God instructed Moses on every detail in preparation for the tabernacle’s services. Priests were to have priestly garments, but the high priest wore a special ephod, which contained the names of the sons of Israel. He also wore a breastplate, which contained the Urim and Thummim and was to be on his heart (Exodus 28). All priests were to be consecrated (Exodus 29). Other items to be carefully prepared were the altar of incense, the basin for washing, the anointing oil, and the incense (Exodus 30).
God was teaching His people through various means, and one of them was through the sanctuary. All its services pointed to Jesus; they were object lessons in the plan of salvation, which would be wrought out through Jesus many centuries later.
Read Exodus 25:1–9. What crucial, practical, and theological truths are seen in these verses?
Even though God was leading the Israelites and already was close to them, He instructed Moses to build a sanctuary:
Read Ezekiel 36:26–28. How does obedience take place in our lives?
On three occasions, the Israelites fervently declared that they would obey God (Exod. 19:8; Exod. 24:3, 7). Obedience is important, even if the Bible teaches that we humans are weak, broken, fragile, and sinful. This sad truth has been revealed not only through the history of ancient Israel but through the history of all His people.
How, then, are we enabled to follow God faithfully?
