Imagine you are Moses on the mountain with God and you’re receiving instructions for something so beautiful and never before made by humans inspired by instruction from Almighty God. “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.” Exodus 25:8-9. “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. Acts 7:44. They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is seen in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” Hebrews 8:5.

He is instructed in how to make an ark of acacia wood that will hold the tablets of the covenant law which God will give Moses. On the top of the ark an atonement cover. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood – to be received by faith. Romans 3:25. On top of the ark, two cherubim. In the summary below: The cover of the ark of the covenant law was called the atonement cover. This is where, between the two golden cherubim (mighty angels), the presence of God would dwell in a cloud above their outstretched wings. The atonement cover was where the highest and most perfect act of atonement would be made when the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement to atone for the sins of all the people.

Everything.. the ark, the table, the lampstand, the seven lamps with the accompanying utensils, were to be made to specification and covered in pure gold. Everything to build all of the tabernacle would be provided by the people themselves. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. v. 2. An amazing opportunity. The Children of Israel were being called out and shown how to worship God. A unique nation and here we see the beginning of their instructions from God and their hearts willing to give and do all that God tells them…a partnership in worship…”the circumcision”. We’re watching the birth of a people, our ancestors, chosen by God to glorify Him. What about us? Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands) – remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Ephesians 2:11-18.

We are so privileged to read about our ancestors with their faith and their lack of faith…just like us. We are all of us created by God. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:6-10.

Our ancestors did the good works God prepared for them to do in building the tabernacle, the sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. Our good works? Accepting God’s gift of grace to everyone including us….prepared in advance for us to do. I will dwell among them. Take His hand and learn from Him how to love Him and each other. He’s here.