The Tabernacle

  A Menorah at the Temple Institute in Israel.  The Menorah This lesson concerns an Old Testament Tabernacle object, one of three objects in the Holy Place, called a Menorah, most commonly translated as 'lampstand.'  This particular Menorah is not the Hanukkah Menorah most people are familiar with, as it concerns Jewish observances. The Hanukkah Menorah has eight branches, with a central branch known as the Shamash, unlike this lesson's object, which has seven branches, as described in Exodus chapter 25. We will look at how this particular Holy Place furnishing represents the Word of God itself.   Blueprint of the Tent of Meeting The Tabernacle Structure It is essential to examine the structure itself and the arrangement of specific items. Knowing this might help us understand the Menorah's position and purpose. As you can see in the diagram above, the priest had to pass through three sections of this structure to reach the Presence of God at the Ark of the Cove...

The Wilderness Tent of Meeting Replica at Timnah, Israel God's Desire to Dwell With His People On Mount Sinai, Moses received more than just the Ten Commandments. Also included were the detailed instructions for building a meeting place for God and His people. The Tabernacle was a temple of worship that involved specific protocols and procedures. These protocols provided a possible means for God's people to dwell with Him, as requested by God. Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. — Exodus 25:8 From the fall of Genesis until the construction of the Tabernacle, the Bible records people occasionally walking and talking with God but not dwelling with Him. As we shall see, within the framework of this Old Testament sanctuary, God draws His people closer to Himself through an intricate sacrificial system. Today, this arrangement can speak volumes about the specifics of such a great salvation and indescribable gift. ... how shall we escape if we neglect so great ...