A Peek Inside the Tabernacle
posted by on 03/29/09
Have you ever gotten lost while trying to read through Leviticus and Numbers? You dutifully stumble through your three chapters for the day, only to close your Bible wondering, “What was all that about?” Me too! I knew God included them for a purpose, but I would always seem to get hung up on all those bewildering details and specific descriptions of just exactly how God wanted the Tabernacle to be.
Last weekend our family had a great vacation to Pennsylvania for a visit with our Aunt Judy and Uncle Wayne. We had a blast playing pool, ping-pong, foosball, basketball, celebrating Grandpa’s birthday, and enjoying Aunt Judy’s delectable meals. On our way home we stopped at Cacapon State Park for an inspirational outdoor Sunday Service with several other homeschooled families.
But a highlight of the trip for me was Saturday, when our Aunt and Uncle took us on a nearby tour of a replica of the Old Testament Tabernacle. It was much simpler than I thought! Unfortunately photography 
was not allowed inside, but we all now have a clear mental picture of the brasen altar, the golden candlestick, the Ark of the Covenant, the veil which set apart the Holy of Holies, and the overall size of the Tabernacle and its 
furnishings. We were blessed with an excellent tour guide who made learning about the significance of each item in the Tabernacle a fun experience, and who even took the time to answer our 
personal questions. The tour totally transformed my perspective of the Tabernacle! Now I am looking forward to reading the Old Testament, because I have the bigger picture and will be able to appreciate better the precise instructions 
God gave for building, using, and maintaining His holy habitation, as well as the symbolism it holds for our bodies as tabernacles of the Holy Spirit.
Wow very good. Thank you for writing that up Daniel. It happens I’m in Numbers right now and the reminder was a good one: that what God does, he does well and there is an important order to each thing He includes in His Word.
Wow! I heard a little about your trip from Esther. Sounds fascinating! We’ll have to keep that on our family’s “places we want to go someday” list!
Happy Birthday Grandpa! Congratulations on 84 years!
Thanks for this excellent report, Daniel. It really did help the Old Testament to come alive! By the way, I did notice some great pictures at BiblePlaces.com from another Tabernacle model that is very similar.
Make sure to check out the Wilkes Team Blog and Hynes Family News for a good report and a bunch of great pictures from the Sunday church service at Cacapon!
Thank you Robert for those extra links! Although that Tabernacle replica looks a little different, the main idea is basically the same. Great pictures!
What a wonderful trip that must have been! Spenging time with family is always a treat.
It was a joy to see you all too. Thank you for taking the time to spend Sunday with us.
You certainly wetted my appetite! I hope there will be a day in the future when we can tour such a remarkable sounding monument.
Your Aunt Judy knows how to pour on the hospitality. The “picture” in our mind of the Tabernacle is well worth a thousand words. From beginning to end this was a special trip.
Sounds like an incredible trip. Maybe someday we will have the opportunity of seeing the temple replica. It must have been insightful.