EXODUS – GOD’s MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE of ISRAEL FROM EGYPT – Chapter TWENTY FIVE & TWENTY SIX

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

Complete Study of Exodus by pastor Chuck Smith 

EXODUS 25 & 26: “GOD’S DWELLING PLACE WILL BE WITH MEN” – by Albert Lopez, Facebook video.

INTRODUCTION: When we left chapter 24, Moses was busy being a courier or messenger; going back and forth between God and the Israelites (God’s people). We read in the last verse that Moses remained on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights. This is a long time! This is not like when someone says I’m going to go run an errand and be back in a few hours. Or when someone goes on vacation and comes back a week or two later. The people were probably starting to wonder many things like pastor James said the last time; like he may had been killed by God; or maybe he ditched them after all they hadn’t been too nice to him. Meanwhile God and Moses are fellowshipping, and Moses is getting direction for the people.

These chapters contain instructions for the Tabernacle and the furniture that would be in it and the clothes they would make for the priests. The attention given to the details shows how catastrophic the worship of the golden calf was (EXOD 32) when compared to the instructions of true worship. It is ironic that God had instructed them how the people should worship Him, and yet they did it the way they wanted.

It is no different today with the world and sadly also in the church. The world knows no better, but we were given instructions by God’s Holy Word and His Holy Spirit yet we decide to worship the true God our own way, on our own terms. Let us ask for grace and a hunger for Him, church. It may be that whatever difficulties or obstacles are in our way, God wants to use them so that we may go hard after Him, to seek Him diligently and wholeheartedly!

Jesus told the Samaritan woman:

JOHN 4:23-24

When the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

EXODUS 25:1

1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

“...the Lord spoke...” This indicates that the instructions of what we will read came from the mouth of God. Not only that, but it also shows God's interest in regard to worship offered to him. Finally, it also shows why God would take as a personal offense the worship of the golden calf.

Now you are probably saying, “I don’t have a golden calf and I’m not worshiping it. I don’t even have a gold chain!” 

But remember the thing about idols is we may not even know what an idol is and how many we have, Anything that takes first place in our lives, no matter what it is or who it is, can become an idol. Let us ask the Lord to examine us and break any idols that take the throne in our hearts that belongs to our King and Lord.

EXODUS 25:2

Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.

In other words, whose heart moves him to do so: This offering would be the result of an inner and not an external movement, as with mandatory taxes or through public peer pressure. We read about a time when the people's disposition was so great that workers had more than enough materials and they said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the LORD commanded us to perform." (EXOD 36:5)

1 CHRONICLES 29:3 

Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver:

The reason for this giving for the temple, is not for mankind, but for the LORD God (1 CHRON 29:1).

We as children of God are called to do everything as if we are doing it unto or for the Lord. Then we are reminded, that it’s the Lord Jesus whom we serve.

The idea of generosity in our giving and offering is taught to the church in Corinth by Paul in 2 CORINTHIANS and reminds them to give according to their willingness and ability to give.

2 CORINTHIANS 8:3-6

 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.

Many of the contributions were these articles or things that the Israelites received from the Egyptians as a parting gift as we read already.

EXODUS 25:3-4

And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze; 4 "blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats' hair;

Gold speaks of divinity or royalty, silver of redemption, bronze of judgment.

Blue, Purple and Scarlet: These colors that were often used in the garments of royalty from such nations as Phoenicia, which was famous for its dyeing industry. Blue and purple were obtained from certain species of mollusks (Some examples of mollusks are snails, squid, octopuses, and cuttlefish.) and the scarlet from an insect's eggs. 

Fine linen: The term comes from Egypt and possibly also the technique of making it. The Egyptians excelled is this art. 

Goat hair: This is the material used for the tents. 

EXODUS 25:5 

ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; Acacia wood: 

The various skins were used to drape over the interior materials (the linens) of the tabernacle.

Acacia is a small desert tree growing about 10 to 20 feet tall, with thorny branches and yellow flowers. It abounds in the canyons of the Sinai Desert. Its wood is hard and very good for construction.

