Today’s selected reading continues in the Old Testament book of Exodus as it was written and recorded by Moses the servant of the Lord. More specifically, today’s passage is found in the twenty-ninth and thirtieth chapter of this Old Testament book. INTRODUCING: THE TABERNACLE! IT ALL BEGINS WITH THE ARK OF THE COVENANT! THE INSTRUMENTS OF THE TABERNACLE! THE CURTAIN OF THE TABERNACLE! THE COVERING OF THE TABERNACLE! THE COURT OF THE TABERNACLE! THE CLOTHING OF THE TABERNACLE! THIS IS HOW YOU WORSHIP & APPROACH ME! THIS IS HOW I WILL DWELL AMONG YOU! THE PATH FROM THE ALTAR TO THE ARK! THE ANOINTING OF THE PRIESTS! THE ANOINTING OF THE ALTAR! THE ALTAR OF THE TABERNACLE! OIL FOR THE LIGHT, OIL FOR ANOINTING! THE PRESENCE OF TWO ALTARS! When you come to this particular portion of Scripture you will find the continuation of the instruction given unto Moses regarding the pattern of the Tabernacle. As you read and study these words you will find that the pattern for the Tabernacle was given unto Moses in the place of revelation, for it was when and as the living God brought the children of Israel unto the mountain of God in the midst of the wilderness that He not only introduced Himself unto them, but also revealed Himself unto them. What began with an empathic declaration in the opening verse of the twentieth verse of this Old Testament book as the LORD God of the Hebrews declared unto the children of Israel that He was the LORD their God who brought them forth from the house of bondage and out of the land of Egypt would now transition into a place beyond simply visitation. If you study the words which are found in the Old Testament book of Exodus beginning with the nineteenth chapter you will find that the living God who had previously delivered the children of Israel out of their slavery and bondage in the land of Egypt, as well as manifested His salvation among them at the Red Sea when He opened up and revealed a path in the midst of the waters which would ultimately drown their enemies is now bringing the children of Israel into an entirely new place before and with Him. No longer would the children of Israel encounter the living God solely based on His power, His strength and His might, but now they would experience Him according to His nature and character. What is so absolutely stunning about the encounter in the wilderness is that the living God of heaven and earth would bring an entire community of the children of Israel into the wilderness and would bring them unto the mountain of God where He would reveal and make Himself known unto an entire community of people who up to that point in time had only known the strength, might and power of the living God.

As I sit here today I can’t help but be absolutely gripped with and by the awesome and incredible fact that when you read the words found in these chapters you will find that the LORD God of the Hebrews did in fact come down upon the mountain of God in the wilderness and did in fact visit the children of Israel there in the wilderness, however, the ultimate goal and desire of the LORD God of the Hebrews was not merely to come down and visit them atop the mountain, but actually to dwell among and dwell within them. It would be there at the mountain where the living God would manifest Himself in thunders, in lightnings, in thick darkness, in clouds and in a consuming fire upon the mountain, and yet in the midst of all those external manifestations it was merely the living God coming down upon the mountain and visiting the children of Israel there in the wilderness. As great and as wonderful as it was that the LORD God of the Hebrews descended upon the mountain there in the wilderness, it is absolutely necessary and imperative that we recognize and understand the awesome and incredible concept that it was never the desire of the living God to remain atop the mountain, and it was never the desire or intention of the living God for the children of Israel to remain there encamped at the mountain. When you come to the twenty-fifth chapter of the book of Exodus you will find the living God revealing unto Moses the pattern for the tabernacle, and He did so with one very specific purpose in mind. The entire purpose of the revelation of the pattern of the tabernacle was that the LORD God of the Hebrews could move beyond the top of the mountain in the midst of the wilderness and actually come in among the children of Israel wherever they went. In all reality, there have been a number of biblical scholars and teachers who would preach and teach concerning the Tabernacle and would speak of it in terms of the Lord having a place in the midst of the children of Israel where they would bring their offerings, their sacrifices and their worship. The truth of the matter, however, is that this is entirely incorrect and is honestly only a portion of the true picture for the pattern of the Tabernacle which was given unto Moses. If and as you read the words which are written and found within these chapters you will come face to face with the awesome and incredible reality that the sacrifices and offerings of the children of Israel were only a secondary product of the Tabernacle, and it wasn’t the main or primary purpose the Lord revealed unto Moses the pattern for this house which would be present among and in the midst of the children of Israel.

