Making the Tabernacle and Living our Lives

Admittedly, the sections of the Bible which describe how the tabernacle are to be built can feel a little bit boring. I hope it’s not a sin to admit that! However, as I prayed about the Bible passage I read this morning as part of a reading plan, the Lord opened my eyes to see some lessons.

Concerning the tabernacle, God tells Moses and the Israelites:

You must make it according to all that I show you (Exod. 25:9 CSB)

God had detailed plans for the tabernacle, and God also has detailed plans for how we should live our lives. Just as God wanted the tabernacle to be built according to His plans and wisdom and not our own ideas, He wants us to live our lives according to His direction.  That’s why an important part of the Great Commission is:

and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

(Matt. 28:20 NIV)

God wants me to think like He thinks, to value what He values, to hate what He hates, and to love as Christ loved. God wants my life to be built after the pattern of the life of Christ:

Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ. (1 Cor. 11:1 CSB)

Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. (Eph. 5:1 CSB)

The tabernacle was beautiful. It was made with gold, silver, and precious fabrics all skillfully shaped according to God’s plan. A life which imitates Christ will likewise be valuable and beautiful in God’s eyes.

The tabernacle was designed as a place for God’s presence to be experienced. As we conform our lives to God’s plan, we will experience God’s presence and others will also experience God working and shining through us.

Like our lives, the tabernacle was cleansed with blood. The tabernacle was cleansed with the blood of animals as a symbol, but our lives are cleansed with the blood of Christ. The tabernacle was a place of mercy, grace, and forgiveness of sins. Likewise, God forgives us and spreads His grace through us to others.

The tabernacle was built with the freely given gifts of God’s people:

"Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give”. (Exod. 25:2 NIV)

As God moves our hearts to give our time, energy, money, and abilities to serve Him, He will use our gifts to build our lives into beautiful places of His mercy where people experience Him.

May we build our lives according to all that God shows us.

Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others . . .