EXODUS 25:6

6 oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense;

These oils were used to light the menorah [seven branched lampstand] and for the various ministries of anointing, as well as the incense used for priestly prayers.

EXODUS 25:7-9 

7 onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate. 8 And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.

Verse7: 

The ephod and the breast piece: these are described in more detail in chapter 28 of Exodus along with the clothing of the priests.

And these are the garments which they shall make: a breast piece, an ephod, a robe, a tunic of checkered work, a turban, and a sash.  (EXOD 28:4)

Onyx stones: These stones that would be placed on the shoulder pieces and the names of the tribes of Israel would be on the stones; six on each side according to birth.

Incidentally, these stones will be found in the new Jerusalem! We can read about this in REV 21.

Verses 8:

Construction of a sanctuary: for me to dwell among them: This continues to show us that God's presence would continue with his people and the purpose in getting them out of Egypt and making himself known as their God and giving them a unique identity as His people.  

To dwell: this word is like the word ‘set’ or ‘establish’, but it has the idea of going in and staying or living among his people.

We are told that Jesus dwelt among His people: 

JOHN 1:14a 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us; 

As Jesus dwelt among the people the Holy Spirit would also dwell and dwells in the children of God:

1 CORINTHIANS 3:16

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 

2 CORINTHIANS 6:16b

For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL AMONG THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

EXODUS 25:9

According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.

These are patterns that represent the things that GOD showed Moses in the Mount; later in HEBREWS we see that this was a model of what exists in heaven (HEB 8:5).

EXODUS 25:10 

And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height.

An Ark: This was a rectangular box made of acacia wood about 3.75 feet long, 2.25 feet wide and 2.25 feet high; but this wasn’t any regular wooden box. Not only was to be covered with gold inside and outside, but it would contain the Law of GOD and sit in the most sacred area of the tabernacle which is known as the Holy of Holies.

The ark symbolized God's presence with the Israelites in at least 3 ways:

1. It was where the stone tablets (10 commandments) rested that were given to Moses, which were a witness or testimony to the requirements that the Israelites accepted. 

2. On the annual day of atonement, the high priest sprayed blood on the mercy seat (propitiation) on the seal or cover and this was in line with God's provision to deal with the sins of the people. 

Atonement: To suffer punishment for committing an offense, crime, or being guilty. Jesus is our atonement because He paid for our sins, in order to restore us to an acceptable relationship with God.

This was going to point to Jesus: He would sit in the seat of mercy on the cross and be our sacrifice on that day of atonement!

JOHN 1:29 

The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 

ROMANS 3:25a

 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. 

3.The ark is where God met with Moses and talked to him.

NUMBERS 7:8-9

Now when Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the atoning cover that was on the ark of the testimony, 

This was in accordance with the assurance of his presence with Moses in EXOD 3 and 4.

EXODUS 25:11-14

And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a molding of gold all around. 12 "You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, and two rings on the other side. 13 "And you shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 14 "You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them.

Verse 11: 

Pure gold: There will be a continuing pattern of making things out of gold. Gold symbolizes royalty and let us remember this Tabernacle and its furnishings were being made for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Verse 12:

Four gold rings: Four Levites would carry the ark holding on to the poles that passed by the rings. The ark, despite its small size, had some weight to it because of the gold that covered it and the solid lid of pure gold. 

Verse 13:

With the two gold covered poles they could carry the ark without touching it with their hands. God instructed them on how to carry the ark, and someone died because they did not follow these instructions (2 SAM 6:1-7). Only the Levites could touch it; we can read about this in NUM 4:15,19.

From GOT QUESTIONS: Why did God strike Uzzah dead for touching the Ark of the Covenant?

The fact that there were rings and poles that went through them to pick up the ark, shows us that the ark was to be the center of worship but would be mobile along with God's people; God would be continually moving, and his people would be ready to go or move at all times.

EXODUS 25:15 

The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. 16 And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you.

