The directions given to Moses for the construction of the Tabernacle are found in Exodus chapters 25 to 27. The Tabernacle was a house constructed of a series of boards of shittim (acacia) wood, ‘overlaid’ or plated with gold, set on end into sockets of silver, and firmly fastened together by bars of the same wood, also covered with gold. 5 side /cross bars were on the 3 sides of the tabernacle, in total 15 bars. Crossbars that held the boards together for the three frames of the Tabernacle. The boards were joined in the same way in the Most Holy as they were in the Holy Place, becoming one unit. As we are spirit and soul being one. And our physicality being the outer court. The roof or covering of the tabernacle consists of 4 layers. The Tabernacle was covered by a large white linen cloth composed of ten curtains interwoven with figures of cherubim, in blue, purple, and scarlet (Exodus 26:1, 36:8-13). This linen curtain covered the roof and both the northern and the southern side of the Tabernacle plus the back (western side). This is what the priests would see when they looked up, while inside the tabernacle.
The second covering over the linen curtain was the goats hair curtain (Exodus 26:7-13, 36:14-18). This one extended a cubit further on the back and 2 outer sides than did the first linen curtain underneath it. Just like the white linen curtain, this goat’s hair curtain did not touch the ground in the back but would have been elevated by ropes (cords) that were pegged to the ground outside with bronze pegs so that it hung down at an angle preventing them from getting dirty and degraded easily. Goat hair covering represents our fleshly essence. The outer coverings formed the ‘OHEL’ — the large tent that spread over the first two coverings (curtains), protecting them from the sun and rain. The third layer is the covering of the ram’s skin dyed red, this represents the sacrifice of Jesus, covering our flesh. The fourth and top covering was made of ‘sea cows’ (manatee or dugong) skins (mistranslated badger skins) (Exodus 26:14, 36:19). This outward covering was durable to the elements of the weather, protecting all layers and inner sanctuary utensils. It was a plain covering and reminds us of the words of Is. 53:2b where the promised Messiah is portrayed as having no stately form or majesty that we would look at Him,nor an appearance that we would take pleasure in Him.
Standing within the boundary (skin) of the outer court as part of the tabernacle, the tent was set aside. As being set aside it was holy compared to the outer court which was common, therefore the name the Holy Place. Within the Holy place was a division made by the veil. Behind the veil we call the Holy of Holies where the presence of God was seen. Only the priests were allowed to enter through the curtain (made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, hung from five golden pillars), into the holy place from the outer court. While in the holy place the priests were to leave their physical attitudes (dirt-uncleanness) behind to explicitly minister to God and perform their duties, like tending to the lamps (golden lampstand), the bread which was on the table (table of shewbread) and the altar of incense.
Is there still in our tabernacle a holy place where we minister to God? Or is our holy place, soul and spirit where we minister from. “But you, all humanity, are a chosen people, set aside to be a royal order of priests (order of Melchizedek), a holy nation, God’s own; so that you may proclaim the wondrous acts of the One who called you out of inky darkness into shimmering light” (The Voice-1 Peter 2:9).
We go from the outer court, our physical/mortality reality; crossing to the inner court where the ‘soul and spirit’ is reality. We believe that we are now one with Father “I AM is us”, and therefore we are to minister from this to the people around us. What is true about Jesus is also true about us. We are the light of the world, therefore we have to keep our wick tended as well, so it will shine brightly. What are our ears listening to? Where are our eyes looking? Whose report do we believe, the world’s or God’s? The priests were also participants in the eating of the shewbread, we therefore are also participants in the communion with Father, the shewbread which was called face bread, face to face with Him. Based on Numbers 4:7 we believe there was also wine present . Bread and wine speaks of communion. The altar of incense where the priests would bring coals from the brazen altar put sweet incense on it as an aroma before the Lord. (More about shewbread, candlestick and altar of incense below).
