God Made a Way (Exo. 25:8-22)

Intro: Good Morning FE, it is great to be in here worshipping with you this morning and if you are watching us online, thank you for joining us. My name is Josh Aguilar, I am one of the elders here at FE and I have the privilege of kicking off our new series on the Tabernacle

The past few months we ave been going through the book of Exodus and last week we closed our series on the narrative portion of the book. But there is a section in the book of Exodus where God is giving instructions on the application of the law or application of the 10 commandments. God also gives instruction concerning the tabernacle, or better yet the dwelling place of God among the people of Israel. God in his wisdom makes a way for his presence, power and purity are represented among the people. God knew the greatest need for the people of Israel, was God himself. As a result of Israel’s greatest need

God Makes A way to Dwell With Israel

Exodus 25:8–9 (ESV)

And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

8 Y que hagan un santuario para mí, para que yo habite entre ellos. 9 Conforme a todo lo que te voy a mostrar, conforme al diseño del tabernáculo y al diseño de todo su mobiliario, así lo haréis.

God said let them make me a sanctuary, which is sacred or holy place. The people needed a physical representation of the holiness and purity of God before them. They needed a reminder of the purity of God before them. The Tabernacle of God would be that reminder.

They also needed the Lord’s presence with them. Remember what Moses told the Lord, we desperately need you to go with us, we need your presence, if you do not go with us please do not make us leave this place. Through the Tabernacle God’s presence would dwell with his people.

Through God’s purity and presence, the Lord’s power would be on display, he would guide Israel, speak to Israel, defend Israel.

The tabernacle is the place where Israel would also worship the Lord. Notice the Lord says make the tabernacle “exactly as I show you” Phillip Ryken suggest that the word pattern in english and design in the Spanish translation is more like a 3 dimensional model, suggesting that God revealed the prototype of the tabernacle and Moses built the full scale replica. The Lord outlines for his people how they are to come and worship the Lord.

The tabernacle was an earthly representation of a heavenly reality. Listen to what Hebrews says concerning the tabernacle

Hebrews 8:5 (ESV)

They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”

5 los cuales sirven a lo que es copia y sombra de las cosas celestiales, tal como Moisés fue advertido por Dios cuando estaba a punto de erigir el tabernáculo; pues, dice Él: Mira, haz todas las cosas conforme al modelo que te fue mostrado en el monte.

The tabernacle served as a copy and shadow of a heavenly reality, The tabernacle and all its contents were pointing to something greater.

M.R Deehan says this concerning the tabernacle,

Exodus—Saved for God's Glory Chapter 71: The Ark of the Covenant

The only building ever constructed upon this earth which was perfect from its very beginning and outset in every detail, and never again needed attention, addition or alteration, was the tabernacle in the wilderness. The blueprint, the pattern and the plan, the design, and all of its specifications, were minutely made in heaven, committed unto Moses for the children of Israel, while he was in the mountain, shortly after their deliverance from Egypt. Every single detail was designed by Almighty God, every part had a prophetic, redemptive, and typical significance. There is no portion of Scripture richer in meaning, more perfect in its teaching of the plan of redemption, than this divinely designed building. God Himself was the architect, and every detail points to some aspect of the character and work of the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, and, in its complete form, it is probably the most comprehensive, detailed revelation of Jesus the Son of God, and the plan of salvation in the entire Old Testament.

When we come to the Ark of the Covenant, which is in the innermost part of the tabernacle called the most holy place or the holy of holies, the ark of the covenant as you seen in the video was very simple yet beautiful, plated with Gold, and cherubim. It was not to touch the ground and the people were not allowed to touch it. so it had permanent poles so the people could carry it and hold it in place above the ground when the ark was in the tent. Despite what the movies show, there was nothing magical about the ark of the covenant, what made the ark valuable, what made the ark unique, what the ark special was the Lord. We discover that through the ark of the covenant

God Makes a way for Israel to be right with God

Exodus 25:10–21 (ESV)

“They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it. You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. And you shall put into the ark the testimony that I shall give you.

“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you.

