The Tabernacle

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.

Salvation means reconciliation with our Creator, God—though we are sinners, by true faith, we are accepted in God’s presence on behalf of Jesus’ merits. The Table was made from shittim wood overlaid with gold, portraying Christ’s two natures, perfect God and man, yet the two natures are separate and never mixed. This uniqueness made Jesus the true bread from heaven, come in the flesh. Being the Son of God and the Son of man, he alone could be the perfect substitute to pay the penalty of our sin.

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Rev. A.T. Vergunst is minister of the Gospel in the Reformed Congregation of Carterton, New Zealand.