“And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount.”
Context: The book of Exodus primarily deals with the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery in Egypt and their journey towards the Promised Land. In this particular verse, God is giving detailed instructions to Moses regarding the construction of the tabernacle, which was to be a place of worship and a dwelling place for God’s presence among the people.
The Tabernacle: The tabernacle was a portable sanctuary constructed according to God’s specifications. It consisted of a courtyard, a holy place, and the most holy place (also known as the Holy of Holies). The tabernacle served as a visual representation of God’s presence and a foreshadowing of the later temple in Jerusalem.
Divine Instructions: God instructed Moses to construct the tabernacle and all its furnishings precisely according to the pattern He had shown him. This emphasis on following the divine pattern reveals God’s desire for His people to worship Him in a specific manner. God is concerned with the details and wants His people to approach Him with reverence and obedience.
Symbolism: The tabernacle and its furnishings carried symbolic meanings. They pointed to various aspects of God’s character, His redemptive plan, and the way humanity could approach Him. The detailed instructions for their construction conveyed the importance of worshiping God in spirit and in truth.
Application for Believers: While the tabernacle was a physical structure, as Christians, we are now the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). We are called to worship and honor God with our lives, presenting ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Just as God provided specific instructions for the tabernacle, He has also given us His Word as a guide for how we should live and worship Him.
Obedience and Reverence: The verse emphasizes the importance of obedience and attention to detail in fulfilling God’s instructions. As believers, we are called to walk in obedience to God’s Word and follow His instructions for our lives. We should approach Him with reverence, recognizing His holiness and seeking to honor Him in all that we do.
In conclusion, Exodus 25:40 highlights the significance of following God’s instructions and patterns in worship and obedience. The construction of the tabernacle served as a representation of God’s presence among His people and taught them the importance of reverence and attention to detail in their worship. As believers today, we are called to honor and worship God in spirit and in truth, following His instructions and seeking to live in obedience to His Word.
