God desires to dwell with us. The Tabernacle was God’s first step in “moving in” among sinful and broken humans.

He was very specific in his design of the Tabernacle because not only did it serve as an expression of his dwelling (“heaven”) on earth, but it also served as a prophetic signpost of Jesus who is the fullest expression of God. Jesus literally “tabernacled” (John 1:14) among us to reveal God and to restore us back into right relationship with the Father. Therefore, God was so specific about the design of the Tabernacle.

Two remarkable items inside the Tabernacle were the Golden Lampstand and the Table. The Lampstand was made of pure gold, and it had seven interconnected oil-filled branches. This represented the presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit. (See Isaiah 11:2 for an explanation of how the Holy Spirit is represented through the seven branches.) The Lampstand was the only source of light in the Tabernacle.

Guided by the Lampstand’s light, the priests were invited to come to the Table. Twelve cakes of bread and a cup of wine pointed to the future Table of the Lord that we come to every Sunday. The bread was called the “Showbread” because God promised to “show up” among the priests when they partook of it. Amazingly, Jesus referred to himself multiple times as the “Bread from Heaven” or “Bread of Life” in John 6, thereby fulfilling God’s promise to “show up” in our midst.

Since Jesus ascended to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit, we are now called to be his “tabernacle” here on earth!

Taking it Home: Have you surrendered your life to Jesus and allowed him to make you his dwelling place?

Ask the Lord to guide you, by the light of his Spirit, to encounter him at his Table where he has promised to “show up”.