Exodus 25:1-40
Q.1. What was Moses commanded to construct? Why? How did he know what to build? Who was to contribute to build it? From where did they get the offerings? – (Exo.25:1-9)
With the covenant ratified, Moses was commanded – Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them (Exo.25:8). This special dwelling place would allow God to dwell among His people. Moses had been shown what to do in constructing the Tabernacle and its furniture. God commanded – See that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain (Exo.25:40 c.f. Exo.25:9). The materials were to be contributed by Israel as a freewill offering – Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution (Exo.25:2). God stipulated – 3 This is the contribution which you are to raise from them: gold, silver, and bronze, 4 blue, purple and scarlet material, fine linen, goat hair, 5 rams’ skins dyed red, porpoise skins, acacia wood, 6 oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 7 onyx stones and setting stones for the ephod and for the breast piece (Exo.25:3-7). God had told Moses, and Abraham generations before him, that Israel would plunder Egypt (Gen15:14; Exo.3:21-22;11:2-3; 12:35-36). It is unlikely that Israel would have asked for these articles if not prompted to do so by God. He knew why these articles would be needed in the wilderness. They could only give because God had prospered them.
Q.2. Was the Ark large? How was it made? What was it for? Where was the Mercy Seat? What was the point of the Cherubim? Why was the Mercy Seat so important? – (Exo.25:10-22)
The Ark of the Covenant was a wooden box of 2 ½L x 1 ½W x 1 ½H cubits (i.e. 131 x 79 x 79 centimetres). It was overlaid with gold inside and outside. It was carried by inserting gold overlaid poles into gold rings attached to it (Exo.25:10-15). It contained – the ark of testimony which I will give you (Exo.25:16 c.f. Dt.31:26). We learn from Hebrews that it contained a golden jar of manna, Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tablets on which were written the Ten Commandments (Heb.9:4). The Mercy Seat formed the lid of the ark on which stood the two gold cherubim that looked down and whose wings covered the Mercy Seat. God promised – There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel (Exo.25:22). The Mercy Seat was the Propitiatory on which the blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement. This enabled God’s wrath against sin to become a smile of acceptance. Jesus symbolized this in His Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector in which the tax collector says – God be propitious toward me the sinners (Lk.18:13). John says of Christ – He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 Jn.2:2). Jesus is the means of turning God’s anger against our sins into acceptance with a holy God.
Q.3. How was the Table made? How was it carried? What was it for? How was the Lampstand made? What was its purpose? How did Moses know what to do? – (Exo.25:23-40)
The table for the showbread was likewise made of wood and overlaid with gold. It had gold rings attached for transportation. Additionally – 29 You shall make its dishes and its pans and its jars and its bowls with which to pour drink offerings; you shall make them of pure gold. 30 You shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times (Exo.25:29-30). The lamp stand complete with snuffers and trays was to be made of pure gold with – … its lamps seven in number; and they shall mount its lamps so as to shed light on the space in front of it (Exo.25:37 c.f. Exo.25:31-39). All was to comply exactly with the pattern that God had shown Moses on the mountain (Exo.25:40).