TEACHER BIBLE STUDY – Prep Time Thirteen of the Last Sixteen Chapters of the Book of Exodus Consist of Instructions for Building the Tabernacle

Preschool Teacher Guide Unit 6, Session 2: The Tabernacle Was Built

Preschool Teacher Guide Session Title: The Tabernacle Was Built Bible Passage: Exodus 35:5-40:38 Big Picture Question: Why did God’s people need a tabernacle? God’s people needed a place to meet with God and worship Him. Key Passage: Exodus 20:1-17 Unit Christ Connection: God instructed His covenant people how to live holy lives in an unholy world. This sustained their relationship with God until the perfect plan was revealed through Jesus Christ.

TEACHER BIBLE STUDY – Prep Time Thirteen of the last sixteen chapters of the Book of Exodus consist of instructions for building the tabernacle. The word tabernacle means “dwelling place.” The tabernacle was a portable tent where God met with His people. God had a great purpose for the tabernacle. (See Ex. 29:45-46.)

Moses had been on the mountain talking with God for 40 days. During that time, God wrote the Ten Commandments, the words of the covenant, on tablets. Moses called all of the Israelite community together and gave them the instructions God had given him. (Ex. 24:3-4) God’s directions for building the tabernacle were very detailed. God was not trying to burden the people; He was trying to show them His holiness and absolute authority. God appointed Bezalel and Oholiab to oversee the building of the tabernacle, giving them wisdom, understanding, and craftsmanship. Every skilled person “whose heart moved him” eagerly worked on the tabernacle of the Lord. (See Ex. 35:30-35; 36:1-6.)

God gave the Israelites the tabernacle as a visual picture of His dwelling with them. The tabernacle was a temporary place for God’s glory to dwell until the coming of Christ. (2 Cor. 4:6) Every part of the tabernacle was designed to illustrate God’s relationship with His people. Christ is the New Testament fulfillment of the Old Testament tabernacle. John 1:14 says that “the Word became flesh and took up residence among us.” Jesus made His dwelling with men. He tabernacled with them. (Rev. 21:3)

As you teach kids about the building of the tabernacle, show them God’s desire to be with His people. Emphasize that Jesus was God’s plan to bring people back to Himself.

Welcome/Transition Time (20 minutes) Lesson (15-20 minutes) Snack/Activities (20-30 minutes) Wrap Up (20 minutes)

Preschool Teacher Guide Unit 6, Session 2: The Tabernacle Was Built

WELCOME/TRANSITION TIME (20 minutes)

Greet preschoolers as they arrive. Also greet their parents, and see that your church’s security procedures are complete. Encourage kids to work on the activity page before selecting another activity you have set out, such as blocks or puzzles.

Color Page/Activity Sheet: Circle Tabernacle Treasures - provided • Crayons or colored pencils • color/activity sheet, 1 per child

As kids work on the page, talk about the title of the song “Give You Glory.” Tell the boys and girls that today they will hear about making the tabernacle; when it was completed, the Bible says “the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” Circle items that would have been in the tabernacle. Hint: For some special items, God gave instructions for how to make them easier to carry. Talk about how they carried some things such as the ark of the covenant: God told them to attach rings to the corners of the ark and put carrying poles through rings; they could carry the ark with the poles. (See Exodus 37:1-5.)

Build a Block Courtyard- provided “Tabernacle Picture” Note: The courtyard was 150-by-75 feet; the tabernacle was 15-by-45 feet. Two rectangles. Show the picture of the tabernacle. Show the curtain around the courtyard. Place masking tape outlines on the floor for the courtyard and tabernacle. Ask the boys and girls to outline with blocks the courtyard with the tabernacle. Say Do you remember that at Mount Sinai the people could not touch the mountain? It had a boundary around it to keep them safe. At the tabernacle, the fence around the courtyard protected people from wandering where only the priests could go.

Transition to Lesson Transition cue: Ring the bell, flip the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for children to copy to gain attention. Gather the boys and girls and move to the large group area. If you would like, place the ring of bells over your wrist so that it will jingle as you move to the large group area. Say God told the Israelites exactly how He wanted them to make the tabernacle and the special clothes for the priests. The high priest had the most special clothing of all. God said to attach bells to the high priest’s robes. People could hear the bells make soft jingling sounds when the high priest went about his duties. We will hear more about the tabernacle in our Bible story.

Preschool Teacher Guide Unit 6, Session 2: The Tabernacle Was Built

.LESSON (15-20 minutes)

Worship Music Classroom DVD contains worship songs for each unit that the children will enjoy learning. Unit 6 DVD

Story Time

Say: Do you remember the mountain where God talked to Moses? (Mount Sinai) Does anybody remember how long they talked on the mountain? (40 days) While they were talking, God said to tell the Israelites to make a sanctuary, or place of worship, also called a tabernacle, for God. They could see that He was among them. The people would have a place to meet with Him and worship Him. God loved His people. This way everyone would know that He was their God. God showed Moses exactly how to make it. Sometimes when God told His people what to do, they said, “Yes, we will do it.” But they didn’t do it. Do you think they built the tabernacle like God said to do? Do you think they grumbled, or were they excited about doing what He said?

