INTERESTING FACTS : Even a casual reader of the Bible will soon discover he is reading a very unusual book. Even though he may not accept its claims, a careful and reflective reading will demonstrate, for most at least, that this book is not only unique, but makes some very unique claims.[1]

 

DAILY READING : [ Exodus 25 - 27]

 

TEXT : Exo 26:30 And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount. Exo 26:31 And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: Exo 26:32 And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. Exo 26:33 And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. Exo 26:34 And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.

 

THEME : ATONEMENT

 

As we read of the construction of the Tabernacle, we see how God instructs Moses, providing the minutest detail. From the floorboard to the roof over the Tent, God gives Moses every aspect of how He wants the Tabernacle built. God does not neglect any aspect in designing and building the place where He would dwell among the Israelites. The Great Architect of the Universe - Jehovah, the Self-Existent One, builds it. If God were to dwell there, this is what we would expect. That is, we would anticipate He would give an exact description of what He desires as Creator and King.

 

Below, is a diagram of the Tabernacle from Jesuswalk.com Take a look at the way the Tabernacle is laid out. I should mention that one cannot appreciate the beautiful colors of the curtains or the gold overlay of the Ark, Altar, etc. from a mere diagram.

As you look at the diagram, notice there is only one way into the Tabernacle. Next, as you approach the Tabernacle [proper] you pass by the bronze altar and the bronze laver before you come to the "Tent of Meeting." Once the Priest reached the Tent, he would slip through a curtain and enter the Holy Place. This room was directly in front of the Holy of Holies, where God accepted the Atonement offered by the High Priest [Aaron] on the Day of Atonement [Yom Kippur]. The entrance to the Holy of Holies or "Holiest of All," was another curtain that separated one from the other. In the Holy of Holies was the golden Censor and Ark of the Covenant that had two angels on top of the Mercy Seat. Inside the Ark were the Ten Commandments, a pot of manna, and eventually Aaron''s rod that budded, which we will come across later as we go on in our reading of the Bible.

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY: NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST!

 

One of the important truths of the Word of God is found in this verse - "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." [Heb 9:22] Here, the writer of the Book of Hebrews shows us how the spilling of blood - that is, animal sacrifices in the Old Testament - was necessary to forgive sins. We must keep in mind this was God''s Word. He instituted the need for blood to be spilled, or, one life given as a substitute for another. Therefore, the Tabernacle with Aaron and his descendants going in to the Holy of Holies once a year becomes the foundation of the entire New Testament.

 

Again, we read in the Book of Hebrews -

 

"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. [Heb 9:24 - 28]

 

Christ is our High Priest [Heb 3:1; 4:14 - 15], who has entered once into the Holy of Holies [Heaven] to put away our sins - forever! The Tabernacle in the wilderness, and the Temple later, were to represent the reality of what was to come. That is, God would send His own Son as a sacrifice. After that, there would never be need for any blood to be spilled again. Jesus, would pay for all sins. He does this because He loves us. Further, since He loves us and He is God, who or what can separate us from Him? The Apostle Paul answers -

 

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Rom 8: 31 - 39]