10 Harán también un arca de madera de acacia; su longitud será de dos codos y medio, su anchura de un codo y medio, y su altura de un codo y medio. 11 Y la revestirás de oro puro; por dentro y por fuera la revestirás, y harás una moldura de oro alrededor de ella. 12 Además fundirás para ella cuatro argollas de oro, y las pondrás en sus cuatro esquinas; dos argollas a un lado de ella y dos argollas al otro lado. 13 También harás varas de madera de acacia y las revestirás de oro. 14 Y meterás las varas por las argollas a los lados del arca, para llevar el arca con ellas. 15 Las varas permanecerán en las argollas del arca; no serán quitadas de ella. 16 Y pondrás en el arca el testimonio que yo te daré. 17 Harás además un propiciatorio de oro puro; su longitud será de dos codos y medio, y su anchura de un codo y medio. 18 Harás igualmente dos querubines de oro; los harás de oro labrado a martillo, en los dos extremos del propiciatorio.19 Harás un querubín en un extremo y el otro en[n] el otro extremo; harás el propiciatorio con los querubines en sus dos extremos de una sola pieza. 20 Y los querubines tendrán extendidas las alas hacia arriba, cubriendo el propiciatorio con sus alas, uno frente al otro[o]; los rostros de los querubines estarán vueltos hacia el propiciatorio. 21 Y pondrás el propiciatorio encima del arca, y en el arca pondrás el testimonio que yo te daré.

I want you to picture the ark of the covenant and what it represents, first of all you have this rectangular gold plated box, inside the box was the the two copies of the covenant the Lord made with the nation. Normally each person would keep a copy of the covenant, as reminder of the covenant they made. God knew that the people were not going to be able to keep the covenant, the were going to break the covenant. Which is why the Lord puts both copies of the covenant in the ark of the covenant, because he is going to be the one responsible for making a way for the people. He is going to take the burden of making a way to fulfill the covenant.

The lid or the covering for the box, which is translated Mercy Seat in English, is actually the Hebrew word for atonement covering. When William Tyndale was translating the Bible, he read a term or phrase that Martin Luther used to describe this atonement covering, which is the mercy seat, so Bible translators began using this phrase to describe the atonement covering. On top of the mercy seat were two cherubim, which are real angelic creatures which are before and below the throne of God. If you notice these cherubim are not looking up to the Lord but they are bowing before the Lord’s presence in reverence and awe of his holiness and presence and their wings covering the ark of the covenant.

When the cloud or the pillar of fire would stop, the people would stop and they would put up the tabernacle at the center of the camp and the twelve tribes would build camp around this tabernacle and the Lord’s presence in the representation of a cloud would come and rest above or on the ark of the covenant. I can imagine that it would have been an amazing site to see.

In the ark you have the covenant, which the people will sin and break the covenant. above the ark you have the presence of God In between the covenant tablets and God’s presence you have the atonement covering or the mercy seat. The mercy seat portion of the ark of the covenant is very significant because once a year the high priest would come before the presence of God in the holy of holies and first make a propitiation or sacrifice for his sin and then he would make propitiation or sacrifice for the sins of the nation. The high priest would sacrifice and then sprinkle blood on the mercy seat, the reason they would do this is because God made it very clear without the shedding of blood through a substitute there is no forgiveness of sins. Through the mercy seat we see the holiness and justice of God, we also see the grace and love of God because he doesn’t leave his people condemned by the law but in the ark of the covenant God makes a way for the people to turn away God’s wrath, find grace, and be right with God.

In the ark of the covenant we also see that,

God Makes a way for his presence to dwell with his people

Exodus 25:22 (ESV)

There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat,

Allí me encontraré contigo, y de sobre el propiciatorio

My childhood experience was not the best, from the age of 5 I grew up without a father, as a result my mom worked full time outside of the home. For a good portion of the day we lacked a parental presence in our home. This led to many issues growing up and if it wasn’t for my grandparents stepping in to help my mom I do not know where we would be. My grandpa was a giant of a man, and when he was around our home or when I was with him at his home I was protected, i was provided for and I was pursued in love, my sins were not overlooked but the discipline i recieved was in his love for me. When God makes a way to dwell with his people, it is because his desire is to provide for you, to protect you and to pursue you in love.