Verse 16: The Testimony- That is, the stone tablets containing the 10 commandments.

EXODUS 25:17-18

You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. 18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat.

Verse 17: 

Propitiation: The Hebrew word for this expression comes from a root that means making atonement.so that it (the sacrifice) may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf. (See LEV 1:4)

In ROM 3:25 the same word (propitiation) is applied to Christ. The propitiator is a symbol of Christ's work in atoning for sins. Since the propitiator was a representation of God's throne, the ark was considered the most holy piece of all tabernacle furniture, the only piece in the most holy place. 

Verse 18

Cherubim: The prophet Ezekiel saw the cherubs as heavenly beings with four wings and four faces. There is nothing mention of the design of these cherubs; perhaps they were revealed directly by God to Moses.

EZEK 1:5-14 describes the Cherubim and what they do as Ezekiel received a vision of the Lord’s glory. Verse 11 says Their wings were spread upwards; each had two wings that touching that of another ant two wings covering its body. This feature is identical to the cherubim over the ark of the covenant in the most holy place. The cherub in the most holy place also functioned as a symbolic footstool for the invisible throne of God.

EXODUS 25:19-22

Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. 20 And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. 21 You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. 22 And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.

Verse 22: 

I will meet you— The ark was the meeting place where God would meet Moses to tell him what to do. Previously, God's presence had manifested itself in the burning bush, in the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire that accompanied Israel when they left Egypt, and in his appearance on Mount Sinai. Like Pastor James mentioned last week; we all now have access to God through our Lord Jesus Christ and we are told what to do through His Word.

EXODUS 25:23-30

You shall also make a table of acacia wood; two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 24 And you shall overlay it with pure gold and make a molding of gold all around.  25 You shall make for it a frame of a handbreadth all around, and you shall make a gold molding for the frame all around.  26 And you shall make for it four rings of gold and put the rings on the four corners that are at its four legs. 27 The rings shall be close to the frame, as holders for the poles to bear the table. 28 And you shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them. 29 You shall make its dishes, its pans, its pitchers, and its bowls for pouring. You shall make them of pure gold. 30 And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always.

The bread of presence: It was the bread that was kept at a special table in the holy place in front of the golden lampstand. The twelve loaves symbolized the twelve tribes of Israel.

This bread was for the Israelite priests to eat as a symbolic provision for them from the Lord’s table. This table symbolizes our need for communion and fellowship with God. 

The living bread was to come in our Lord Jesus being both our sustenance and also being the source where we get our nourishment and strength. Man should not live of bread alone but from every word that comes from the mouth of God (LUKE 4:4). Jesus is the word made flesh (JOHN 1:14) and he told the Jews and repeats it to anyone who hungers. This is the bread that comes down out of heaven, so that anyone may eat from it and not die (JOHN 6:51).  

EXODUS 25:31-40

You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece. 32 And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. 33 Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower-and so for the six branches that come out of the lampstand. 34 On the lampstand itself four bowls shall be made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower. 35"And there shall be a knob under the first two branches of the same, a knob under the second two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches of the same, according to the six branches that extend from the lampstand. 36 Their knobs and their branches shall be of one piece; all of it shall be one hammered piece of pure gold. 37 You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it. 38 And its wick-trimmers and their trays shall be of pure gold. 39 It shall be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these utensils. 40 And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.

Lampstand:

 It looked like an almond tree, The Hebrew word for almond is associated with watch over or keeping an eye on something. Aaron's rod was made out of almond wood. It is a symbol of God watching over his Word to fulfill his purpose.

After the Lord asks Jeremiah what he sees: Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it” (JER 1:12).

The Lampstand points to how Jesus is the real light of the world:

JOHN 1:9

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 

JOHN 8:12

 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” 

Next Chapter!