THE BIBLE STORY (2 year old teachers can reference the large story card in the classroom) The Tabernacle Was Built Exodus 35:4–40:38

When Moses was on the mountain talking to God, God said, “Tell the Israelites to make a sanctuary for Me so that I may be with them.” God gave Moses very detailed instructions for building the tabernacle and everything that went inside it. “Make it exactly like I show you,” God said. So when Moses went down the mountain, he gathered the entire Israelite community together. He told them everything God had said. He asked them to bring materials: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; animals skins; wood; oil; spices; and gemstones. Moses called for anyone who was good at building and making things to make everything the Lord had commanded. This included the tabernacle and all its pieces, the ark of the covenant, the table for the bread of the Presence, the golden lampstand, and many other parts. Every Israelite who wanted to give brought an offering for the tabernacle. People came with gold jewelry; blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; animal skins; wood; oil; spices; and gemstones. God gave two men, Bezalel (BEHZ uh lehl) and Oholiab (oh HOH lih ab), special skills for building and creating things. Bezalel, Oholiab, and all the skilled people worked together to build the tabernacle for God. At the same time, people kept bringing offerings of what they had. Pretty soon, the craftsmen

Preschool Teacher Guide Unit 6, Session 2: The Tabernacle Was Built came to Moses and said, “The people are bringing more than enough. We don’t need all of this to build the tabernacle as God instructed.” So Moses told the Israelites to stop bringing their offerings. Everyone working on the tabernacle built it just as God had instructed Moses. They made a wooden frame with silver bases to hang the curtains and roof of the tent. Everything was done exactly as God had said. Inside the tabernacle, the people made a veil. They made an ark, a table, a lampstand, and many other parts. Every part had its special purpose and was made just as God had said. When the time had come, God told Moses how to set up the tabernacle. God told him how to anoint the tabernacle so that it would be holy. God told Moses to bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tabernacle. Aaron put on the holy clothing that God had instructed the craftsmen to make, and Moses anointed him to be priest. Aaron’s sons were also anointed so that they would serve God as priests too. Moses did exactly what God commanded, and the tabernacle was finished. God was in a thick cloud. When it covered the tabernacle, God’s glory filled the tent. God made a sign for the people: If the cloud covered the tabernacle, the people would stay where they were. When the cloud lifted from the tabernacle, the Israelites would move and take the tabernacle with them. The cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle during the day, and fire was inside the cloud at night. Every one of the Israelites could see it as they traveled. Christ Connection: God instructed the Israelites to build a tabernacle so that He could dwell with them. God desires to be with His people. As part of His plan of salvation, God sent Jesus to “tabernacle,” or dwell, with people on earth.

Review/Key Passage • Key Passage Poster • Big Picture Question Poster

• What is the man doing in this picture? (making a curtain) • Were the people happy to do what God said? (yes) • How do you know? (They brought so many offerings for the tabernacle that Moses had to tell them to stop. They had enough of everything.) • What were some things people brought? (gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; animals skins; wood; oil; spices; gemstones) • Did they do exactly what God said? (Yes!) • When the tabernacle was finished, how did the people know that God had moved in? (A thick cloud covered the tabernacle, and God’s glory filled the tent.) • How did they know when to move and take the tabernacle with them? (when the cloud lifted) Before God moved in, Moses did one other thing so that the tabernacle would be holy. He anointed it, and he anointed Aaron and his sons to be the priests in the tabernacle. Anoint means to put special oil on something or someone to show he is set aside for something special. [Pretend to pour oil on something. Ask kids to copy you.] Say Why did God’s people need a tabernacle? God’s people needed a place to meet with God and worship Him. One day, Jesus would come live on earth. He would show people what God is like and

Preschool Teacher Guide Unit 6, Session 2: The Tabernacle Was Built

SNACK/VIDEO (20-30 minutes) Snack Signal for cleanup time using the countdown video or whatever method you prefer. Take a bathroom break and wash hands before the snack. Ask for volunteers to help set up and serve the snack. Remind kids to wait until everyone has been served before eating. Thank God for the snack.

Watch Video Show the video “The Tabernacle Was Built” (from Classroom DVD)

ACTIVITIES (20 minutes)

Wash Hands - provided classroom sink or basin of water hand soap (to be dispensed by teacher) paper towels Priests had to be clean before entering the tabernacle. You may practice washing hands to enter the tabernacle if there is a sink in your room. (If your room is not equipped for water play, pretend you are scrubbing your hands.) Wet hands; soap them; scrub every finger and the front and back of each palm, particularly under the fingernails; rinse; dry; turn off water with a paper towel. Scrubbing is important: scrub for 20 seconds—as long as singing twice through “Happy Birthday” or once through “Great and Mighty.” Say Why did God’s people need a tabernacle? God’s people needed a place to meet with God and worship Him.

Listen to the Ten Commandments Song - provided “Ten Commandments” song beanbag Play the song or watch and move to the music of the video. At the end of the song, let each kid take a turn throwing the beanbag on a number and read the corresponding commandment. Say God told Moses and Aaron to put the Ten Commandments inside the ark of the covenant, which was in the holy of holies in the tabernacle.

Preschool Teacher Guide Unit 6, Session 2: The Tabernacle Was Built

Pick up Preschool children need to be picked up by a parent/grandparent and the adult must show the parent receipt with matching I.D. number. If the tag is missing, the adult can go to a check in kiosk and have a receipt reprinted. Welcome the second session teachers and tell them what they need to know about the children who are present.