“Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. According to all I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it.” (vv.8-9)
The word Sanctuary means 'holy' place or 'the place set apart.' Everything about the tabernacle was holy. It is the same word used in 1 and 2 Chronicle to refer to the temple. This first representation of God’s dwelling place would be a tabernacle – a tent – and not a permanent structure. The purpose of the tabernacle was to be the dwelling place of God. The idea was not that God exclusively lived in that place, but that it was the specific place where men could come and meet God. F.B. Meyer describes the idea of a tent for God this way, “The Hebrews were meant to feel that the God of their fathers was a fellow-pilgrim, that where they pitched their tents He pitched, and that their enemies, difficulties, and long toilsome marches were His as well.”
We see here in our text that God tells Moses to construct Him a tabernacle, "According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings." He later gives Moses explicit instructions, a plan, a design, a pattern, for the construction of it and each object to be found within - and Moses was to follow that plan. The pattern of the tabernacle was according to a heavenly reality. It was a copy and shadow of the heavenly things (Hebrews 8:5). Therefore, it had to be made according to exact dimensions, being somewhat of a “scale model” of the area around God’s throne in heaven.
However, in verses immediately following our text (vv.10-16) instead of giving Moses instructions on building the tabernacle, the LORD gives Moses instructions on the building of the ark for the tabernacle, its mercy seat, the cherubim, the table for the showbread, and the Menora. All this, along with the dishes, pans, jars, and bowls (which were to be made of pure gold), were to be completed before the tabernacle was erected. This tells us (and Moses), that the order of the construction is significant. That the Ark of the Covenant is the most important part of the Tabernacle, for the mercy seat of the Ark is the place where the Lord dwelt and also the place where the blood for the atonement of sin was placed.
God wants to dwell among us. He has set His throne of mercy before us that we might lay down our burden of sin upon it (Him), to receive (through the blood of Christ) forgiveness and fellowship with Christ. Therefore, we need to draw close to Him, feed upon His Word, and allow Him to be sufficient for all our needs. This the most important work we could ever be engaged in.
The Truth: “Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