If you read the words which are found in the opening verses of the twenty-fifth chapter you will find that when the Lord began revealing unto Moses the pattern for the Tabernacle, He made absolutely no mention of the offerings, nor even the sacrifices which would be offered at the Tabernacle in the outer court by the priests who would minister before Him. Upon reading the words which are found within the first nine verses of the chapter you will find the living God of heaven and earth speaking unto Moses and instructing him to speak unto the children of Israel that they might bring an offering, and of every man which gave willingly with his heart he should take His offering. Pause right there, for there is something which must be pointed out at the very outset of this writing, and that is that when the Lord began revealing the pattern of the Tabernacle unto Moses, He instructed Moses to speak unto the children of Israel and invite them to participate in the construction of the Tabernacle which would be built for the LORD their God in the midst of their community. What is so incredibly unique about this is that for the Tabernacle to even be fashioned and built among the children of Israel it would first begin with an offering that would be brought unto Moses before the Lord by the children of Israel. In essence, without this initial offering—an offering which by the way was very specific in nature—would be the catalyst and foundation for the Tabernacle, for it would be that which was brought before and unto the living God that would provide the materials needed to build a Tabernacle before and unto the Lord wherever they went. Pause for a moment and think about and the tremendous reality that not only were the children of Israel invited to participate in the giving of an offering before and unto the Lord, but it was their offering that would provide the materials that were needed for its construction and makeup. At the risk of getting ahead of myself—if you continue reading in the Old Testament book of Exodus, you will find the Lord calling for very specific men who were filled with the Holy Spirit and with all manner of wisdom who would be His chosen instruments in building the Tabernacle which would stand in the midst of the children of Israel in the wilderness, as well as in the land of Canaan where they would be brought by the living God. The truth of the matter, however, is that without and apart from this original and initial offering that was brought by the children of Israel unto the living God there would be no Tabernacle, for there would have been nothing to build with. If there is one thing we must recognize and understand, it’s that when we are building a place of worship and a sanctuary for the living God among us in our midst, it’s that it always has and always will begin with a willingness within our heart to bring before and unto the living God that which He desires and that which He requires for this house and place of worship to be established.

The opening verses of the twenty-fifth chapter of the Old Testament book of Exodus begins with the LORD God calling for the children of Israel to bring before and unto Him a very specific offering with very specific materials, for it would be those materials which would be used for the construction and building of His sanctuary and His Tabernacle among them in the wilderness. Beginning with the third verse and continuing through the seventh verse you will find the specific items and materials the Lord asked and required of the children of Israel. Consider if you will the words which are found in these verses beginning with the third verse of the twenty-fifth chapter: “And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fin linen, and goats’ hair, and rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood, oil for the light, pieces for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate” (Exodus 25:3-7). It is within these verses that we encounter and come face to face with the absolutely incredible reality concerning that which the LORD God required of the children of Israel in order that a Tabernacle and sanctuary might be built and set up among them in their midst. In all honesty, we must understand that when it comes to the LORD God having a sanctuary and Tabernacle among us in our midst—it has always and will always begin with an offering and a willingness within our hearts and our spirits to freely give unto the Lord that which He requires. We must recognize and we must understand that when it comes to the living God speaking concerning establishing a sanctuary among us in our midst, it must begin with an offering we bring before and unto Him—an offering that requires very specific materials and very specific items. We must note and we must realize that when we speak about the Tabernacle—not only do we speak about the pattern of the Tabernacle, and not only do we speak about the process of the Tabernacle, but we also speak about the materials of the Tabernacle—those things switch the Lord requires and asks of us in order that His holy sanctuary might be constructed and built among us in our midst. When speaking concerning the Tabernacle, the first thing we must note is that it couldn’t be built with any materials the children of Israel chose, but could only be built with very specific and certain materials which the living God required and asked of them. As we think about and discuss the offering which the Lord God of the Hebrews asked for, we must recognize and acknowledge the awesome and incredible reality that the children of Israel were to bring unto the Lord the very things He asked for. What’s more, is that there was absolutely no room for substitution, as the children of Israel could not make any alterations or substitutions concerning the materials which were used for the Tabernacle. If the Lord asked for gold, silver and brass they could not bring any other materials or precious metals which were different than that which He asked for. If the Lord asked for blue, purple and scarlet linen, the children of Israel could not bring yellow, green, or even orange linen thinking and believing that it would be sufficient for the construction and building of the Tabernacle.

