God commanded Israel to build a tabernacle so that He could dwell among His people in a visible and tangible way. The tabernacle was a sacred tent where God’s presence would reside, signifying that He was their God and they were His covenant people.
Exodus 25:8 states:
“And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.”
The tabernacle served as the center of Israel’s worship and as the place where sacrifices were offered for atonement. Its design reflected heavenly realities, with every detail pointing to God’s holiness and the need for mediation between Him and sinful man (Hebrews 8:5). The Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept, symbolized God’s throne on earth, and only the high priest could enter it once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:2, 34).
The tabernacle demons/”>demonstrated that God desired fellowship with His people, but such fellowship required holiness and sacrifice. It reminded Israel that access to God was not casual but through blood and according to His instructions.
Ultimately, the tabernacle foreshadowed Christ, who “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). The Greek word for “dwelt” literally means “tabernacled.” In Jesus, God’s presence is fully manifested, and through His sacrifice, believers have direct access to God (Hebrews 10:19–20).
The command to build the tabernacle teaches that God desires to dwell with His people, but that His presence requires atonement and purity, truths fulfilled perfectly in Christ.
