Exodus 36:8-38 – We are God’s dwelling place

The preparation for constructing the Tabernacle was done. The people had given generously till the material for the project was more than enough and Moses had to stop them from giving. God had enabled skilful workers, Bezalel and Oholiab, and others were identified and enlisted for the task. In Exodus 36:8 onwards, we see the actual building of the great Tabernacle that God had shown Moses on Mount Sinai, started.    

Verses 8-13 describe how the three walls made of lovely and rich colored linen were joined together with golden clasps. Verses 14-19, describe the four-layer coverings of the Tabernacle. Verses 20-34 describe the sturdy structure and framework that were needed to support the heavy covering. Finally, in verses 35-38, the veil of the Tabernacle is being described. There are so many details described here because God’s dwelling place should not be like any ordinary building. Besides, everything about this Tabernacle depicts something about God, the way of salvation and the way sinful men could approach God. Everything inside the Tabernacle was made of gold, the most appropriate material that’s suitable to create the space for the presence of the great God. Both the content of Exodus 36 and Exodus 25 are similar. In the earlier chapter, God was describing how He wanted the Tabernacle to be made. In the later chapter the building was made exactly as it was shown and described to Moses. It tells us that the instruction of God was carried out to its exactness. That is how God expects of us in our obedience to Him. 

Much effort was taken by God to describe how He wanted the Tabernacle built and much effort was also taken by the builders to see to the exactness of the building God wanted. This is important because more than just a physical structure, this was God’s dwelling place among His people. It was also a projection of what was to come. It was pointing first to Christ, the dwelling place of God on earth. And secondly, it points us to the church in which all of us become a part of. So, Paul confidently said in Ephesian 3:17-22, that Christ Jesus “…came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both (Jews and Gentiles) have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you (Gentiles) are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone,  in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” We are also told in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians that each one of our bodies is the temple of the Holy Spirit. We like the Tabernacle must display the beauty of the Lord. How we act and what we do can either reflect God aptly or distort His image. Let’s be careful about how we conduct our life!