be placed in the outer area of the tent and were to be built on the blueprint of God’s dwelling in heaven (Exodus 25:9). From a human perspective, how could one describe heaven? Paul cryptically wrote of being “caught up into Paradise and [hearing] inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak” (2 Cor 12:4). Whatever it was Paul saw, the thief crucified next to Christ experienced it, “And [Christ] said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise’” (Luke 23:43).

Moses was given a picture, a descriptive analogy. It was like God saying, “What heaven is really like you will find so completely incomparable with any human experience, that human language fails to adequately render it in a cogent, understandable way. So the best way to convey the truth of heaven is by using pictures.” Thus the furniture in the tabernacle is part of the picture of heaven.

So what do these pictures mean? As the priest approached God in the tabernacle, his way would be lighted by the seven-armed lampstand situated just outside the curtain in the entrance to the sanctuary, the Holy Place. The entrance faced east and the lampstand was on the south side of the entrance (Ex 26:35). The lampstand was to burn continually (Exodus 24:4). How can we not remember what Christ said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” (John 8:12)? We come to God through the lighted pathway of Christ Himself.

The rectangular shaped table made of decay-resistant acacia wood and overlaid with gold was situated on the north side of the entrance to the Most Holy Place, just opposite the lampstand. On it was placed what was called the “bread of the Presence” (Exodus 25:23-30) or as our writer here says, “sacred bread.” How can we not remember what Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst” (John 6:35). Both of these, the lampstand and the table of bread, picture the truth that the entrance to God comes through Christ, the light of the world and the bread of life. He provides the path and the means. This is ordained by God and reflects the eternal truth of God. While the Jews continued to hold the outward forms, in Christ we have the truth which those forms depicted.

Lord, help me not embrace the outward forms of religion, but continually embrace the eternal truth of my faith. Jesus is my light and my bread.