Chapter 25
We are about to enter a section that could feel either dry or deeply meaningful. This chapter begins with a detailed description of the Ark and other pieces of furniture in the Tabernacle. If we approach it purely as historical, it might seem tedious. However, remember that everything God does and says in the Bible serves a purpose. When you search for Jesus in the Old Testament, you’ll be amazed by the many shadows and glimpses of Him you’ll find.
This is the treasure hunt—let’s search for Jesus! Dive in and prepare to be amazed. There are so many elements of our Savior in these items that one could literally spend years exploring them. I won’t do that to you, but I will highlight a few key items and provide a brief summary for each. I do not normally add pictures, but I thought I would add a few clip so you can have an idea of the descriptions that are being spoken about by God.
I hope this sparks enough interest for you to dig deeper on your own. These next chapters are full of Jesus’ D.N.A.!
Offerings for the Tabernacle
1 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they take for me an offering: of every man whose heart is him willing you shall take my offering. 3 This is the offering which you shall take of them: gold, and silver, and brass, 4 and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, 5 and rams’ skins dyed red, and sealskins, and acacia wood, 6 oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, 7 onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate.
8 Let them make me a sanctuary, [a “set apart” place] that I may dwell [rest, inhabit, remain, abide] among [within, in, between, through] them. 9 According to all that I show you, the pattern [likeness, form, figure] of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the furniture there in, even so shall you make it.
The Ark
10 They shall make an ark [an ark is a box, not a boat.] of acacia wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length, and a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half the height. [The natural human state of Jesus] 11 You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on it a crown of gold around it. [The pure divine nature of Jesus.] 12 You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four feet, and two rings shall be on the one side of it, two rings on the other side of it. 13 You shall make staves of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 14 You shall put the staves into the rings on the sides of the ark, where with to carry the ark. 15 The staves shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it. 16 You shall put in the ark the covenant law which I shall give you.
17 You shall make a mercy-seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half the length, and a cubit and a half the width of this cover. 18 You shall make two cherubim of hammered [literal: beaten] gold shall you make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat. 19 Make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end. Of one piece with the mercy-seat shall you make the cherubim on the two ends. 20 The cherubim shall spread out their wings on high, covering the mercy-seat with their wings, with their faces one to another, toward the mercy-seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. 21 You shall put the mercy-seat above on the ark. In the ark you shall put the covenant law that I shall give you. 22 There I will meet with you, and I will commune with you from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the covenant, of all things which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.
[A summary of what the Ark represents: It is the place where God’s mercy and justice meet, just as Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s mercy through His atoning sacrifice. The Ark symbolizes the presence of God and the means of atonement for sin, just as Jesus is the ultimate meeting place with God and the final sacrifice for sin. The blood sprinkled on the Mercy Seat points forward to the blood of Jesus, which was shed for the forgiveness of sins once and for all.]
The Table of the Showbread
23 You shall make a table of acacia wood; two cubits in length and a cubit the width and a cubit and a half the height. 24 You shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a crown of gold around it. 25 You shall make to it a border of a handbreadth around it and you shall make a golden crown to the border around it. 26 You shall make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet. 27 Close by the border shall the rings be, for places for the staves to bear the table. 28 You shall make the staves of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them. 29 You shall make the dishes and the spoons and the pitchers and the bowls, to pour out. Of pure gold shall you make them. 30 You shall set on the table showbread [Also known as the bread of the Presence] before me at all times.
[A summary of what the Table of Showbread represents: Jesus is the Bread of Life: Just as the showbread was the physical sustenance for the Israelites, Jesus is the spiritual sustenance for believers, offering eternal life. Jesus brings fellowship with God: The showbread was placed in God’s presence, symbolizing fellowship, and through Jesus’ sacrifice, believers can have direct communion with God. Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s provision: The twelve loaves symbolized God’s care for the twelve tribes, and Jesus, as the true bread, is God’s provision for all people. Jesus offers eternal sustenance: Unlike the showbread, which was replaced every Sabbath, Jesus is the eternal bread that gives eternal life.]
The Golden Lampstand
31 You shall make a candlestick of pure gold. Hammered work shall the candlestick be made, even its base, and its shaft. Its cups, its knops, and its flowers, shall be of one piece. 32 There shall be six branches going out of the sides, three branches of the candlestick out of the one side and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side. [Notice that there is one main vine, and all the other branches steam from it. Remember how Jesus said, I am the vine and you are the branches? (John 15:5) That is symbolized here.] 33 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. 34 And on the lampstand, there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. 35 One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair–six branches in all. 36 The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.
37 Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. 38 Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold. 39 A talent of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. 40 See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
[A summary of what the Lampstand represents: Jesus is the Light of the World: Just as the Lampstand provided light in the Tabernacle, Jesus brings spiritual light to those in darkness, offering the truth of God and eternal life. The Fullness of God’s Light: The seven lamps represent the completeness and perfection of the light that Jesus brings, revealing the fullness of God’s truth. The Source of Light: Jesus is the ultimate source of spiritual light, just as the Lampstand was fueled by a single source of light. The Holy Spirit as the Oil: The oil that fueled the Lampstand symbolizes the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to reflect Christ’s light in the world. Eternal Light: The continuous light of the Lampstand represents Jesus as the eternal light, offering God’s presence and eternal life to all who believe.]