So important and so significant was the Tabernacle which the LORD God of the Hebrews spoke unto Moses concerning that it required very specific materials and must needs built according to a very specific pattern. When we think about and consider the reality of the Tabernacle, it is absolutely imperative that we recognize that it must needs be built using very specific materials, but it also needed to be built according to a very specific pattern. Please do not miss and/or lose sight of this absolutely incredible reality, for to do so would be to miss out on an understanding of the Lord establishing a sanctuary and Tabernacle among us in our midst. When thinking and speaking about the Tabernacle which the living God spoke unto Moses concerning and which He revealed the pattern and design for, it must be noted that there was absolutely no room for any compromise concerning it’s composition and its design. Concerning the Tabernacle there was a very specific design and pattern which must be followed to a tee—much like the Ark which Noah was instructed and commanded to build in the days leading up to the great deluge and flood which consumed and covered the face of the whole earth. Oh, there would be those among us who would think they could alter the pattern and design the living God has ordained and appointed for the sanctuary which He desires to establish among us in our midst, and as a direct result they are left with this makeshift building and structure that bears absolutely no semblance nor similarly to that which the Lord our God has required. The children of Israel could have chosen to ignore the pattern which the LORD God had spoken unto and delivered unto Moses while atop the mountain, and as a direct result of doing so they could have severely compromised the sanctuary which the living God had commanded and instructed them to build. What’s more, is that not only would the pattern and design have been severely compromised, but we also must note that there was a very specific purpose for the Tabernacle. As surely and as much as there was a pattern for the Tabernacle, there was also a very specific purpose for the sanctuary. When we speak about and consider the Tabernacle which the Lord spoke unto Moses concerning, we must recognize and consider that directly linked and intrinsically connected to the pattern of the Tabernacle was the purpose of the Tabernacle which was emphasized very clearly in the opening verses of the twenty-fifth chapter of this Old Testament book.

As you continue reading within these chapters you will be confronted on more than one occasion with the reality that while the Tabernacle which then Lord commanded Moses to build was indeed a place where the children of Israel could bring their offerings and sacrifices that they might worship Him—this was not the chief end or ultimate purpose of the structure. It would be very easy to read the words which are found in the Old Testament book of exodus and consider that this building and structure was designed for the worship of Gods people—both in the wilderness, as well as when they came into the land of Canaan and took possession of their inheritance. This is even more so due to the opening chapters of the very next book found within the Old Testament—the book of Leviticus—for within the opening chapters of this book we find the living God commanding and instructing Moses concerning the offerings which were to be offered upon the altar in the court of the Tabernacle. There is an incredible amount of language found within the first six chapters of the Old Testament book of Leviticus they seems to suggest the man and underlying purpose for the tabernacle was the offerings and sacrifices which were offered in the outer court of the tabernacle. The truth of the matter is that if you read and study the words which the Lord God of Israel spoke unto Moses atop the mountain when He first began speaking unto him concerning the tabernacle you will find that when it came to the tabernacle and the instruction concerning the pattern and instruments therein, the Lord began at and with the very heart of the tabernacle. A careful reading of the twenty fifth chapter of the book of exodus can and will reveal that when the living God began revealing the pattern of the tabernacle age began in what might seem like an unusual place. Upon reading this chapter found within the Old Testament book of Exodus you will find the Lord speaking unto Moses first and foremost concerning the pattern of the Ark of the Covenant. If you truly take the time to read and study these verses and the words contained therein you will quickly and decisively come to the conclusion that when the living God began revealing the pattern for the Tabernacle, He began with and by the revelation of the Ark of the Testimony or the Ark of the Covenant. This would prove to be incredibly significant when you think about and consider the Tabernacle as a whole for when and as the Lord revealed the pattern thereof He did not begin with the altar of burnt offering or the brazen altar which was found in the outer court with the bronze laver or bronze basin. You will not read the words which are found within these chapters and find anywhere that the Lord began in and with the outer court with the altar upon which the burnt offerings and sacrifices would be offered.

