“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Adonai filled the tabernacle. Moshe was unable to enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud remained on it, and the glory of Adonai filled the tabernacle.”-Exodus 40:34-35
Today we are going to finish the Book of Exodus!!!
However, before that, there are some awesome similarities between the Creation Story in Genesis and the Tabernacle construction I would like to point out.
The first thing you should know is that for quite a long time scholars have noticed that the portion of Scripture from Exodus 25:1 to Exodus 31:11 when read in the original Hebrew is DIVIDED into seven distinctive units or sections with the subject of the seventh unit being the Sabbath.
This perfectly parallels the Creation Story in Genesis.
The Creation Story is an account of 6 days of “works” and then the 7th day is ordained as a day of rest.
Likewise, in Exodus, the construction of the Tabernacle is related to us over 6 separate units and then the 7th unit talks about the Sabbath.
As we can see, the never-ending nature of the Sabbath and the importance of ceasing from our works on the 7th Day is woven throughout the Scriptures, and there’s no reason to think this changed once we get into the New Testament.
Let’s take a look at some more mind-blowing similarities.
First, there is a very similar structure and use of phrasing in both the Creation Story and the Tabernacle construction.
For example, after God’s creation was completed in 6 days, we are told that “God saw all that He had made, and found it very good”.
Likewise, upon the completion of the Tabernacle construction, Moses looked it all over and pronounced it FINISHED and COMPLETE in accordance with God’s plan.
The construction of the Universe and the construction of the Tabernacle are both representations of God’s vision from the heavens being brought into physical existence.
Another awesome connection is the fact that both our Universe and the Tabernacle consists of 4 dimensions.
I’m talking about the three dimensions of length, width, and height that make up what we call “space” and the 4th dimension of “time”.
Our universe is comprised of ONLY these 4 dimensions.
So we can see that the Tabernacles enshrines the dimensions of SPACE, and the 7th day Sabbath enshrines the dimension of time.
We will actually see this connection in Scripture many times.
One point I need to make here.
When Moses looked over the completed Tabernacle, just as the Lord did in the Creation Story in Genesis, he did NOT pronounce it, “exceedingly good”.
That would have been taking things too far and possibly bordering on blasphemy.
Here’s why.
As holy as the Tabernacle was, ultimately, it was a piece of construction work done by human hands, even if it was modeled after holy blueprints whose origins came from the heavens.
On the other hand, the Creation of the Universe was done DIRECTLY by the hand of the Lord Himself.
Huge, whopping difference here folks!
Although God-ordained, the Tabernacle was still just a SHADOW of perfection.
It was just a SHADOW of God’s spiritual home in the the Heavens.
It was NOT perfection incarnate, but it DID represent a piece of Heaven on earth.
It’s whole purpose was to bridge the gap between mankind and the Lord.
From tomorrow, once we start the Book of Leviticus, we will see how all of the sacrifices and rituals were given to protect, maintain, and MEND the relationship between God and Israel.
Another awesome connection between the Tabernacle and the Creation narrative is that the Tabernacle was erected on the FIRST DAY OF THE FIRST MONTH OF THE NEW YEAR (of the religious calendar).
Just as Creation marks the first day of the first year of history itself so to speak, once the Tabernacle was set into motion, it also officially represented a new life with the Lord now dwelling among His set apart people.
A whole new chapter in the history of mankind began right here.
We actually can see the same pattern when the Lord destroyed the world by flood.
The earth finally became dry on the 1st day of the 1st month.
Let’s not overlook the awesome significance of this.
The 1st day of the month of AVIV according to the Jewish religious calendar is all about a fresh start.
It’s all about CREATION AND REGENERATION.
And let’s not overlook the physical AND spiritual duality at play here.
The Tabernacle was a PHYSICAL, VISIBLE MODEL of the Lord’s SPIRITUAL DWELLING PLACE in the Heavens.
One did NOT cancel out the other.
The physical and the spiritual coexist simultaneously.
Likewise, the 7th day Sabbath has both a physical and spiritual component to it.
As believers we are to SPIRITUALLY rest in Messiah and PHYSICALLY rest on the 7th day Sabbath.
One does NOT cancel out the other.
Finally, after all had been said and done, we can see that the Lord placed His final stamp of approval on the Tabernacle by completely filling it up with His Glory or His SHEKINAH.
In fact, we are told that the Glory of the Lord so filled up the Tabernacle that Moses wasn’t able to enter it.
Apparently, at this divine instant in time, the Lord was occupying both the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.
Eventually, however, His Presence would be restricted to exclusively the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant sat.
NEXT TIME WE BEGIN THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS
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