Chapter 30—The Sanctuary: God’s Dwelling Place in
Israel
This chapter is based on
Exodus 25
to 40;
Leviticus 4
and 16.
The command was communicated to Moses while in the mount
with God, “Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among
them.”
Exodus 25:8
. Full directions were given for the construction
of the tabernacle. By their apostasy, the Israelites forfeited the divine
Presence, but after they were again taken into favor with Heaven, the
great leader proceeded to execute the divine command.
God Himself gave Moses the plan of that structure, its size and
form, the materials to be employed, and every article of furniture it was
to contain. The holy places made with hands were “figures of the true,”
“patterns of things in the heavens” (
Hebrews 9:24, 23
), a miniature
representation of the heavenly temple where Christ, our great High
Priest, was to minister in the sinner’s behalf. God presented before
Moses a view of the heavenly sanctuary and commanded him to make
all things according to the pattern shown him.
For building the sanctuary, a large amount of the most costly mate-
rial was required, yet the Lord accepted only freewill offerings.
All the people responded, “every one whose heart stirred him up,
and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the
Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation... .
And they came, both men and women, as many as were willinghearted,
and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels
of gold.”
While the building of the sanctuary was in progress, men, women,
[240]
and children continued to bring their offerings, until those in charge
of the work found that they had more than could be used. And Moses
caused to be proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let neither man nor
woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the
people were restrained from bringing.” The Israelites’ devotion, zeal,
and liberality are an example worthy of imitation. All who love the
207