Exodus 25 begins a section of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) that can be a slog. The rest of Exodus contains instructions for how to build the tabernacle, followed by an interlude where the covenant must be ratified a second time because of the sin of the people, followed by a description of how the tabernacle was built according to the instructions previously given. However, if we pay attention, we will note a pattern -- instructions are given, but before they can be carried out, sin must be rooted out and obedience affirmed. Only then can the instructions be carried out, and only after this is the presence of God able to be with his people.
So we see this format play out in the second half of Exodus -- covenant established by grace --> obedience within that covenant --> presence of God. Not surprisingly, we see a gospel framework there. In the New Covenant, it is the establishing of covenant through the death/resurrection/ascension of Jesus --> our response of obedience within that covenant by means of discipleship --> the promise of enjoying the presence of God eternally.
So do not take this reading lightly, because it all testifies to the good news in Jesus. Even if it is difficult to follow, or doesn't make sense to you, stick with it, and be blessed by your time in God's word.
There are a couple of other things to note in Exodus 25. First, there was to be an offering made for materials to build the tabernacle with. This offering was based on whatever one's heart was prompted to give. This is how God's covenants work. He establishes them as a demonstration of his holiness and grace and then calls us to respond to him. The degree to which our heart is prompted to be generous back to God is an indication of how well we have understood his covenant. If we are stingy in our attitude toward God, we probably need to spend more time meditating on his word, his character and his covenant of grace.
Second, this chapter describes how to build the mercy seat, where God is going to meet with Moses. There are specific directions given for how to build this -- two angels (cherubs) on either end, facing each other, covering the cover. And this is where God will meet with Moses. Now, if we look ahead, this description is pertinent to the New Covenant. In John 20, after Jesus' resurrection, Mary Magdalene is looking into the tomb, and she sees "two angels...seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot." The tomb of Jesus represents the symbolism of the ark and the mercy seat where the cherubim oversaw the place where God would meet with Moses. But in John, it is Jesus who appears in that location, as the one who now meets with his people.
Finally, God makes clear that Moses is to see that these instructions are followed in exact accordance with the pattern God showed Moses. Sometimes we look at this and think that God is establishing patterns that we must search for, so we look for the NT "pattern" for the church to follow. But this is not the intent of this passage. Hebrews 8 shows us the fulfillment of what was intended here. God gave Moses an exact blueprint to follow because he was making a copy of what is in heaven. So Moses, in building the tabernacle, was building a representation of Jesus, in whom and by whom we can meet with God without fetter. Hebrews 8 and 9 explain more about this.
I hope you can see that a chapter like Exodus 25, that looks "boring" to us on the surface, is actually an integral chapter to the rest of the story. It prefigures what comes later in the new covenant. It teaches us about Christ. May your heart be moved closer to Christ today by meditating on this great chapter in the Bible.
So we see this format play out in the second half of Exodus -- covenant established by grace --> obedience within that covenant --> presence of God. Not surprisingly, we see a gospel framework there. In the New Covenant, it is the establishing of covenant through the death/resurrection/ascension of Jesus --> our response of obedience within that covenant by means of discipleship --> the promise of enjoying the presence of God eternally.
So do not take this reading lightly, because it all testifies to the good news in Jesus. Even if it is difficult to follow, or doesn't make sense to you, stick with it, and be blessed by your time in God's word.
There are a couple of other things to note in Exodus 25. First, there was to be an offering made for materials to build the tabernacle with. This offering was based on whatever one's heart was prompted to give. This is how God's covenants work. He establishes them as a demonstration of his holiness and grace and then calls us to respond to him. The degree to which our heart is prompted to be generous back to God is an indication of how well we have understood his covenant. If we are stingy in our attitude toward God, we probably need to spend more time meditating on his word, his character and his covenant of grace.
Second, this chapter describes how to build the mercy seat, where God is going to meet with Moses. There are specific directions given for how to build this -- two angels (cherubs) on either end, facing each other, covering the cover. And this is where God will meet with Moses. Now, if we look ahead, this description is pertinent to the New Covenant. In John 20, after Jesus' resurrection, Mary Magdalene is looking into the tomb, and she sees "two angels...seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot." The tomb of Jesus represents the symbolism of the ark and the mercy seat where the cherubim oversaw the place where God would meet with Moses. But in John, it is Jesus who appears in that location, as the one who now meets with his people.
Finally, God makes clear that Moses is to see that these instructions are followed in exact accordance with the pattern God showed Moses. Sometimes we look at this and think that God is establishing patterns that we must search for, so we look for the NT "pattern" for the church to follow. But this is not the intent of this passage. Hebrews 8 shows us the fulfillment of what was intended here. God gave Moses an exact blueprint to follow because he was making a copy of what is in heaven. So Moses, in building the tabernacle, was building a representation of Jesus, in whom and by whom we can meet with God without fetter. Hebrews 8 and 9 explain more about this.
I hope you can see that a chapter like Exodus 25, that looks "boring" to us on the surface, is actually an integral chapter to the rest of the story. It prefigures what comes later in the new covenant. It teaches us about Christ. May your heart be moved closer to Christ today by meditating on this great chapter in the Bible.
