Passage: Exodus 25:1-9

The Big Idea

God asked for a freewill offering of materials for the tabernacle, and the people gave so generously they had to be told to stop. That willingness pictures Jesus, who gladly came to be our dwelling place with God. Each material, from gold to goat hair to acacia wood, can be read as a portrait of some aspect of Christ. And God’s purpose is stated plainly: “Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” He wants to live with His people.

Surprising Ingredients

Lots of familiar things have surprising ingredients. (Some fruit-flavored yogurts get their color from vegetable juice!)

We’ve seen that the tabernacle is a detailed, many-layered picture of Jesus Christ. God has coordinated every word of these descriptions to lead our eyes and hearts to Jesus’ beauty and power.

If you want to see Him, you will.
If you don’t, you won’t. Jesus said that to the one who has, more will be given, but from the one who doesn’t have, even what he has will be taken away (Matthew 13:12).

Today we’ll look at the materials that went into the tabernacle. And I’d guess each of them shows us something about the character and work of our Lord.

A Willing Offering (Exodus 25:1-2)

The Lord told Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring Me an offering. You are to receive the offering for Me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give.“

An offering is always meant to be voluntary.
This speaks of the willingness of Jesus to come and be our tabernacle.

Look how the people responded later. The craftsmen came to Moses and said, “The people are bringing much more than enough for the work the LORD commanded.” So Moses sent word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything more for the sanctuary offering.” And the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they had was already more than enough (Exodus 36:5-7).

The people’s generosity pictures Jesus’ love.

“Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2).

Jesus gladly became a man to be the perfect meeting place between God and humanity. Voluntarily. Willingly.
He gladly provided the blood to forgive, the water to cleanse, the bread to feed, the light to guide and the glory to save.
This is His passion and joy. He isn’t put off by your weakness:
your sin,
your dirt,
your hunger and need,
your lostness,
your shallowness.
It gives Him a chance to serve you as only He can.
He will always provide what you need. That’s His character and His promise.

So why do we turn to other things? When we’re hurting, lonely, discouraged, tired, burned out?

We always have a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13), yet we so often try anything except trusting Jesus.

May we turn back daily to our loving Provider and Redeemer. How?

Admit our need, in humility.
Call on Jesus, in faith.

“It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

The Materials (Exodus 25:3-7)

“These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and fine leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.”

Each item can remind us of some aspect of the wonderful Savior who came down from heaven for us. “Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3).

Here’s how many Bible teachers have read these materials:

Gold: deity. He is God who became man: perfect strength clothed in total weakness, having everything and becoming nothing, for us.
Silver: redemption. Silver was used for ransom money (Exodus 30:11-16). Jesus came to redeem a people who couldn’t redeem themselves. He was willing and able to pay the price and fight the battles we couldn’t.
Bronze: judgment. The bronze altar was where sacrifices bore the fire. Jesus was judged and punished for our sins though He was innocent, the righteous for the unrighteous (1 Peter 3:18), enduring the fire of God’s wrath for us.
Blue: heaven. Jesus came from heaven to earth, leaving everything because we needed Him.
Purple: royalty. Jesus is King, from heaven and from the line of David. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.
Scarlet: blood. The price Jesus paid to set us free from sin and death and give us everything in the New Covenant: His blood (Luke 22:20).
Fine linen: His perfect life. He always did what was right. He pleased the Father in everything (John 8:29).
Goat hair: the sin offering. Goats were often sin offerings, and goat-hair cloth was dark. Jesus, who knew no sin, was made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Ram skins dyed red: substitution and suffering. The ram was the substitute God provided for Isaac (Genesis 22:13). And the red reminds us that Jesus’ skin was stained with blood, and His beard was torn out (Isaiah 50:6).
Fine leather (sometimes translated “badger skins”): the exact animal is uncertain; it may have been sea cow, dolphin or a special fine leather. It formed a protective, durable outer covering. In Christ, we’re covered and protected, and He beautifies His people.
Acacia wood: His humanity, and the cross. Acacia is a hard, durable desert wood that resists rot. Wood reminds us of the tree He hung on, and of His incorruptible humanity (Acts 2:27). When your sins are nailed to that cross, they don’t come loose.
Oil for the light: the Holy Spirit. Oil often pictures the Spirit in Scripture. Jesus was anointed and led by the Spirit (Luke 4:18).
Spices: a pleasing fragrance. Jesus offered Himself as a fragrant offering to God (Ephesians 5:2). He perfumes our prayers and makes them pleasing (Revelation 8:3-4).
Onyx and gemstones: our High Priest’s heart. The high priest carried the names of Israel’s tribes engraved on stones on his shoulders and over his heart (Exodus 28:9-21). Jesus is our Priest, and He loves to serve us. He carries us on His shoulders and close to His heart.

