Exodus
26 is one of the chapters of the Bible that many would skip or merely skim
through. Why? Because a quick scan of it resembles reading an architectural
plan which can make reading drab, dry and dull. But we need to know that
what we are about to explore is no ordinary structure. It was God’s dwelling
place among His people on earth. It’s a structure that teaches us so much about
God and His character and provides us with instruction and requirement on how
we sinners could meet a holy God. There are many spiritual lessons to be
gleaned from a study of the Tabernacle. Hence the material to construct it, and
how it was to be done, deserve our attention and reflection even though it
makes reading difficult.
In
Exodus 25, we saw how God wanted the furnishings of the Holy of holies and the
Holy Place to be constructed. The Ark of the Covenant with the mercy seat was
to be placed in the Holy of holies. Then in the Holy Place, the outer chamber
of the Tabernacle, God wanted the Altar of Incense, the Table of Shewbread and
the Golden Lampstand placed. Having given details of how He wanted the pieces of furniture to be made, He then proceeded in Exodus 26 to describe how He wanted
the tent or the Tabernacle to be made.
In
Exodus 26:1-6, God instructed that the inner layer of the Sanctuary would be
made of white fine linen decorated with colors of blue, and purple scarlet
fibers. Embroidered onto the linen sheets were cherubim, representing the
angels that guard the throne of God. There were in total ten sheets of linen
measuring 6 feet by 42 feet. A set of five sheets each were sewn together to
make two enormous curtains. They were then joined together by 50 golden clasps.
These two huge sheets were then draped over a frame to form the roof and sides
of the Tabernacle. In verses 7-14, God described the next three layers of
covering for the Tabernacle. Simply put, the first layer described in verses
1-6 would be covered by a layer made of goat’s hair. Then the third layer of
ram skin would cover the first two inner layers before the fourth layer of
water-proof hides of sea cows would be draped over it.
Reflecting
over what we have read in these first 14 verses of Exodus 26, we can see that
the exterior would look rough and coarse but the interior would look pleasant
and pleasing. We surmised that being in the interior of the Tabernacle would
very much be like being in heaven. It was essentially a replica of heaven where
cherubim surrounded His throne. There is one thing we can take away from this
first 14 verses. Do not spend too much time decorating the outward when the
beauty of our inner man is far more important. Isn’t this what 1 Peter 3:3-4
exhorts us to do? Although Peter was addressing women, these verses are just as
applicable to us vain men. His advice to us is “Your
adornment must not be merely external - braiding the hair, and
wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the
hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet
spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” We must spend time
to cultivate our inner man for the glory of God.
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