Pointing to Jesus (Exodus 26)

Summary:

Exodus 26 provides detailed instructions from God to Moses for constructing the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary for Israel’s worship.

 It describes ten inner curtains of fine twined linen embroidered with cherubim in blue, purple, and scarlet, joined by gold clasps; an outer covering of eleven goat-hair curtains; additional layers of rams’ skins dyed red and badger skins; upright acacia wood frames overlaid with gold, set in silver sockets and connected by bars; a veil of similar embroidered linen to separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, hung on gold-overlaid pillars; and a screen for the Tabernacle’s entrance made of embroidered linen on pillars.

Pointing to Jesus:

The Tabernacle’s design typologically foreshadows Christ as the ultimate dwelling place of God with His people, emphasizing imputed righteousness and atonement by grace through faith. 

One example is the innermost curtains of fine twined linen, symbolizing Christ’s perfect righteousness credited to believers (Rom. 3:22-26). 

As theologian Ervin N. Hershberger explains in Seeing Christ in the Tabernacle: “Non-Christians never see the inner beauty of Christ. They may see Him as an ordinary man (leather), or perhaps as a good man and a spiritual leader (fine leather). 

But looking deeper, we find Christ to be the Blessed Redeemer – the atoning Sacrifice (rams’ skins dyed red) – by whom God can justly redeem fallen man from human failure and sin (goats’ hair curtain). 

Jesus Christ is the ‘righteousness of saints’ (ten curtains of fine twined linen), bringing home ‘to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish’ (Eph. 5:27).” 

Reflection:

This chapter reminds Christians that just as the Tabernacle was God’s holy dwelling among Israel, providing a structured way to approach Him, Christ now tabernacles in believers through the Holy Spirit (John 1:14; 1 Cor. 3:16), making us part of His body, the church. 

It calls us to live with reverence for God’s presence, pursuing holiness in worship and community, while resting in the access to God secured by Christ’s atoning work, which tore the veil of separation (Heb. 10:19-22). 

This fosters a life of gratitude, obedience, and mission to reflect God’s glory in the world.