Exodus chapter 26 gives us a detailed description of the design and construction for the Tabernacle- the temporary meeting place that Moses is instructed to build. One interesting note, God’s plan for the meeting place is described from the inside- out. The inside layer of the tent is to be 5 layers made of “finely twisted linen“, with “cherubim worked into them by skilled craftsmen“. They are to be made in two sections joined together by gold clasps. The next layer is to be made of 11 layers of goat hair joined by bronze clasps. then the outer layer of the covering is to be made of ram skin died red and over that a layer of badger skin. The frame of the tent was to be made of acacia wood covered with gold. All of the posts were set into silver bases. From the outside, the tabernacle would have been plain, perhaps even unattractive, but inside would be fine purple and red linen with gold covering everything. There would be cherubim everywhere, and it would be completely dark except for the light of the lampstand. I believe our best imagination of the heaven that awaits us, is probably “badger skin” compared to the unspeakable beauty of our eternal home. Moses is reminded to “set up the tabernacle according to the plan I gave you on the mountain“. Each item is an important symbol, designed to ultimately bring the children of Israel to the Savior. As beautiful as the tabernacle was, it was to be temporary.
The next item described is a curtain, again of fine blue, purple and scarlet linen that will create an inner room. “Place the ark of the Testimony behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.” This curtain was necessary to separate the Holy God from the sinful man. Later we will learn that only the High Priest was allowed to enter the Most Holy place only one time a year in order to make atonement for the people by sprinkling the blood of the sacrifice on the mercy seat. We are also told the table of showbread and the lampstand are to be in the Holy Place. The chapter ends by describing the one entrance to the tabernacle which is to be made of fine blue, purple and scarlet linen, but the base of the posts are to be made of bronze.
Sin still separates mankind from our Holy God, but by His grace, God created a way of fellowship. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the light. No man comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). But Jesus is more than just a door into the outer room. He became our atonement. By the shedding of His sinless blood for our sins, we have been given access to God Almighty. In the temple, this veil was torn from top to bottom at the death of Jesus (Matthew 27:51), showing that through His death, there is no longer a barrier separating us from the Most Holy place. Now the Most Holy Place is open to us: “therefore brethren we have confidence to enter the Holy Place by the blood of Jesus. By a new a living way… the veil, that is His flesh” (Hebrews 10:19-20). And now God’s Holy Spirit dwells in us- WE are the temple of God! And God makes us entirely new from the inside-out. Even though the world may see us as “badger skins”, God sees us as pure gold and fine linen. Let the world around you know, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe with your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved” (Romans 10:9).