Exodus 26 - The Tabernacle's Construction | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Exodus 26 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.

In Exodus 26 we come to the actual building of the tabernacle itself. As you listen to the chapter read, try to imagine actually building a tabernacle with these instructions. A number of modern day replicas exist, which don’t look the same as each other, and in analysing them you can see that they don’t match these instructions perfectly either. For example the replica in Timnah Park, north of Eilat in modern day Israel is mostly white with 19 side panels. Whereas the replicas built by students at Bringham Young University had a colored tent entrance and 18 side panels.

Not only would it be difficult because we don’t have precise certainty about the size of the cubit used, but it's clear that the instructions are not complete.

This is deliberate and in verse 30 Moses is told to build it according to what he was shown on the mountain. In other words, Moses received a lot more from God during his 40 days than what was written down. So the question is then, why write down half a set of instructions. It would seem that these otherwise mundane instructions have spiritual value and are also needed to remember what God did, and certain important details about it.

The big thing about the tabernacle is that God was going to dwell among his people. Later in the New Testament Jesus came as God to dwell among the people. He took on flesh. So the tabernacle is a type or shadow of Christ. He himself alluded to this when he later said he would tear down the temple and rebuild it in three days. The tabernacle was the first version of the temple.

In any case the replicas are useful for learning and good to stimulate thought, and these instructions certainly help with that.