Exodus 26:1 ESV [1] “Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them.
Why make a tent?
Before we continue with describing the pattern and materials of the tabernacle, let’s review the purpose of the tent. The tabernacle was given by God as a physical reminder of His desire to dwell among His people. Everything about it and its furniture was a representation of God’s deity and humanity revealed in Jesus. The gold and the blue are representations of God’s deity and divinity, the purple His royalty, and the scarlet the atoning blood sacrifice required for cleansing of sin. It also has been described as a representation of the believer as God indwells them by the holy spirit. Flesh on the outside, spirit on the inside. In addition, some scholars note that it was a reminder of the Garden of Eden where God walked with Adam and Eve. The beauty of the almond blossoms and guarding cherubim reminds us of the pictures in Genesis. I believe that as we look at it in detail we will see all these images, but conclude that as with all scripture, it reveals to us the beauty of our savior Jesus Christ, God’s son.
Significantly, the instructions given to Moses on how to make the tent of meeting began with the interior lining. The woven fabric of fine linen, blue, purple, and scarlet yarns was to be embroidered with angelic beings. Cherubim is always attending to the presence of God. (You may want to read our post “How to put God in box)”
Genesis 3:24 ESV [24] He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden, he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
Here in Genesis, they are used to guard the tree of life so that man would not live forever in his sin.
Revelation 4:6-8 ESV [6] and before the throne, there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: [7] the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. [8] And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
And here in heaven, they are described in terms hard to understand. However, their purpose is clear. They attend to holy things. They are God’s ministers and worship Him in complete obedience day and night.
In Ezekiel chapter 10, we find descriptions of cherubim that stretch human languages beyond their limits. The certainty is cherubim are angelic creatures created by our all-powerful God to do his bidding. Ezekial 10:1-20
These cherubim were embroidered into the inner lining of the tabernacle. Imagine the intricate detail that was given to Moses. The blueprint is to be written for the craftsman who would be assigned this project.
Exodus 31:2-11 ESV [2] “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, [3] and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, [4] to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, [5] in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. [6] And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: [7] the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, [8] the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, [9] and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, [10] and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, [11] and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.
God leaves no detail undone. He gave the pattern, he gave the assignment and he gave the talent to perform. God always gifts us to perform what he calls us to do.
The inner lining
The making of the tent, God’s house, began with the interior lining. The curtains on the inside were job one. In Exodus 25 God gave instructions for the Ark, the table of shewbread, and the lampstand. Furniture for his holy place. But, only in the most holy place, the Holy of Holies, would the cherubim be embroidered. The Holy of Holies, a 15×15 foot space, where only the Ark of the Covenant would be. The mercy seat is overshadowed by cherubim and the curtains are embroidered with cherubim. This is the place where God would come down to meet with man. It was beautiful on the inside!
The outer covering
Exodus 26:7 ESV [7] “You shall also make curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle; eleven curtains shall you make.
Exodus 26:14 ESV [14] And you shall make for the tent a covering of tanned rams’ skins and a covering of goatskins on top.
Envision how it must appear from the outside. All the beauty on the inside, the gold and silver, the purple, blue, and scarlet woven fabric, the beautiful gold furniture, the beautiful veil, all covered over with hairy goat and ram skins. No one would see anything attractive about this tent. We wouldn’t want it in our neighborhood. Not much of a house for their God, the neighbors would say. The Egyptian gods traveled in a “fancy” tent. Surrounding nations made a statement with the tents of their gods. But, these Israelite’s gods must be poor. Yes, on the outside it didn’t look like much, but…….on the inside! You’ve got to see the inside!
Isaiah 53:2-3 ESV [2] For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. [3] He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
On the outside, Jesus wasn’t attractive. The paintings and statues that have been created of a white long-haired man are inaccurate. Jesus was a Jew and was born in Israel. Isaiah says he appeared like a root protruding out of dry ground. (the least attractive part of a tree) On the outside, he wasn’t pretty. He was despised. He was rejected. You might even say ugly. The tabernacle was ugly on the outside. But, oh………on the inside! On the inside He is beautiful. On the inside He is deity. On the inside He is Devine. On the inside He is royal. Nail scars and stripes on the outside, but pure love on the inside.
John 1:14 ESV [14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Are you in Christ? Is Christ in you?
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV [19] Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, [20] for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
We have the presence of God IN us by the Holy Spirit
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 ESV
[16] From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. [17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Are we still looking on the outside?
1 Samuel 16:7 ESV [7] But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
We can be beautiful on the inside too. When Jesus dwells on the inside, what was common becomes beautiful.