The more I think about and consider the awesome and incredibly reality that the living God did not begin with the bronze altar or altar of burnt offering when revealing the pattern of the tabernacle the more I come face to face with the fact that the pattern was given the exact same way the living God desires to work on us—from the inside out. When and as the living God revealed the pattern of the Tabernacle He did so with and by the revelation of the pattern and design of the Ark of the Covenant which you will discover would be found and places within the Holy of Holies which we know and understand to be the inner mist place of the structure—that place where the high priest could enter only once a year and that with blood from the sacrifices and offerings which were slaughtered in the outer court of the structure. The Holy of Holies was more than just the place where the Ark of the testimony would be present and where the testimony of God would be found—the testimony of the stone tablets, the testimony of the manna from heaven, as well as the testimony of Arons rod which budded snd sprouted with almonds. The Holy of Holies is more than simply the place where the Ark of the Covenant as w piece of furniture and instrument of the Tabernacle was found to be present within the midst of the Tabernacle. If and as you study the words which are found within the first five books of the Old Testament-specifically exodus through Deuteronomy—you will find that the Holy of Holies was the most sacred and holy place within the entire building and structure of the tabernacle. It was the holy of Holies which would be separated from the holy place with and by a veil, and it was in the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant would be found together with the mercy seat. Now you might be asking and wondering how and why this is important and relevant for an understanding of the building and pattern of the tabernacle, and yet as you read these chapters you will find and discover the awesome and incredible reality that first and foremost above everything else the Tabernacle was a place in the midst of Gods people where He could dwell among them. It would be at the mountain of God where the Lord would come down atop the mountain and where the Lord would visit them, however, as you continue to read the words which are found within these chapters you will discover that the aloe desired more than simply coming down upon and coming down atop the mountain of God shrouded in thick darkness and clouds, and with peels of thunder and flashes of lightning. As great and as awesome as this is we must recognize and understand that this was not how the living God desires to make Himself known unto the children of Israel in a regular and permanent basis. It is absolutely necessary and imperative that we recognize and understand that the Lord did not desire to appear to His people from the tips of mountains shrouded by thick darkness and clouds and as a consuming fire. What we must recognize and understand concerning the LORD God of the Hebrews is that He never intended to reveal and manifest Himself before and among them in their midst shrouded by thick clouds and darkness in the midst of a consuming fire atop a mountain surrounded by thunder and lightning. There was something far greater and far more permanent the living God desired to reveal unto the children of Israel through Moses the servant of the Lord atop the mountain there in the wilderness.

While the first seven verses of the twenty-fifth chapter of the Old Testament book of Exodus begin and open with the LORD calling and inviting the children of Israel to partner in the work of the Tabernacle, and while the LORD asked for very specific materials which would be needed for the pattern and structure of the Tabernacle, you will find in verses eight and nine the beginning of the declaration of the man and underlying purpose, role and function of the tabernacle in the midst of the children of Israel. If you begin reading with and from the eighth verse of the twenty-fifth chapter you will find the following words which were spoken and revealed unto Moses the servant of the Lord: “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it” (Exodus 25:8-9). Please don’t miss and lose sight of the tremendous truth that is found and contained within these two verses, for as you read the words found in these verses you will find that the main and underlying purpose of the Tabernacle in the midst of the children of Israel was that the LORD might dwell among them. It is absolutely essential that we recognize and understand this, for this would not be the first time the LORD would speak unto Moses concerning the Tabernacle and reveal this purpose for the Tabernacle. In all reality, that which we find within these two verses is not only the purpose of the Tabernacle, but also the pattern of the Tabernacle. When and as we think about and consider the Tabernacle as a building and sanctuary in the midst of the children of Israel we must recognize and understand that the Tabernacle had a very specific pattern to it which must be adhered to without any deviation, alterations, compromise or adjustments. When we think about and consider the Tabernacle which the living God instructed Moses and the children of Israel to build for Him among them in their midst, it must be understood that this Tabernacle had both a pattern and a purpose—a pattern which was the specific order and fashion in which it must be designed, as well as how the instruments were to be ordered and arranged within the structure itself, as well as the materials which were to be used for the construction of the Tabernacle and what those materials were to be used for. What’s more, is that within these two single verses you will encounter the awesome and tremendous reality that while there was indeed a pattern of and a pattern for the Tabernacle, there was also a purpose for the Tabernacle—a purpose which more often than not gets misconstrued and misunderstood by those who would read the words which are found in these chapters. Within the eighth verse of the Tabernacle we find the Lord instructing Moses to speak unto the children of Israel that they might build Him a sanctuary—the sole reason and purpose for the sanctuary was that the LORD might dwell among them.

