What’s It All About?
Have you ever found yourself reading through the detailed instructions for the tabernacle in Exodus and wondered, "What’s it all about?" The seemingly endless list of specifications—so specific, so exact—can leave us scratching our heads. But behind every detail lies a profound truth, a divine purpose. The tabernacle was far more than a tent in the wilderness; it was a sacred space where heaven and earth intersected, where God met humanity in a unique and powerful way.
The tabernacle was the place where the covenant between God and His people was affirmed. It housed the ark of the covenant, which held the stone tablets inscribed with God’s commandments. The lid of the ark, known as the mercy seat, was the place of atonement, where the high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice to cover the sins of the people. Every element of the tabernacle—the altar, the lampstand, the veil—was a symbol, a shadow, pointing to something greater. It was a pattern of heavenly realities, a tangible expression of God’s love and His plan to bring salvation to the world.
Yet, as significant as the tabernacle was, it was only a shadow of something far greater. It pointed forward to Jesus Christ, the ultimate intersection between heaven and earth. In Christ, the tabernacle finds its fulfillment. He is the true dwelling place of God among humanity. John 1:14 tells us, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” The Greek word for “dwelling” here is *skenoo*, which means to tabernacle. Jesus came to tabernacle with us, to be the ultimate place of atonement, the one who takes away the sins of the world.
In John 2:19, Jesus declares, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” He wasn’t referring to the physical temple in Jerusalem but to His own body. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus became the fulfillment of the tabernacle’s shadow. He is the true mercy seat, the ultimate sacrifice, and the bridge between God and humanity. Through Him, we are reconciled to God, not just in some distant future but here and now.
This truth is beautifully illustrated in the life of Stephen in Acts 6-7. Full of the Spirit and wisdom, Stephen’s countenance shone with the light of Christ. Even as he faced persecution and death, he abided in the greater tabernacle—in Christ. He lived from a place of forgiveness, grace, and power, and so can we. We too can experience this abiding life in Christ, dwelling in His presence, drawing from His mercy, and finding strength for each day.
As I reflect on these truths, my prayer is that I would see beyond the shadows—both in the pages of Scripture and in the day-to-day rhythms of life. I pray for ears to hear and eyes to see, to abide in the mercy and grace of this given day. To abide in Him. This is the prayer of my heart—for myself, for my family, and for you. May we all live in the reality of the greater tabernacle, finding life, healing, and hope in Christ.
May it be so.
— Hunter
