From Exodus 25 to the end of the book, much time is spent preparing and building the tabernacle. If he takes the time to read those chapters, he will discover that God was extremely detail-oriented.
What was the Tabernacle in Exodus for?
God was very meticulous about how he wanted the tabernacle to be built and what types of materials would be used for each section. By the nature of God, each part of the tabernacle had a specific function because God does not waste anything. As we consider these things, what was the spiritual meaning and symbolism of the tabernacle in Exodus and how can we apply it to our lives and salvation today?
I’ll be honest: It’s not possible to do a complete study of the tabernacle in one article and I won’t try. However, I want to highlight three symbolisms and meanings of the tabernacle that you can apply to your life today.
What is the significance of the tabernacle in Exodus?
1 . The Altar of Burnt Offering (cleansing that creates access)
One of the key parts of the tabernacle were the altars. When you entered the courtyard, one of the first things you encountered was the altar of burnt offering. This altar existed outside the holy place and it was on this altar that sacrifices were made to atone for the sins of the Israelites. This was in effect an altar of sacrifice and sanctification that allowed you to enter the presence of God. I hope this sounds familiar to you because this is how we can get closer to God now, through the sacrifice of Jesus. It was not on an altar, but on a cross and that sacrifice provides us with cleansing from sin and opens the door for us to enter into the presence of God.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus, twenty through a new and living way that was opened to us through the veil, that is, through his body, and having a great priest over the house of God, let us approach God with a sincere heart and with the full security that faith gives, sprinkling the heart to cleanse us of a guilty conscience and washing our body with pure water. Let us stand firm in the hope we profess, because faithful is the one he promised. – Hebrews 10:19-23
2. The Altar of Incense (constantly rising prayers)
One of the responsibilities of the high priest was to burn incense in the holy place. This was God’s initial instruction to Aaron.
“Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar each morning when he puts out the lamps. You must burn incense again when you light the lamps at sunset so that the incense will burn regularly before the Lord for generations to come.” – Exodus 30:7-8
In the Bible, one of the symbols of incense is to represent the prayers of God’s people.
“May my prayer be set before you like incense; May the raising of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” – Psalm 141:2
“And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. They each had a harp and held golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” – Revelation 5:8
“Another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood by the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the people of God, went up before God from the hand of the angel.” – Revelation 8:3-4
The spiritual meaning and symbolism of this part of the tabernacle was that God wants his people to be constantly offering prayers to him. This was an omen because Jesus said something similar in the new testament. In Mark 11:17, Jesus, after driving the deceitful moneychangers out of the temple courts, reminds them that his house will be called a house of prayer. I believe that God was establishing this principle from the beginning. While church can be a place of praise, worship, instruction, and fellowship, when we go in and gather together, it should be a house of prayer. Where we raise our hearts and petitions before the great God we serve.
“I exhort, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for all people.” – 2 Timothy 2:1
3. The Holy of Holies (the promise of God’s presence)
When God established the tabernacle, he was reminding the people of Israel that his presence would always be with them. Look what happened when the tabernacle was completed.
“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In all the journeys of the Israelites, whenever the cloud rose over the tabernacle, they left; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not leave, until the day it did. . And the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites in all their journeys.” – Exodus 40:34-38
Imagine that God built an earthly tabernacle to be a place where he would dwell with his people. This is what he originally told Moses.
“Then have a sanctuary made for me, and I will dwell among them.” – Exodus 25:8
From the beginning, God’s desire was not only to dwell among his people, but for the people to know that he is present with them. The tabernacle was a tangible reminder that God’s presence was with the people of Israel.
Where is the tabernacle of God today compared to the tabernacle in the Exodus?
When you look at these spiritual meanings and symbolism of the tabernacle in Exodus it might lead you to wonder where is the tabernacle of God today? The good news is that what God told Moses then is still true today. If you make God a sanctuary, he will dwell in it. Where is this sanctuary? You are the sanctuary and the dwelling place of the Spirit of God.
“Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in your midst? If someone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy that person; because the temple of God is sacred, and together you are that temple.” – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
I think the major spiritual meaning and symbolism of the tabernacle in Exodus is that God was giving us a glimpse of what his indwelling presence would be like. We would be cleansed by the sacrifice of Jesus which gives us access to the Holy of Holies where we can offer prayers as incense in communion with our Father. I don’t know how you feel about it, but to me, that’s absolutely exciting. The tabernacle was a foreshadowing of the presence of God that you and I enter and experience every day. There is no greater privilege on the face of this earth.
“The blood of the goats and of the bulls, and the ashes of the heifer sprinkled on the ceremonially unclean, sanctify them to be outwardly clean. . How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who by the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse our consciences from the deeds that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! – Hebrews 9:13-14
further reading
What was the purpose of the Tabernacle in the Exodus?
What is the Mercy Seat in the Bible?