It’s very easy to read the nineteenth and twentieth chapters of the Old Testament book of Exodus and to think and even consider the fact that the LORD desired to manifest and reveal Himself in the midst of His people atop mountains and the like, however, the truth of the matter is that this simply isn’t the case, nor is it at all true. I can’t help but think about and consider the fact that when you consider the narrative and account of Elijah the prophet of the Lord you will find that when he came unto Horeb and dwelt in a cave there in the midst of the wilderness there came three different manifestations which took place before him while he was found to be within the cave. If you read the nineteenth chapter of the Old Testament book of First Kings you will find that there first came the manifestation of a great wind which rent the rocks before Elijah. When the great and powerful wind which rent the mountain had subsided there came an earthquake which shook the mountain and the earth before and round about the mountain. After the earthquake there was a fire which appeared and manifested before Elijah. What we learn from this chapter, however, is that if you read and consider each of these manifestations you will find that the Lord was not in any of them. You can read the nineteenth chapter of the Old Testament book of First Kings and you will find that the Lord wasn’t in the midst of external manifestations and forces of nature but was found to be in the midst of the still small voice. This is absolutely critical and vital for our understanding of what we find in the Old Testament book of Exodus, for more often than not we look for and even expect the living God of heaven and earth in outward and external manifestations. We look for and expect the manifestation of God’s present to be in external realities such as a great wind, or an earthquake, or even a fire. We look for and perhaps even expect the living God to be found in the midst of thick darkness and clouds, and in the midst of thunders and lightnings, and even in the midst of a consuming fire. When we allow ourselves to get caught up in these realities we allow ourselves to forget the single greatest reality concerning the living God—namely, that He desires more than simply to manifest Himself in our midst with awesome displays of power, strength and might, and desires to dwell in our midst and speak to us in the midst of a still small voice. Elijah did not and could not find the Lord in the great wind, in the earthquake and even in the fire, yet when he heard the still small voice he wrapped his face in his mantle and came to the entrance of the cave. Please don’t miss and lose sight of this tremendous reality, for to do so is to completely and utterly miss the single greatest reality concerning the living God—namely, that He desires to dwell among us in our midst, and desires to be found within rather than without. Oh, far too often we expect to find the living God in “the without” and we rarely ever look for and expect to find Him in “the within.” Time and time again we look for external manifestations and displays of power, of strength and of might when we think about encounters with the living God, and yet the truth of the matter is that more than manifesting Himself atop the mountain with great displays of nature and power, the living God desires to dwell and abide in the midst of us with His presence. Consider if you will the words which the apostle Paul wrote in the second epistle which was written unto the Corinthian saints, which are recorded in the sixth chapter:

“O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. Now for a recompense in the same, ( speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. Be y not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? OR what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the LORD, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the LORD Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:11-18).

While the words which we find here are New Testament theology found within the writings of the apostle Paul, we must understand that they were first and foremost found in the Old Testament as the LORD God of the Hebrews emphatically declared unto Moses that He desired to dwell among and dwell in the midst of His people. Oh there is a vast and fundamental difference between beholding the glory and presence of God atop the mountain in the wilderness and actually experiencing the glory and presence of the living God dwelling among us in our midst. The children of Israel experienced the glory and presence of the living God atop the mountain in the midst of the consuming fire, in the midst of the thick darkness, and in the midst of the clouds, and yet this was not at all how the living God desired to make Himself known and reveal Himself unto the children of Israel. Would it shock and surprise you to think about and consider the fact that the living God did not want, nor did He desire the children of Israel to grow accustomed to external manifestations such as what was found atop the mountain there in the wilderness? Would it shock and surprise you to think about and consider the fact that such external manifestations is not the main and underlying way the living God desires to reveal and make Himself known unto us? As was and is found in the case of Elijah the prophet of the Lord, the Lord God of Israel was not found in the midst of the great wind, nor was He found in the midst of the earthquake, nor was He found in the midst of the fire. Instead, the living God was found in the midst and presence of the still small voice which was manifested before Elijah as he was found to be in the midst of that cave. What so intrigues and captivates my attention when I read the account of Elijah and hearing the still small voice is that we don’t know what the sound of the voice was like, nor do we even know what the voice spoke unto Elijah—if the still small voice even spoke unto Elijah to begin with. Scripture is absolutely unclear as to what this still small voice sounded like, and even what this still small voice actually spoke before and in the hearing of Elijah. The only thing we know is that when Elijah heard the still small voice speaking he wrapped his face in his mantel and went out as he stood in the entrance of the cave. It was then that a voice came unto him and asked him what he was doing there. Notice the distinction between “the still small voice,” and “the voice” which spoke unto Elijah after he had come out from the midst of the cave. The question that I can’t help but wonder is whether or not Elijah heard the still small voice yet could not make out what it was speaking, and this was the reason he came forth from the midst of the cave and stood in the entrance of the cave. We find absolutely no mention of what the still small voice even spoke or said before and in the hearing of Elijah—if anything. Is it possible that the still small voice had spoken unto Elijah after the great wind, after the earthquake, and after the fire, and yet Elijah couldn’t hear it—much less even respond to it—until he came out from the midst of the cave and stood at the entrance of the cave? We learn from this particular series of verses that after the external manifestations of power and might there came a still small voice which Elijah heard, and which Elijah responded to, although there is absolutely no indication what the still small voice spoke, nor even if Elijah heard and was able to discern what the still small voice had spoken unto him