“That I May Dwell Among Them” (Exodus 25:8)

“Have them make a sanctuary for Me, and I will dwell among them.“

Until now, God had never “lived” among His people on earth like this.
He walked with Adam.
He spoke to various people.
He appeared a number of times.
But now it’s different. God wanted to dwell among them.
It’s as if He’d rather live among these people than stay in heaven alone.
God’s heart is to be the daily center of His people’s lives. That’s what relationship is meant to be: continuous, faithful, daily.

God wanted to form a new people who would love Him, serve Him and represent Him to the world. To do that, He had to come and live among them, not just as one part of their lives, but as the center and source of everything.

The tabernacle became proof that God had redeemed His people by grace and brought them near to Himself. He chose them and loved them.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).

We’re bought by Jesus.
We’re sought by the Spirit.
We’re brought near to the Father.
This kind of acceptance is what everyone in the world is looking for.
If only we would turn to this loving Father instead of other things and relationships, we’d experience the rest, peace, value and glory He’s always wanted us to know.

Exactly as Shown (Exodus 25:9)

“Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.”

Again and again Exodus emphasizes that Moses built everything just as the Lord commanded (Exodus 39:42-43; 40:16).
The tabernacle was a big deal to God.
He made sure everyone could see what a real relationship with Him looks like.
And the tabernacle was entirely God’s idea. He designed it.

Sometime in eternity past, the Father, Son and Spirit looked ahead through time and saw you. They considered your life and your heart, and determined that you would be the object of God’s love (Ephesians 1:4-5).

God’s love for us is truly spectacular. Even when our hearts were indifferent toward Him, even hostile, He still wanted to dwell with us. He still provided everything needed for that relationship, and He still invites each person in.

The tabernacle is a shadow of Christ. So being “in Christ” now has even more meaning, doesn’t it?

We walk in relationship with Christ by faith, as they walked into the tabernacle.
Every piece is designed to remind you of your Savior, your Messiah, Jesus.
Are we dwelling in this tabernacle? He’s already done everything necessary to dwell with us. Nothing stands in the way.

I urge you today: abide in Christ. He is the source of all blessing, joy and peace. I want nothing more than for you to experience His life today and every day.

It’s freely offered. Just confess your need, and call on Jesus to deliver you. He’ll meet every need with His amazing grace.

Built Together

Paul writes: You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord, and in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God by His Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22).

Our union with Jesus is complete and amazing:

We share in His death on the cross, so our sins are destroyed.
We share in His reign, so we have access to every resource of heaven (Ephesians 2:6).
We share in His will and His desire for His kingdom, built in us by the indwelling Spirit.
We live in Him, and He lives in us. That’s union.

Grace Takeaway

God asked for a willing offering, and His people gave more than enough, a picture of the Son who gladly gave Himself. Every thread and board of the tabernacle points to Jesus: divine and human, royal and sacrificed, perfect and pierced. And it all exists for one reason: “that I may dwell among them.” God wants to live with you. In Christ, He already does. Abide in Him.

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Ingredients of the Tabernacle