OVERVIEW:
The tabernacle is completed, and an inventory is taken; God commands Moses to set up the tabernacle; God’s presence fills the tabernacle.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
In chapters 37 and 38, the Spirit of God inspires Moses to once again list and describe the seven pieces of furniture to be placed in the tabernacle.
It is very interesting, as we make our way into the Gospel of John, to note the word the Apostle John uses to refer to the eternal Word of God becoming a human being and “dwelling” among us! John says of the Lord Jesus Christ, “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt (literally, “TABERNACLED”) among us”. Once we observe that biblical connection between our Lord Jesus Christ and the Old Testament tabernacle, and start examining the way the Holy Spirit of God inspired John to lay out the contents of his Gospel, it’s amazing to observe that the order of the furniture found in the tabernacle in Exodus 37 and 38 is the exact order of what unfolds in the ministry of Jesus throughout John’s Gospel!
He begins by leading us to the brasen altar of sacrifice, as twice in John chapter one He urges us to “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29, 46)
We are then taken to the laver in John 3:5, where the Spirit of God records, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Moving further into the Gospel of John (and into the tabernacle), the Spirit leads us, in chapters 4–6, to what is pictured in the food and drink of the table of shewbread, as John presents Christ as “Living Water” and “Living Bread”. (Keep in mind, the tabernacle and its furniture in the book of Exodus is the PICTURE, and Christ and the Tabernacle in Heaven is the REALITY! It’s easy to get those reversed!)
In John 8 and 9 we are taken to what is pictured in the golden candlestick, as twice John records our Lord Jesus Christ as He proclaims, “I am the light of the world”, (John 8:12a) and “he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12b)
In John 14–16, the Spirit of God brings us, as it were, to the altar of incense, as Jesus teaches us to pray in His name: the name of the One that is to the Father a sweetsmelling savor. (Ephesians 5:2)
Then in John 17, we are taken beyond the veil into the “Holy of Holies” to behold our great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, making intercession for us in the presence of God. Here, Christ is seen, not only as our High Priest, but as the Ark and the Mercy Seat through whom we have found access and acceptance with His Father and God. Jesus said in John 20:17, “I ascend unto MY Father, and YOUR Father; and to MY God, and YOUR God.”
Finally, in Exodus 39–40, everything having been made according to the divine pattern, it was then ready to be filled with the Divine Glory. In perfect fulfillment of the Old Testament picture, the Gospel of John closes with Jesus breathing on His disciples saying, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” (John 20:22)
Wow! What a supernatural book God has entrusted to our stewardship!
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
In the HIGH PRIEST and his BREASTPLATE, who bears the names of God’s people before the presence of God – Exodus 39:8–21 (Hebrews 9:11; 10:19–22)
In the FOUR COLORS that represent the FOUR GOSPELS – Exodus 38:18, 23; 39:2–3, 5, 8, 24, 29.