… ⁵ who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.”

The tabernacle of the Levitical priests was a large elaborate tent, a replica of a heavenly tabernacle. This begs the question, “What was the original like?” To answer this, we must study the copy, for that is all we have. In the first mention of the tabernacle in Scripture we find foundational insights. “Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it” (Ex 25:8–9). It was a sanctuary, a holy place, set apart for special service. It was to be a dwelling place for God. According to Deuteronomy 12:11, it would be “… the place in which the Lord your God will choose for His name to dwell, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution of your hand, and all your choice votive offerings which you will vow to the Lord” (Deut 12:11).

God has always desired to be with His people, beginning from the day He came to Adam and Eve “walking in the garden in the cool of day” (Gen 3:8). The tabernacle was to be an expression of His presence. We understand a certain amount of figurative expression here. Solomon, years later in dedicating the temple (which replaced the temporary tent structure with a solidly built structure), understood the limits of the analogy when he prayed, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27).

But, what did Moses actually see? The only way he could represent it to human eyes was in the form of an elaborate Bedouin tent. We agree with those who see in the tabernacle great and deep truths about Jesus Christ. Indeed, He is Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” John wrote, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory ”…(John 1:14). The word “dwelt” can be translated, “he tabernacled or tented among us.” The Book of the Revelation connects the two, “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…” (Rev 21:3). The earthly tabernacle is a copy, a shadow of Christ. Now we no longer need an earthly sanctuary, we have Christ!

Lord, thank You for the picture of Christ in the Tabernacle. He is the sanctuary of God and in Him we find rest. Praise God for this wonderful truth.