Tabernacle Geography

The Tabernacle diagram above is one of many artistic Bible sketches that you will find decorating the halls of our children’s ministry. The artwork was drawn from a perspective of looking down from the heavens into the camp of Israel. Besides fleshing out the living words of Scripture into a visual diagram, what many seem to enjoy is the symmetry and ordered nature of the artwork. When some have taken a long, silent gaze at the artwork, the New Testament verse “Let all things be done decently and in order” from 1 Corinthians 14:40 seems to be the preferred verse many will playfully cite. Although that verse finds its context in and around the discussion of speaking in tongues, the principle of the verse is universal. God values order and structure, and they are endlessly evident in His creation. Furthermore, the blueprints for the Tabernacle were authored by God Himself, passed down to Moses (Exodus 25:9). But sometimes, the satisfaction of a precise, clutter-free design can spellbind even the most astute observer. They miss the bigger picture – pun intended. Allow me to make some observations about this Tabernacle sketch, and hopefully, we will be reminded that God has a deeper purpose in all that He designs.

First, and hopefully the most obvious to all, is the location of the Tabernacle in relation to the camp of Israel. It is located in the very center of the camp of Israel. This speaks of God’s desire to dwell in the midst of His people, to dwell at the very center of their lives. Today, God’s presence doesn’t dwell in the Tabernacle or the Temple; the Holy Spirit dwells in the heart of each believer who has put their faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit goes wherever a believer goes, just like when Jesus says, “I am with you always.”

Second, the entrance to the Tabernacle could be approached only from the east, the side where Moses, Aaron, and the priests camped. If an Israelite was to approach the Tabernacle for something pertaining to his or her spiritual life, they needed to go through the proper channels of priestly leadership or instruction. Today, because of Jesus’ sin-sacrifice on the Cross, approaching Him does not require animal sacrifices or priestly intercession – we can go freely and boldly into His presence (Heb.4:16; 10:19-22).

Third, there were God-called clans (Merarites, Kohatites, Gershonites) that were responsible for the Tabernacle’s upkeep and moving the structure when it was time for the people to break camp. In general, these families took care of anything that was not priestly in nature. They were honored to be God-called servants of the Tabernacle. Today, being of a particular family or clan is not required for serving in God’s house. In fact, if you are a believer in Christ and are currently part of a church, you have been God-called to use your gifts to serve in that local church (1 Peter 4:10-11; Eph.4:12-16; Rom.12:6-8).
 
Remember, God has a deeper purpose in all that He designs. This is especially evident in His design and creation of humanity. Those plans were not passed down to someone else; God used His own hands to create humanity, and Jesus used His own hands to redeem humanity.