Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you. [Exodus 25.8-9]
Today's One Year Chronological Bible reading does not offer much in the way of moral teaching. However, it very much gives us a glimpse into the person of God by the intricate details He required for the Tabernacle and its furnishings.
Of course, Jesus would eventually make His Advent to earth and upon His return to heaven, would render Temple (Tabernacle) activities a thing of antiquity. But for the purpose of this article, the focus will be on the design of the Tabernacle and the nature of God for Whom it was built.
The first thing that should be understood about God from the instructions given to Moses for the design and construction of the Tabernacle is the word "exactly": You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you. God did not give Moses 'creative license' in building His dwelling place. God offered no tolerance for deviation from His requirements. The Tabernacle was to be built to God's specifications alone. Even though it was to be a meeting place for God and man, man was required to strictly comply to God and not the other way around as is evident in the following instruction:
Next make a medallion of pure gold, and engrave it like a seal with these words: HOLY TO THE LORD. [Exodus 28.36]
The next thing that should be considered regarding the Tabernacle accompanying the word "exact" is the word "pattern." While "exact" reveals that God will have it no other way, "pattern" reveals there is indeed "a way."
As the instructions regarding the "form" of God's Tabernacle give way to the instructions for its "function," we will also see that that function is just as critical to God as the form. Mind you, we are talking about God the Father.
Every detail about the Tabernacle, as God's dwelling place, involves man coming to God's 'house.' The pivotal Advent of Jesus Christ changed this to God coming to man's house. God is still God and man is still man, but the form and function of their meeting together was altered greatly. The one thing however that did not change is the requirement upon man for the new form and function to still meet God's exclusive and exact pattern, the most profound of which follows:
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. [John 14.6]
God's exacting nature and character are quite naturally evident in His Son.
God's nature and character pattern is also seen in His Son:
Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? [John 14.9]
Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, recognized the nature and character pattern of God in Jesus:
And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. [Acts 10.38]
The point of the old form and function of meeting with God is the same as the point of the new form and function of meeting with God: and that is meeting with God. God desires the company of man.
The most important thing man must understand about the person of God is that God desires man's company.
While the Tabernacle provided a "picture" of what was to come, Jesus provided "in the flesh" the exact pattern of God so that all who come to Him (in repentance and faith) might enjoy God's company both for now and for eternity.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [John 3.16]
How God enjoys our company then, through Jesus, should come as no surprise as it has everything to do with an exact pattern:
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]
While many argue this fact regarding its form and function, Jesus (in exact-pattern-fashion as the very Son of God) left little room for debate:
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]
Dear reader, have you submitted to Jesus in this way? Is the exact pattern of Jesus (the exact pattern of God) seen in your life? God wants relationship with you - the Tabernacle is our picture of this fact and Jesus Christ is our reality of it. There is indeed an exact pattern of commitment required though, and that requirement is met in us as we follow Jesus.
Would you pray this prayer with me...
Father in heaven, I see and understand today that You want my company - You want to have relationship with me. I see and understand that following Jesus, on the exclusive and exact-pattern terms He provided, is how I enter that fellowship with You. I want to have relationship with You! I see and understand that to do so I must give up my own way (humble repentance), take up my cross (actionable faith), and follow Jesus' lead. Please make this my reality today.
If today you prayed the prayer above for the first time in your life, tell others - make it known in the comments to this article - find other believers and spend time with them. Read the Bible as a personal letter from God to you (understanding that its depth will always match and exceed your effort to find it). Live "Jesus" in your world.
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