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Series 3:
Lesson 46: |
MOSES
THE TABERNACLE |
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The passages to be studied are noted at the beginning of each scene.
To read with the class: Exodus 25:1-9; 40:17-38.
Memorization Text: Younger children - 2 Cor. 6:16. “God said: ‘I will
dwell in them, and walk in them and I will be their God.’ “
Older children - 2 Cor. 6:16
OBJECTIVES:
1. To show that God wants to have fellowship with His people and provides a place of
meeting.
2. To teach that God is pleased with that which His people offer with thankful hearts.
3. To stress that an entrance to God’s presence is possible for us since Christ
offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Heb.10:12.
4. To remind that there is only one way of access to the Father.
Note: Due to the vast amount of teaching on the subject of the Tabernacle, it will not be
possible for a teacher to cover it all. Thus we recommend that you give an overview
of its structure and contents but focus attention especially on the single door of
entrance which speaks of Christ, the Only Way to Heaven. The bronze altar can also
be included, with the sacrifices offered there for forgiveness of sins, as well as the Ark
of the covenant in the most Holy Place, symbolic of God’s presence and His holiness.
SCENE No. 1. Ex. 25:1-9, 35:4-10; 20-35.
VISUAL AIDS. At Israel’s camp in the desert, Moses and Aaron receive the offerings
brought by the people. Present as well are Bezaleel and Aholiab, the two men charged
with overseeing the work on the tabernacle.
DEVELOPMENT:
- Moses and Aaron ask the people to bring their offerings for the construction of the
Tabernacle.
- The Israelites respond generously, bringing valuable possessions.
Sug. Stress three principal lessons.
a. God wants to have fellowship with His people.
b. The people are allowed to give their personal possessions. Their offering is
motivated by thankful hearts, not by obligation.
c. The Tabernacle provided
a) a place where God met with His people;
b) a center for fellowship with Him; and
c) a way of access to His presence.
Apl. To give to God is an act of adoration.
Apl. Giving an offering is a recognition that God is gracious and that everything one has
comes from Him.
Apl. To give an offering or sacrifice is to take something that is one’s own and give
it away, without expecting to receive something in return.
Apl. The motivating thought in the person who offers is the worthiness of God. He deserves
everything one has.
- Divine grace is seen in the willingness of God to make them co-workers in this project.
- God endowed Bezaleel and Aholiab with the intelligence and wisdom needed by expert
craftsmen for the work of constructing the Tabernacle.
- Bezaleel and Aholiab must follow the instructions them given by Moses, and in several
places they are warned to do everything as it was shown them on the mount. Ex. 25:9,
40, 26:30; 31:11; 39:32, 42; 40:16.
Cmt. God allows His own to be coworkers with Himself in the work He is carrying on in this
world.
Apl. God reveals His will. He does not give options to be accepted or rejected.
The order carries with it the expectation that it will be obeyed
without argument.
Cns. Acts 17:30-31. God COMMANDS sinners to be saved.
SCENE No. 2. Ex. 25:10-40, 27:1-8; 30:1-10; 17-21;39:42-43; 40:17-38.
VISUAL AIDS: The finished Tabernacle with the cloud above it. A view of the
Tabernacle interior, showing the location of the furnishings of the Holy Place and the
Most Holy.
DEVELOPMENT:
Note: Most of the children would not be able to understand many of these details and the
corresponding spiritual teaching. It is best to chose two or three points and give a
clear application of them. The different pieces of furniture can be used for a
variety of teaching.
- The PILLAR OF FIRE above the tabernacle at night and THE CLOUD by day told the
Israelites that God purposed being near them at all times.
Apl. Grace is seen in this desire of the great God and Creator of heaven and earth to have
fellowship with His creatures.
Cmt. For the purposes of this lesson, we will start outside and, as the High Priest would
do, and move inward toward the Most Holy place. The area surrounded by the linen
curtain outside is called the “court” and the building at the western end of the
court is called the Tabernacle.
- The WHITE CURTAIN that surrounded the court symbolized the holiness of God and kept the
people at a distance from Him.
- Unlike the linen curtain of the court, THE DOOR was a curtain made of four colours,
blue, purple, scarlet and white, speaking of Christ.
Cmt. Each of the four colours have meaning and suggest truths concerning the Lord Jesus.
See Note in Scene 3.
Apl. Any person who wants to be saved must enter by the Lord Jesus Christ for there is no
other way to the Father.
- The door of entrance faced east and the rays of the rising sun would illuminate it first
thing in the morning.
Apl. The light of Truth reveals the Door of Entrance, the Lord Jesus Christ who said:
“I am the Door”.
- This door was the ONLY entrance.
- On going through the door, a person would be directly in front of the brass ALTAR
of sacrifice. Here an innocent victim died for the iniquity of the sinner.
This death obtained forgiveness so that the sinner could now have peace with God.
Apl. The right to enter the presence of God is received through Christ, the offered
sacrifice.
- THE LAVER was a basin where the priests washed in order to be able to serve God and be
in His presence.
Apl. It is necessary to wash with the Word of God. Obedience to the commandments of
the Scriptures results in a life pleasing to God.
- THE TABERNACLE itself was divided into two parts.
