Communing with God (Ex.25:8-9,20-22)
The tabernacle served as the place where God met with His people. The basic Hebrew word translated tabernacle (v. 9) was derived from a verb meaning “to dwell.” God wanted to dwell among His people. (See Ex. 29:45). The tabernacle was the place where God revealed Himself to His people and dwelled among them. Every Israelite family had its own tent or dwelling. The tabernacle was viewed as God’s dwelling. The Lord constantly lived among His people. God wanted to share every experience that came to His people as they journeyed. By building the tabernacle, the Israelites would show they also wanted God to dwell daily with them.
The term sanctuary is another designation for the tabernacle. Other names for this place of worship include “tent” (26:36) and “the tent of the testimony” (Num. 17:7).
Though the tabernacle was God’s dwelling place, it would be wrong to assume that God was confined to that sanctuary at all times or that the Israelites could experience Him only if they visited His house. God always has been near and personal to those who trust and obey Him. Enoch had walked with God (Gen. 5:24). Noah had found favor with the Lord (Gen. 6:8). Abram had heard God calling him to leave his country and his relatives, and Abram had responded to God’s call (Gen. 12:1-4). Jacob encountered God at Bethel (Gen. 28:10-22) and again at the ford of the Jabbok (Gen. 32:22-32). Moses had experienced the Lord’s presence and heard the Lord’s call at the burning bush (Ex. 3:1-4:17). God had been with the Israelites throughout their struggles with Pharaoh and in their journeys to Mount Sinai. He was not going to abandon His people. The tabernacle symbolized God’s presence among them. Through the tabernacle He revealed Himself more fully to them. The tabernacle, however, could never confine Him. We worship a great God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.
We refer to a church building as “God’s house.” It is His dwelling in a special way. When we set aside time to worship Him there, we can have meaningful, rich experiences with Him. While we can have special experiences with God in His house, He also is with us everywhere we go. We can experience His presence anytime and anywhere we open our hearts to Him.
God revealed to Moses His plan for worship. God showed Moses the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture (v. 9). Through the tabernacle God would instruct His people regarding spiritual truth. Thus the tabernacle must be erected according to God’s guidelines. The Israelites did not design the tabernacle according to their ideas about God. Instead, God revealed to Moses exactly how to build the tabernacle so that His people would know the truth about how to experience Him.
In verses 10-19, God gave instructions concerning the ark of the testimony. The ark of the testimony, also called the ark of the covenant, was a central furnishing of the tabernacle and the central symbol of God’s presence with His people. The ark of the testimony was a box constructed of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold. The dimensions of the ark were 45 inches in length, 27 inches in width, and 27 inches in height (v. 10). The ark was transported by poles placed into rings on the sides of the ark. The mercy seat was a slab of pure gold that served as a cover for the ark. The high priest sprinkled blood on the mercy seat once each year on the Day of Atonement as a plea for forgiveness of the people’s sins. The mercy seat symbolized God’s presence and forgiveness.
On each end of the mercy seat was a golden statue of a cherub (v. 20). The wings of the cherubim were spread over the mercy seat with their faces gazing down toward it. The faces of the cherubim were turned toward the mercy seat. Cherubim were winged angels. Cherubim functioned as guards (Gen. 3:24) or as God’s attendants (Ezek. 10:3-22). Generally they are viewed as connected with the Lord’s throne.
Total awe is the only appropriate response when we consider both God’s holiness and His great mercy. No wonder God commanded His people to build the tabernacle according to His instructions and pattern! Only He knew how to design a sanctuary that could reveal what an awesome and forgiving God He truly is. We could never discover God’s true nature through our own efforts. We can only know what God is really like because He chose to reveal Himself to us.
God instructed Moses to place the testimony in the ark and to cover the ark with the mercy seat (v. 21). The testimony referred to the two stone tablets on which were written the Ten Commandments (Ex. 24:12; 31:18; 32:15-16; 34:29). Because the two tables of the testimony were placed in the ark, it was called the ark of the testimony.
The Ten Commandments recorded on the two stone tablets revealed God’s moral demands for His people. The mercy seat was situated on top of the box in which these tablets were placed. The Hebrew term translated mercy seat is derived from the verb meaning “to cover over, to atone.” This design may suggest that while the law revealed God’s demands for His people, His mercy and forgiveness were available when the people failed to meet God’s standards for holy living. God’s mercy and grace are still available when we fail to meet His requirements for right living today.
God told Moses that He would meet with him and speak to him from above the mercy seat and from between the cherubim (v. 22). God designated that spot as a place to encounter His holy presence. From that spot He would speak to Moses and instruct His people. When the Israelites left Mount Sinai, they would not leave God behind. God would journey with them. God would continue to speak to them from above the mercy seat. Though God spoke directly to Moses, His messages were for the whole nation of Israel.
God speaks to all believers today through His indwelling Holy Spirit. He speaks to us as well through the Bible, His written Word. God also sends messages to people through specially called spokespersons. We may call those messengers pastors, preachers, evangelists, or missionaries. God’s spokespersons have a tremendous responsibility. They must be sure that before they speak for God they first have experienced God’s presence and received their messages from Him. The messages that He gives them will never contradict His written Word. Those who hear the messages through God’s spokespersons also have a great responsibility. They must recognize that each message comes from God and give it their utmost attention.
Exodus, Ruth, Proverbs: LXVI, Lifeway Resources Division, WORDsearch Corp., 2006.
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