A Symbol of Holiness: The Tabernacle

The Bible is full of fascinating stories that help us understand God's character and plans for humanity. One such story is about the Tabernacle, a sacred dwelling place built by the Israelites under the guidance of God. In this article, we'll explore the significance of the Tabernacle as a symbol of God's holiness and His desire to be with His people.

As recorded in Exodus 25-27, Moses and the Israelites brought their offerings and began building the Tabernacle according to God's exact plans. The Tabernacle was a magnificent structure made of gold, silver, bronze, blue, purple, and red yarn, fine linen, goat hair, ram skins, cowhides, acacia wood, olive oil, stones, and gems. It was a symbol of God's presence among His people and served as a reminder of His holiness.

The Tabernacle was also a place where the Israelites could worship and connect with God. They would set it up in the middle of their camp, surrounded by the 12 tribes of Israel. Although God didn't need a physical house, He wanted to be with His people, and the Tabernacle provided a way for Him to do so.

Interestingly, every part of the Tabernacle had a deeper meaning that pointed to Jesus Christ. The Hebrews writer notes in Hebrews 8:5 and 9:11 that the Tabernacle was a shadow or a symbol of things to come. In other words, it prefigured the coming of Jesus, who would be the ultimate dwelling place for God.

The Bible also tells us that God's plan is to reconcile sinful humanity to Himself through Jesus Christ (Galatians 4:4-5). God desires to be with His people, but our sin separates us from Him. That's why He sent Jesus to take away our sin and make us holy.

To illustrate this concept of holiness, we can consider a simple experiment. Fill two identical glasses with water and oil, respectively. Then, add a few drops of food coloring to the water. When you place a playing card or credit card over the water, you'll see that the oil doesn't mix with the colored water because they're incompatible substances. Similarly, God is perfectly holy and cannot tolerate sin.

The Bible says in Habakkuk 1:13, 'You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And You cannot look at wickedness.' This passage highlights God's holiness and His inability to coexist with evil. As humans, we're sinful by nature, and our actions are impure (Habakkuk 1:13). However, God wants us to understand that He is holy, and we can only be made pure through Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, the Tabernacle was a symbol of God's holiness and His desire to be with His people. It prefigured the coming of Jesus Christ, who would be the ultimate dwelling place for God. As believers, we can learn from the story of the Tabernacle about God's character and our need for Him. May we always remember that God is holy, and He desires to be with us through Jesus Christ.

Coloring Book Image: A picture of a coloring book image of a Bible would be an excellent addition to this article. It could feature a beautiful illustration of the Tabernacle or a depiction of Jesus as the dwelling place for God. This visual element would help readers, especially children, better understand the concept of God's holiness and His desire to be with His people.

Coloring book image of a bible