In the ark of the covenant we also see

God Makes a way to speak to his people.

Exodus 25:22 (ESV)

and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.

y de sobre el propiciatorio, de entre los dos querubines que están sobre el arca del testimonio, te hablaré acerca de todo lo que he de darte por mandamiento para los hijos de Israel.

In the ark of the covenant we see that God desire to communicate with his people. God wants to speak to his people to give them guidance and direction. This wasn’t a one way communication he also wanted the people to come to him through Moses and the priests, to make known their requests and needs. The Lord was not like the gods of the egyptians or like the greek gods like zeus, setting up in the heavens looking down to see if we were good enough to help. The Lord knowing were not good enough came to dwell with his people making a way for them to be right with God, making a way for his presence to be with them, making away to communicate. There is no one like the Lord

When we get to the New Testament, we discover that the tabernacle was pointing to Jesus, John 1:14 tells us Jesus came in the flesh to dwell with us, which literally means to tabernacle with us. Through Jesus Christ, the Lord makes a way for us to be right with God, once and for all...

Hebrews 9:24–26 (ESV)

For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

24 Porque Cristo no entró en un lugar santo hecho por manos, una representación del verdadero, sino en el cielo mismo, para presentarse ahora en la presencia de Dios por nosotros,25 y no para ofrecerse a sí mismo muchas veces, como el sumo sacerdote entra al Lugar Santísimo cada año con sangre ajena. 26 De otra manera le hubiera sido necesario sufrir muchas veces desde la fundación del mundo; pero ahora, una sola vez en la consumación de los siglos, se ha manifestado para destruir el pecado por el sacrificio de sí mismo.

Jesus came to earth to be the our sacrifice so he could go into the presence of God, not in the holy of holies, but into the presence of God in the heavens in our place. To go before the throne of God and to say you see these people they are mine, I am the sacrifice for there sin, it is finished on the cross, they are forgiven once for all. The Lord through Jesus makes a way for us to be right with God.

The Lord through Jesus Christ makes a way for his presence, not just to dwell in our midst, but to dwell inside of us...

Ephesians 2:22 (ESV)

In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

22 en quien también vosotros sois juntamente edificados para morada de Dios en el Espíritu.

The apostle Paul speaking about the church, is saying you people, who make up the church, you are the dwelling place of God. God dwells with you, his presence is in you, we are the dwelling place of God. Paul says in Corinthians...

1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV)

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

19 ¿O no sabéis que vuestro cuerpo es templo del Espíritu Santo, que está en vosotros, el cual tenéis de Dios, y que no sois vuestros?

The presence of God is with in you through the Holy Spirit, his presence is there to protect you and provide for you and to pursue you in love and keep you on the right path, to remind you of God’s word to convict you of sin.

The Lord through Jesus Christ also makes a way to communicate with you… listen to what the writer of Hebrews says

Hebrews 4:14–16 (ESV)

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

14 Teniendo, pues, un gran Sumo Sacerdote que trascendió los cielos, Jesús, el Hijo de Dios, retengamos nuestra fe.

What is our confession? other translations say hold fast to the faith we possess? In essence hold fast to the truths about Christ. Hold fast to the truths God has revealed in the scriptures. Hold fast to the words to the communication God has left us, do not give up hold on tightly because God through Jesus made a way for you to be right with God, he made a way for your presence to dwell with you and he has preserved the Scriptures to communicate with us. Hold ion tight to your faith and do not let go. Why?

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

15 Porque no tenemos un sumo sacerdote que no pueda compadecerse de nuestras flaquezas, sino uno que ha sido tentado en todo como nosotros, pero sin pecado. 16 Por tanto, acerquémonos con confianza al trono de la gracia para que recibamos misericordia, y hallemos gracia para la ayuda oportuna.

God not only made a way for to communicate with us through the scriptures, but he also made a way for us to communicate with him. We no longer have to come to God through a levitical priest, no we have a great high priest his name is Jesus and because he lived in this world he knows what you are going through, he can sympathize with us, so let us run to Jesus, let us run to the throne of grace so we can receive mercy, grace and help in the time of need.