The reason I have devoted so much time to writing about Elijah’s encounter with the Lord God of the Hebrews is that Elijah experienced the living God in the very same place Moses experienced Him all those years earlier when the Lord appeared to him in the midst of a burning bush which was not consumed. What’s more, is that where Elijah experienced the living God of Israel was in the very same place where the children of Israel experienced the glory and presence of the living God in the wilderness. With that being said, we must understand that while it was true that the Lord was indeed in the midst of the thick darkness and clouds, and while it is true the Lord was in the midst of the consuming fire surrounded by peels of thunder and flashes of lightning, this was not how He desired to make Himself known and reveal Himself unto the children of Israel. The LORD desired more than outward and external manifestations before and in the presence of the children of Israel and desired to actually come in among the children of Israel and dwell in their midst. In fact, if you continue reading in the twenty-fifth verse of the book of Exodus you will find that when the Lord revealed unto Moses the pattern for the Ark of the Covenant He declared concerning the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat which stood above the Ark that it would be where He would meet with him, and would commune with him from above the mercy seat. Consider the words which are found in the twenty-second verse of the twenty-fifth chapter of this Old Testament book: “And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel” (Exodus 25:22). As you continue reading in and with these chapters you will find that when the living God spoke unto Moses concerning the pattern and structure of the Tabernacle, and when the Lord spoke unto Moses concerning anointing the Tabernacle He once more revealed the purpose of the Tabernacle and how He would use the Tabernacle among the min their midst. In all reality, we must carefully consider these words, for there is found within the pattern of the Tabernacle—not only a revelation of how the children of Israel and the priests of the Lord would use it, but also how the living God would use the Tabernacle among and in the midst of the children of Israel. HOW THE LORD USES THE SANCTUARY! THIS IS HOW I USE MY HOUSE! THIS IS HOW I USE MY SANCTUARY! THIS IS MY PATTERN AND DESIGN FOR THE SANCTUARY! The more you read the words which are found within these chapters the more you will encounter and come face to face with the reality that while the children of Israel and priests of the Lord were to use the Tabernacle to bring their offerings and present them upon the altar before the Lord, the living God would use the Tabernacle to dwell in the midst of His people. Consider if you will the words which are found in the twenty-ninth chapter beginning with the forty-second verse of the chapter:

“This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the Tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the Tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest’s office. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God” (Exodus 29:42-46).

