When Moses pleaded with God on behalf of the people of Israel God promised that Moses would catch a glimpse of God's glory. Moses could not see that fullness of God's glory but in just catching a glimpse he was changed. His face shone. But when the tabernacle was finished God came down

When we come to Exodus chapters 32-34 we come across an episode that seems to be out of place. Why does this event interrupt God's instructions for building the tent? The answer, outside of the fact that this is the way history happened, is that there is a barrier in our approaching God. There are more references

For the priests serving in the tabernacle there was a continual reminder to them that they needed to be clean - the bronze basin. It was made from polished bronze and stood at the entrance to the tent of the tabernacle. The polished bronze came from the mirrors of the women who worshipped in the entrance to the tent

In Matthew 17 there is a strange episode where the collectors of the temple tax ask Peter if Jesus pays this tax. Jesus tells Peter that sons of kings don't have to pay tax but that Jesus will pay the tax for Peter and for himself. To understand this passage we need to go back

We move back into the tent of the tabernacle to the third item of furniture in the Holy Place - the altar of incense. We are given both the description of the altar, verses 1-5, and its function, verses 6-10. At this golden altar the priests were to take burning coals from the bronze altar outside, they were to place

Chapters 28 & 29 move from looking at the tabernacle and its furniture to those who serve within the tabernacle - the priests. Here are the mediators between God and his people. The priests were set apart in their calling (28:1). God himself chose, called, and consecrated Aaron and his sons to serve as priests forever (29:9). They

The instructions for the tabernacle begin with God's presence, and then work from the inside out. Chapter 27 is the court of the tabernacle. The large open area, fenced off from the wilderness, where every Israelite could come and worship God. The court is where God's people worshipped and served as they made their way through the wilderness

Moving outside the tent into the courtyard of the tabernacle we find ourselves in an open space fenced in by a cloth wall. The only door was in the eastern side of the tabernacle. When you entered the tabernacle complex the very first thing you saw was a bronze altar. Exodus 27 & 38 speak of the instructions

The construction of the tabernacle tent points us to the effects of the Fall in Genesis with the hope of restoration. There is restricted access to God's presence but also there is the hope of fellowship with God being restored. The tent of the tabernacle has much beauty and structure. Furniture made of

The next 2 items of furniture in the tabernacle were found in the Holy Place. This was the larger section of the tent of meeting, with the smaller inner section being the Holy of Holies. In the Holy Place only the Levites and Priests were free to enter. Here on either side, left and right, were the lampstand