Making of the furniture

Exodus 37

As my wife and I were first moved into our apartment we realized that we needed some furniture. I realized that I did not like looking for furniture and that a sofa is a sofa and a bed is a bed. I was like just give me something to use. My wife, who I think is the brighter one out of us, looked for sofa with specific detail and color and how comfortable it was as well as what was the price. We ended up getting the sofa that she picked out. I am so thankful we did because what she picked out not only looked better than what I wanted but also it is way more comfortable to sit on.

In chapter 37 we are continuing with the making of the tabernacle. God told Moses these details in chapter 24 through 31. There was a little break in the story due to some golden calf stuff and now the tabernacle and the furniture that will go in it is being built.

The Ark

The task was given to the chief craftsman, Bezalel. The ark is probably the most important piece of furniture for the tabernacle. The ark was housed in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle. I wonder what goes through your mind when you read the detail of the ark. Many man hours were put into the building of this beautiful object. Remember the Ark served as the footstool of God. The ark was home to three sacred things. The first was manna that was placed in a golden jar(Exodus 16:32). The second was Aaron’s staff (Numbers 17:8). The third was the tablets of stone. The 10 commandments showed that God would be God to Israel and they would be His people.

The ark served as a reminder to know that God is ruler and provider for his people. If you remember that Noah and his family was placed into a big boat that was called an ark. The ark shows us security and protection. It was a very important piece to the tabernacle and to Israel. The most important part of the ark was not what was placed inside but what was placed on top. The lid was beautifully crafted with Cherubim, a mighty angel placed on top. It was to show that this was a representation of God’s throne. 

The Table

The table was to be the place where the unleavened bread was to stay. It is also called the Table of showbread. The table served to hold the twelve loaves of bread that were made every week by the priests. It served as a reminder to Israel that God is our provider. He was the one that sent manna down from heaven every morning for Israel to be nourished. God was the one that showed them the way. The bread also reminded Israel of the lasting covenant between them and God (Leviticus 24:8).  

The Lampstand

 It is also called the Lampstand of life. Its purpose was to give light to the tabernacle. The lampstand was to be a continual light in the tabernacle to show God’s continual presence (Leviticus 24:1–4). The lampstand was decorated with buds and flowers showing that God is the author of life. He is also the light to this dark world. 

Altar of Incense

The Altar of Incense was the place where special incense was made to be a sweet smell to God and it was offered every morning and evening. It stood right in front of the ark but was separated by the curtain to the Holy of Holies. The raising smoke of the incense represented the prayers of the people rising to God. It served as the altar of prayer for Israel.   We see that everything in the tabernacle served as a reminder to Israel that God was everything that they needed. He was their provider as well as their King. He was one who would listen to their prayers and even answer them. The Tabernacle was the home to God.

God’s House Today

The Israelites had the tabernacle to show this is where God lived. Today it is different because obviously we do not have the tabernacle that existed thousands of years ago in the Sinai wilderness, but also the tabernacle was only an example of what would come in the future. We are blessed with something better than a tent with goat skins. We have Jesus Christ who is the tabernacle of God. Christ came onto this earth as his name will be Immanuel which means God is with us (Matthew 1:23). The tabernacle was used by God to show his love for Israel but it was all a shadow of the great love that is shown in Christ.

Do you have Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? Israel lived in expectation of the Savior to come which was represented in the furniture of the Tabernacle. Christ came and fulfilled everything that the Tabernacle served as for Israel. He is our ark, he is the sweet aroma to God, he is our everlasting sacrifice (1st John 2:2), he is the bread of life (John 6:35), Jesus is our light (John 8:12). Thank You Jesus for everything that you did and do for us your children. In him there is no other for salvation. May you know him personally for who he is.