Intermediate Level, Block 4—Egypt to Good Land
Week 40
The Tabernacle—God’s Dwelling Place
Point to Emphasize: God wants to be close to His people and we want to be close to Him.
Reference Reading: Exodus 25—27
Memory Verse: One thing I have asked from Jehovah; / That I do seek: / To dwell in the house of Jehovah / All the days of my life. (Psalm 27:4)
Story Sample
We have learned that Moses received the law, the Ten Commandments. Now, there was something else that God gave Moses when he was on the mountain. God gave Moses the blueprints of a house. This was not an ordinary house. This house was a house for God to meet with man and for man to meet with God. What?! Think about this, the very God who was only appearing to Moses, now wanted to be much closer to all of the children of Israel! Do you know what this house was called? The tabernacle! So, God spoke to Moses the plans for making Him a house where all His glory would come and He would dwell among His people.
Who in this room have seen the works of an architect? An architect designs buildings. An architect draws on paper or on a computer before the builders can begin to work. I have seen some amazing buildings that look so impressive and complicated at the same time. Some of you might have observed the blueprints or the construction of a meeting hall or of a house. Maybe you have been involved in a remodel of your house or a family member’s. When my husband and I moved into our house, we were so happy! However, the moment I walked in, it did not feel like my house. So, immediately I grabbed a piece of paper and started to draw how I wanted each room in the house to look. I pictured an open kitchen and a large living room to have many guests over for eating and singing! It was a LOT of work, but now the house looks exactly as I had planned! [Storyteller, insert your own story of participating in the building of a meeting hall, a house or remodel project following the plans or drawings from an architect or a builder.]
Well, I’m sure you have seen many buildings in your life, but the plans that God gave Moses for the tabernacle were like no other! This was not to be an ordinary house. God was going to live among men! So, God gave very specific instructions about every aspect of the tabernacle. God told Moses what materials he needed to use. There were twelve kinds of materials of three categories to be used in the building of the tabernacle: minerals, plants, and animals. The minerals Moses was to use were gold, silver, bronze, onyx stone, and other precious stones. From the plant life, Moses was to use linen of different colors: blue, purple, scarlet, and the linen had to be fine linen. Moses was to also use acacia wood, oil, and spices. Finally, from the animal life, Moses was to use goats’ hair, rams’ hide, and porpoises’ skin. Can you picture this tabernacle in your head? Wow! I can only imagine how this house would look like!
God was also very specific on the pattern of the tabernacle. God told Moses how the boards of the tabernacle were to be placed, with all their measurements and numbers. There were some veils and some curtains to be used. Lastly, God was also very specific about the contents of the tabernacle. Moses was to build some furnishings. Just to name a few, Moses was to make something called the ark of the testimony, the table of the bread of the presence, and the lampstand. God told Moses which material to use and how to make each one. God is the best architect!
As you continue to grow you will learn more about this tabernacle, but for now I want you to remember a few things. First, I want you to remember that God may not have been happy being so far away from the people He loved. God wanted to live among the children of Israel. Second, I want you to remember that God was very specific about each aspect of the tabernacle. Each material, each measurement, each furnishing was for a purpose and was to be built accordingly. After all, it was God’s house! God doesn’t want to be far from us. He always wants to be very close to His dear ones! God wanted to be close to His people. Don’t you want to be one who is always close to God?