God Made You With Perfection – Exploring The Tabernacle

In Awe Of Jesus

My grandfather, when reaching his 75th anniversary to my grandmother said, “I still learn something new about her every day.” Still new in my marriage when He said this, I could not imagine after 75 years still learning something new about someone else, but that is exactly what my relationship with Jesus has been. I am always amazed that after 27 years of knowing Jesus personally that I can still be in awe of Him. When I actively seek Him, He keeps revealing.

The Tabernacle – God’s Dwelling Place

My study group just finished Exodus. The final third of the book is all about the tabernacle. God tells Moses on Mount Sinai of the seven pieces of furniture that will reside in the tabernacle. He tells of the four layers of fabric that will cover the holy places. God speaks of the clothing the priest will wear all the way down to their underpants. God leaves no detail unspoken.

The tabernacle was the portable version of what became the temple. The Israelites had this portable structure to move with them as they traversed across the desert. This was the place God dwelled with them. Now for a speedy history lesson.

A Quick History

King David felt a burden for building a temple for God and, just like Moses, God gave David all the details of how to build it. The only catch, he would not get to build it. He gave Solomon all the details to build the first ornate temple where God’s presence would again dwell with His people.

A few kings later, Israel splits and becomes the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Both rebelled and God warned them they would face punishment if they did not return to Him. They remained on their path of destruction, which led them into 70 years of exile. During the invasion, this magnificent temple was destroyed.

After the 70 years, we find Ezra and Nehemiah, who returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall around the city and the temple. This temple was nothing like the one of Solomon, but God once again dwelled among His people. Sadly, enemies destroyed this temple as well after the time of Jesus.

But don’t be disheartened. God had a plan all along to remain among His people. He sent Jesus. After Jesus came, died on the cross and resurrected, He returned to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God. But God did not stop there. In Acts two, we read of God sending the Holy Spirit, which is now God dwelling among His people. And where is it He dwells? Within each of us, that has accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

He Made You With Perfection

So here is the question I have to ask? If God only dwelt in places that were made to exact dimensions, of only the best materials, and gave precise details for every aspect of where He would reside, why would God not do the same for us? If our bodies are the place for His Spirit to dwell, I don’t think He would not give the same detail and precision for creating us as He would the building that He instructed man to make.

We have all looked in the mirror in our lives and thought, “Why does my ______ have to be _______?” Fill in the blanks. At some point, we have all thought something negative about our bodies. We have believed the lies the world has shared about the beauty that God created when He created you. I want you to hear me right now. God made you perfect. Just as He had the tabernacle made with the finest of materials, He made you with perfection. I encourage you to hold on to that and never let anyone tell you that you are anything less than perfect.

The Tabernacle

Now want to see the part where God put me in awe? This once again goes back to the tabernacle. The Hebrew letters that make up the word for tabernacle are מִשְׁכָּן we would pronounce it like this miškān (meesh-kan). I will break down this word for you and, while I do, remember what the tabernacle was designed for.

It was the place God dwelled. People would come to offer their sacrifices to make atonement for their sins (they would be right with God), and where they met with God. Now let’s look at the Hebrew word. Remember, every letter of the Hebrew alphabet has a sound it makes, a numerical value, various meanings, and don’t forget we read it right to left.

מִ Mem

מִ This is the mem and means down from Heaven. This can refer to anything that comes down from heaven. It can refer to rain as it falls from above. We read through Exodus that everything spoken about the tabernacle came from God above. Fun fact, if you take this first letter of tabernacle and the last letter, you get the word manna. The bread from Heaven that sustained the people in the wilderness.

שְׁ Shin

שְׁ This is the shin. When you look at it, you can almost see what it means. One meaning is teeth and digestion, but it can also mean wholeness. When those who offered sacrifices came to the tabernacle because of sin, they would make an offering, and in this process, they would find wholeness again with God. This letter also points us to the idea of repetition and returning. Chaim Bentorah says, “The shin reminds us that when we wander too far away from God, He is always waiting for our return.” This letter is also a picture of arms raised up in worship. The tabernacle and bringing the offerings and following all the rituals were how they worshiped.

The shin reminds us that when we wander too far away from God, He is always waiting for our return.”

Chaim Bentorah

כָּ Kap

כָּ The kap is said to look like it’s bending over as in hunger. Meaning that it shows our emptiness that God can only fill. The left side is open, showing us to receive from God. The priest would go into the tabernacle to receive messages from God. This letter also refers to us when we receive the Holy Spirit and He fills us up.

ן Nun

ן The nun, our last letter. This letter’s bent-over appearance is said to represent worship. Submitting to God. Once again, that is exactly what the people were doing when they brought an offering to the tabernacle. They were submitting to God and repenting for their sins.

How does this reflect the tabernacle? If we put all of this together, we find God who speaks from Heaven and teaches us ways to draw close to Him. The tabernacle was a place to become one with God. It was a place to be filled and a place to worship. All of which points us to the One who came to make the ultimate sacrifice for us, Jesus.

Want to learn more about the Hebrew alphabet?

Study Exodus at your own pace.