“Then have them make a sanctuary for Me and I will dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8 NIV)
God asked His people to assemble a portable temple in the desert and take it with them wherever they went.
What? Why? What purpose did a tabernacle serve in the wilderness? Didn’t it seem like a big hassle to set up , tear down and carry from place to place? Was it really necessary?
The short answer is yes. Absolutely. And I feel like maybe today, in the midst of week eight in our world pandemic, we might understand why more than ever.
The Tabernacle was:
- a gathering and rallying point for God’s people.
- a place to experience the palpable glory of God.
- a seat of leadership and divine judgement.
Remember, the Israelites at this point were merely a people group, not yet a nation. And they were being established as a theocracy; a never-been-done-before led-by-the-Lord Kingdom. They needed everything the Tabernacle offered. They had historically lacked a place to gather and get to know the One True God. Their patriarchal history was faded at best, and their legislation was freshly scrawled on stone tablets; they required a system for acquiring this knowledge. They needed a judgement seat to make the tough calls. Yes, it was a hassle to put up and take down this tent of meeting with every movement, but it was critical for their path forward.
The Israelites were on a journey out of Egypt and slavery to the Promised Land. They had yet to possess the skills needed to take hold of retain control of Canaan. The Tabernacle was the place to experience God, grow together as a people and prepare for the season to come.
Similarly, we are on a journey out of sin and toward the Celestial City. Like the Israelites, our wilderness trek is designed to refine and church is our Tabernacle; the place we gather, rally and grow. It is the place where we experience God’s glory and submit to His leadership.
In this Coronavirus crises, churches have been closed on Sundays. Not locked down, but certainly limited in their services. We’ve watched on screens from our homes but we all know it is not the same as gathering and proclaiming God’s authority and glory in person.
I don’t know that I’ve ever felt the need for the fellowship of the saints quite like I have in this season of wilderness. At first glance, it doesn’t make sense to assemble an elaborate tent in the desert; to build ornate or state of the art churches in a land we are only passing through, but when we are here, plodding through alone day after day, we gain new perspective. The Tabernacle is a place where we experience God together and acknowledge His leadership our lives. Christian growth in isolation will never exceed the challenge and reward of growing together. I don’t know about you, but when at last the church doors open again, I’ll be there with my face mask and my Bible, ready to receive all the Lord has for us.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25 NIV)
Lord, thank You for the Tabernacle in the wilderness. We recognize Your perfect plan in asking us to assemble. Grow us. Equip us. Ignite us with Your glory. We submit to Your perfect leadership. Be Lord of our lives. Amen.