- In the MOST HOLY PLACE was found the ark, representing God’s Throne.
- THE ARK was the most important piece of furniture and everything else in the tabernacle
spoke of access to it.
Exm. On the Altar of Burnt Offering, the problem of sin was dealt with in order to allow a
person to draw near to the presence of God. The Laver taught that cleanliness was
required for service in relation to the Ark. The Altar of Incense, which was before
the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holiest of all, taught that one could draw
near to God in prayer on the basis of an offering made, evidence of which were the live
coals. Etc.
- THE LAMPSTAND gave light that enabled the priests to serve within the holy place.
- THE OIL that burned in the lampstand to provide light is a figure of the Holy Spirit.
Apl. Through the illumination given by the Holy Spirit, we know what to do in the presence
of God.
- THE TABLE had twelve loaves on it, made of the finest flour. Called shewbread, the
loaves were placed in two rows of six loaves each. Called “hallowed” or “holy”
bread, it was also known as “presence bread”. R.V. marg. Ex.25:30.
- THE LOAVES signified:
a. A constant reminder of each tribe in God’s presence.
b. Food for the priest. The bread was taken home by the priest when it was changed
each week.
Apl. Not one of His own is forgotten before God.
Cmt. It is a comforting thought for the children to know that when God saves them, He
never forgets them. He is theirs forever.
Apl. God makes lasting provision for the maintenance of His own through His Word.
- THE ALTAR OF INCENSE received the burning coals that came from off the altar of
Sacrifice and upon them incense was sprinkled.
- The coals were a reminder of the sacrifice burning on the altar outside.
Apl. On the basis of the value of the sacrifice of Christ (the coals), gratitude (incense)
is offered to God in appreciation for the pardon received. The live coals caused the
perfume of the incense to be released.
Cmt. The sweet smell of the incense rose before God as a reminder of the sacrifice made on
the altar. When Christians worship today, it is like a sweet smell that rises to
God, a reminder of the sacrifice made at Calvary by the Son.
Cns. Phil 4:18. Even service is seen as acceptable worship giving pleasure to God.
- A heavy curtain divided the Holy Place from the Most Holy, forbidding entrance to the
Most Holy Place and keeping sinful man away from God.
- Once a year the high priest could lift the curtain and pass inside.
Lsn. The curtain was a constant reminder of the distance between a Holy God and sinners.
Cmt. The permission that was given the high priest to enter even though only once a year,
showed that God was not isolating Himself, out of reach of the sinner.
- When the requirements were fulfilled for sacrifice on the bronze Altar and for
sprinkling the blood of the expiation, it was possible for him to enter the presence
of God.
- When Christ died on the cross, the curtain or veil of the temple was rent from the top
to the bottom, symbolically showing that the way into the presence of God was open.
See “the new and living way” Heb.10:20.
Cmt. The specific description of the rending of the curtain from the top to the bottom
suggests that it was God Himself who did it.
Cns. The rending of the veil occurred when Jesus yielded up His spirit. Matt. 27:50-51;
Mar.15:38; Lu.23:45.
Apl. This event in the temple would leave evidence that a condition that had existed for
hundreds of years was now changed. While before it was not possible to enter into
the Holiest of all, now the way is open.
Cmt. Because of the sacrifice of Christ, it is now possible to enter to the very presence
of God.
- The ARK OF THE COVENANT represented the Throne of God, before which the high priest
could never come unless carrying blood.
Apl. Today we have the privilege of entering the presence of God on the basis
of the blood of Christ.
- The ark had a cover, the MERCY SEAT. The high priest entered here with the blood
of the sacrifice for sin, in recognition of the fact that they had not kept the law of
God.
- The guilty needed pardon and without the shedding of blood there could not be remission
of sin. Heb.9:22
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SCENE No. 3. VISUAL AIDS. If it is possible to obtain felt or flannel figures of the
different furnishings, these can be placed at the edge of the flannel board and the
students invited to place them in the proper location. The students can also be asked to
tell what each piece means and thus reinforce the teaching.
DEVELOPMENT:
Note: More complete information can be found for the teacher and older students in books
on this subject.
Cmt. Besides the furnishings of the tabernacle, there were walls, curtains, coverings,
etc.
Cmt. The four colours of the door of entrance can be stressed as well as the curtains or
veils that hung at the entrance of the holy place and the Most Holy.
WHITE speaks of purity and righteousness. The Lord Jesus never sinned.
BLUE speaks of the Lord from Heaven. 1Cor.15:47
PURPLE is a costly material as worn by kings and the rich. Jesus Christ is King.
SCARLET, or Red. It came from a dye that was produced by the crushing of snails and worms.
It reminds us of the death of Christ, as a sacrifice whose blood was shed.
- The curtain that separated the Holiest from the holy place was a thing of great beauty,
with cherubim embroidered on the material.
Cmt. It should be explained to the students that when a picture, or a model, or a figure
of the tabernacle is shown to illustrate the lesson, and each piece of furniture is seen
in its place, the purpose is that they understand where the items were located..
In actual fact, when the tabernacle was in place amongst the Israelites, it was
totally covered by four coverings and nobody on the outside could see inside.
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