As you read these verses you will notice at least three specific realities and truths which surround the purpose and underlying function and role the Tabernacle would play in the midst of the children of Israel. Upon reading these verses you will find that twice the Lord revealed unto Moses that it would be at the Tabernacle where He would meet with him, and where He would meet with the children of Israel. Thus, the first reality and truth we must recognize and consider as it pertains to the Tabernacle within these verses is that it was to be a place where the living God would meet with the children of Israel. It was true the LORD God of the Hebrews had met with them atop the mountain in the midst of the wilderness, however, that was not the way the living God desired to meet with His people moving forward. The pattern of the Tabernacle was given unto the children of Israel in order that from the midst of and at the Tabernacle the living God might meet with the children of Israel—beyond the mountain and beyond the wilderness. What’s more, is that as you continue reading the words which are found within these verses you will discover that the purpose and function of the Tabernacle was that the living God might dwell among and dwell in the midst of the children of Israel. Twice within these verses we find the living God speaking unto and revealing to Moses that His desire was to dwell among and in the midst of the children of Israel—a reality which He had spoken and revealed earlier on when He first began speaking concerning the pattern of the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was to a place where the LORD God would meet with the children of Israel, but it was also to be a place where the living God would dwell among them in their midst. In addition to this, we also find the living God speaking unto Moses—not only concerning the reality of His being the Lord their God, but also that the children of Israel might know that He was the Lord their God. There is within these verses the reality of the knowledge of who the LORD God of the Hebrews is, but also the reality of the living God simply being who He is. It would be there at the Tabernacle the living God would be allowed to be who He truly is, and where the children of Israel would know indeed and for certainty that the Lord was their God. Please don’t and quickly dismiss this reality, for within this reality is the absolutely incredible truth that the LORD not only desired to dwell in the midst of His people, but the Lord also desired his people to know that He was indeed the Lord their God, and that He was the Lord their God who delivered them out of the house of bondage and slavery. What’s more, is that while the children of Israel dwelt in the midst of the land of Egypt and while they lived as slaves before the Egyptians, the living God could not dwell among them in the midst. The Lord would and could not dwell among them in the midst of the land of Egypt, and therefore He had to deliver and bring the children of Israel forth from the midst of their slavery, bondage and oppression in order that He might dwell among them. You would not find the Lord revealing the pattern of the Tabernacle unto the children of Israel while they were still in the midst of the land of Egypt, for the Lord never intended, nor did He desire to dwell in the midst of the people of Israel while they in turn dwelt in the midst of the people of Egypt.

Moving even further into these chapters you will find the instructions for the patterns of the instruments which would be used in the service of the Tabernacle—namely, the Ark of the Covenant which was in the Holy of Holies, the Altar of Incense, the Table of Shewbread, and the Golden Candlestick which was in the Holy Place, and the Bronze Basin and the Brazen Altar which was in the outer court where the priests and Levites ministered day and night before the LORD God of the Hebrews. With that being said, we must understand that before the Tabernacle could be used in the service of the Lord, and before the Tabernacle could be used in the midst of the children of Israel it had to be sanctified by and with blood, as well as with the glory of the living God which would sanctify and make it holy. What’s more, is that both the Tabernacle, as well as the instruments of the Tabernacle needed to be anointed with the anointing oil that it might be consecrated and fit for the service of the living God in the midst of the children of Israel. Oh that we would recognize and understand this absolutely wonderful and incredible reality, for although the Tabernacle itself was constructed and built in the midst of the children of Israel, it would and could not be used in the service and ministry of the Lord without being sanctified with and by the blood, without the glory of the Lord sanctifying it. THE GLORY, THE BLOOD AND THE OIL! If you continue reading the words which are found within these chapters you will find that not only did the instruments of the Tabernacle need to be sanctified, and not only did the Tabernacle itself need to be sanctified, but so also did the priests need to be sanctified for the service and ministry of the Lord. We dare not miss and lose sight of this absolutely wonderful reality, for before anything can, will and should be used in the service of the Lord it must first be sanctified and made holy. What we must realize and recognize is that it wasn’t man who made the Tabernacle holly, and it wasn’t man who sanctified and made the instruments of the Tabernacle holy. What’s more, is that there was no man in the midst of the children of Israel who could make the instruments, the ministers and the Tabernacle itself holy. In all reality, I would dare say that there are too many among the churches of the living God in this generation who are operating outside of and apart from the anointing of the Lord. There are far too many men and women who have been authorized to minister before the Lord in His service and haven’t yet been sanctified and made holy by the blood, but the glory, even by the oil which represents the Holy Spirit. It is absolutely necessary and imperative that we recognize and understand that when we think about and consider the pattern and ministry of the Tabernacle—neither the instruments nor the ministers could be used in the service and work of the Lord without and apart from being sanctified with and by the blood, the glory and the oil. The question I would present unto you as this writing comes to a close is whether or not you are one who has been sanctified by the blood, by the glory and by the oil. Are you one who has allowed yourself to be sanctified by the glory, by the blood, and by the oil that you might be fit for the service, the work and ministry of the Lord?