The Tabernacle: Inside and Out

Exodus 39:1-43

Moses was in charge of the building of the tabernacle. The Lord, the Architect, had provided Moses with all the particulars in its construction, including the garments of the priesthood.

The inside of the tabernacle was beautiful. Gold, silver, bronze, and precious jewels were displayed unsparingly. Blue, purple, and scarlet were the predominant colors used throughout the interior of the tent in both the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. These colors were also featured in the making of the priestly clothing. Fine linen of blue, purple, and scarlet were worn only by the rich and royalty. Kings wore purple robes. Judges 8:26. Later the children of Israel decked out idols that they had made in blue and purple clothing. Jeremiah 10:9.

The outside of the tabernacle was quite dull and drab. The curtains which surrounded the structure were made of goats' hair, which is not very attractive. The tent was covered with ram skins dyed red, and over that was a covering of badger skins. An unappealing exterior masked the magnificence within the tent of meeting.

The prophet Isaiah wrote of Christ, "For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness (or splendor); and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him." Isaiah 53:2, 3. When others saw Jesus Christ, His appearance may be likened to the exterior of the tabernacle...unattractive.

After the Lord Jesus was scourged, the Roman soldiers stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. They pulled a crown of thorns upon his head, placed a reed in His right hand, and bowed, mockingly saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" See Matthew 27:27-31. On the cross He appeared even less appealing, an ugly sight to behold. Isaiah's portrait of Him was true.

In Paul's letter to the Ephesians he addresses those who are Christians as being "in Christ Jesus." On the inside we see things from a different perspective. Life in the Lord Jesus Christ is like living on the inside of the tabernacle. In Him we have redemption through His blood. In Him we were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. In Him we have been made to sit in heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion. In Him we find that we ourselves are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. The inside is beautiful.

Loving Father, we were once on the outside. We believe on the Son, and have found Him to be altogether lovely. May others see Christ in us. Thank You for the beauty we find in Him. In Jesus' name. Amen!

The Finished Work - Exodus 40

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