EXODUS 26:1-6

1 Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them. 2 The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. And every one of the curtains shall have the same measurements. 3 Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. 4 And you shall make loops of blue yarn on the edge of the curtain on the selvedge of one set, and likewise you shall do on the outer edge of the other curtain of the second set. 5 Fifty loops you shall make in the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is on the end of the second set, that the loops may be clasped to one another. 6 And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains together with the clasps, so that it may be one tabernacle. 

Tabernacle: comes from Hebrew word shakan - means to dwell, a resting place; also describes human dwellings: these are tents where 

men lived. 

LEVITICUS.26:11-12

Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. 12 I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. 

EZEKIEL 37:27 

My dwelling place also will be among them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. 

Jesus came and made his tabernacle in the midst of the world or humanity.

JOHN 1:14 

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

Just as a tabernacle covered over people, so also God wants to cover us with his forgiveness, salvation, protection, and love.

REVELATION.21:3-4 

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His [a]people, and God Himself will be among them[b], 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.

EXODUS 25:7-30

You shall also make curtains of goats' hair, to be a tent over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains. 8 The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; and the eleven curtains shall all have the same measurements. 9 And you shall couple five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves, and you shall double over the sixth curtain at the forefront of the tent. 10 You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain of the second set. 11 And you shall make fifty bronze clasps, put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one. 12 The remnant that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.

 13 And a cubit on one side and a cubit on the other side, of what remains of the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on this side and on that side, to cover it. 14 You shall also make a covering of ram skins dyed red for the tent, and a covering of badger skins above that. 15 And for the tabernacle you shall make the boards of acacia wood, standing upright. 16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the width of each board. 17 Two tenons shall be in each board for binding one to another. Thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle. 18 And you shall make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side. 19 You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under each of the boards for its two tenons. 

20 And for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, there shall be twenty boards. 

21 and their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under each of the boards. 22 For the far side of the tabernacle, westward, you shall make six boards. 23 And you shall also make two boards for the two back corners of the tabernacle. 24 They shall be coupled together at the bottom and they shall be coupled together at the top by one ring. Thus it shall be for both of them. They shall be for the two corners. 25 So there shall be eight boards with their sockets of silver-sixteen sockets-two sockets under each board.

26 And you shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards on one side of the tabernacle, 27 five bars for the boards on the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the far side westward. 28 The middle bar shall pass through the midst of the boards from end to end. 29 You shall overlay the boards with gold, make their rings of gold as holders for the bars, and overlay the bars with gold. 30 And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain. 

“…which you have been shown in the mountain…”

It was God who gave these instructions, but it was not the first time such detailed instructions were given by Him in regard to building something. Noah was instructed by God to build the Ark in GEN 6:13-16: 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 3 floors: low, second and third. 

The unique shape of the ark would give it a capacity of 30 percent larger than the typical shape of a ship. Just like the tabernacle there was only one door and that door is our Lord Jesus Christ.

EXODUS 26:31-37

31 You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim. 32 You shall hang it upon the four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Their hooks shall be gold, upon four sockets of silver. 33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy. 34 You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy. 

35 You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand across from the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; and you shall put the table on the north side. 36 You shall make a screen for the door of the tabernacle, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. 37 And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia wood and overlay them with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.

For detailed descriptions, pictures and videos of the Tabernacle, go here! (www.oldtestamenttabernacle.com)

The Veil: The curtain served to separate the holy place from the most holy place (“holy of holies”). Only the high priest had access to the most holy place; but on the cross when Jesus was crucified and his payment for our sins was accepted by God the Father – He has given access to every son or daughter of God! No longer are we separated from God’s holy presence. We can approach the throne of grace with confidence but only through the door our Lord Jesus (JOHN 14:6; HEB 4:16).

MATTHEW.27:51a 

And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; 

Jesus went in as the ultimate High Priest and ended the old covenant and is the mediator of a new covenant: 

HEBREWS 9:11-12 

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things having come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by hands, that is, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all time, having obtained eternal redemption. 

In conclusion: The details of the tabernacle were intended to help us understand how we are to approach our Holy, Holy, Holy God in proper worship through the atoning sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.