It was God’s own mind from before the creation of the world to have a people and to dwell among them. After Adam’s fall in sin, mankind was driven from God’s presence, and the way of return was barred by Cherubim with flaming swords. But God’s plan of redemption was already set in place. He called a people to himself, made them great, and raised up Moses to deliver them from bondage. Taking them into the wilderness, God commanded Moses to build the Tabernacle according to His perfect and detailed instructions—a house for the great God of creation to dwell among his people. The key to understanding everything in the Tabernacle is the central Person of the entire Scripture, Jesus Christ. God intended this holy structure to be the most visual presentation of the glory of Jesus Christ. It’s really the gospel in the Old Testament.
The Tabernacle illustrates the main doctrines of the New Testament of salvation in a variety of ways. This study, from the book of Exodus, helps us understand the important connection between the law and the gospel. How can a just, holy, and righteous God dwell among a sinful people? How can unholy men approach such a holy God? But to make both possible, God ordered Moses, “Construct this Tabernacle.”
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