Chapter 2
The tabernacle was a kind of big tent where the Israelites presented their offerings to God in order to worship Him and be forgiven of their sins. God told Moses that the tabernacle should be built according to the plan he was given on Mount Sinai (Exo. 26:30). Therefore, everything in the tent was according to God’s will and had a specific function. Furthermore, in the light of the New Testament, we know that everything that was written in the Old Testament is for our learning (1 Cor. 10:11). Each item in the tabernacle typifies an important spiritual reality for the Christians.
In this chapter we will study the matter of the boards of the tabernacle. At first glance, it seems that there is nothing “spiritual” about the boards, but, actually, the proper spiritual application will help us to understand our function in the Body of Christ and the way the Lord builds His church.
Exodus 26:15-25 says that the boards to be used in the tabernacle must be made of acacia wood. Each one of them must be ten cubits in length and one and a half cubits in width. All the boards must be standing up: twenty for the south side, under which there were forty sockets of silver and forty tenons; two sockets and two tenons under each board. There should also be twenty boards on the north side with the same number of silver sockets and tenons. On the west side there should be six boards and two boards for each corner.
In these verses we see forty-eight boards with two tenons at either end to strengthen the boards in their sockets that they might be secure and remain standing. The boards were of acacia wood, a sturdy wood that does not warp easily. The acacia is a tree that grows slowly, through much heavy rain, strong winds and storms. In the Bible, the plant and vegetable life generally typify our human nature. Hence, acacia wood signifies a strong, uplifted human nature. There are certain vegetables such as mushrooms that grow up and wither in the same day. However, in order for us to be useful to God, we cannot grow like a mushroom. God needs us to have an uplifted human life that has been tested and is strong, like acacia wood. Many Christians dream of having spiritual maturity instantly, that is, they want to reach the fullness of the stature of Christ overnight, yet their character is loose and they are easily discouraged in the face of difficulties. This kind of living hinders one from maturing spiritually. The proper human life that God needs is typified by acacia wood, a kind of wood that can withstand suffering and tribulation. In fact, the stronger the wind blows and tries to overthrow it, the more roots it puts out to root itself into the earth.
God allows us to pass through many sufferings so that through them our spiritual roots will grow deeper. We cannot be like the plants that grow in greenhouses, unable to resist the wind and the sun. Rather, we must be able to withstand because God has planted us in the “high mountains.” We can bear afflictions and sufferings because the trials lead us to seek God more than ever. God allows sufferings because it is through them that we no longer trust in ourselves or look at our weaknesses and we give ourselves fully into the Lord’s care so that He can complete His work of salvation in us.
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