This was from a study given by Aaron Michaud at The Wheel. I know Aaron studies under Randy Smith and I follow his blog like a mad man! This is a fantastic study of how God has always been about deep relationships with His people….enjoy! I have only settled down and “pasted” this post after a month of re-reading it…
Wilderness Tabernacle Furnishings
The Wilderness Tabernacle is a great picture of the process that we must go through to have an intimate
relationship with our God in heaven. It starts us at the realization and very graphic nature of our sin and
takes us in the end into the very presence of the Living God. Though we will never have to sacrifice a goat
and instead of being in a place, God dwells in us, there is a fantastic picture of what must happen for us to
have a truly intimate relationship with God:
- Brazen Altar- This is the place where the animal, whose blood was shed on one’s behalf, was burned and offered up to God. The processes of killing and sacrificing the animal should be a reminder to us that our sin causes blood to have to be shed and just as an Israelites sin caused an animal to die, our sin lead to Jesus’ death.
- Laver- After the sacrifice was made; the priests would need to wash the blood from their hands. The laver should help to remind us that even though the atonement for our sin has been made that there is a cleansing process that we need to go through in order to draw closer to the presence of God.
- Table of Showbread- Each day, manna from God was placed on this table to show and remind the Israelite people that God had once again provided for their needs. It is good for us to reflect on the fact that God did not simply save us and then leave us to fend for ourselves. We need to be able to see His faithfulness in all that He provides for us in each breathe that we take, remembering that His very presence is with us.
- Menorah- This lamp stand is representative of the eternal light of God’s wisdom that God shines into our lives. The menorah has gold almond blossoms on it which represent wisdom. The menorah was to be constantly supplied with oil and to be burning inside the tabernacle. It should serve as a reminder to us that when we feel like we are lost or in the darkness that through His Spirit and His Word God is always lighting our path and has never left us to wander on our own.
- Altar of Incense- This is the altar where the prayers of Israel would be offered to God. In the Hebrew mind God smelled one’s prayers. The prayers of the Israelites would be burned with incense (Exodus 30:34-38) and offered up to the Lord. The altar of incense serves as a great picture that God is listening and constantly engaged in the things that are on our heart and our mind. It also offers us the idea of making sure the things that we are concerned with are actually worth His time.
- Ark of the Covenant- This is the Holy of Holies. The ark represented the actual presence of God. Through the entire process of going through the Wilderness Tabernacle this was the end destination, the presence of God. Knowing that we can in spite of ourselves talk to and hear from God himself is an incredible display of His love and forgiveness. From our sin, our shortcomings, our inadequacy God takes us into His presence and His love. What a wonderful picture He gave us to understand that He in spite of ourselves desires a relationship with us.
