THROUGH THE BIBLE STUDY EXODUS 28-31
The Hebrew word translated “sacrifice” is “korban”, which means “to come near, to approach… to become closely involved in a relationship with someone.” And this is why God established a sacrificial system… The sacrifices lifted man to a higher awareness of the things of God. The Hebrews approached God aware of the severity of their sin – knowing the reality of their judgment - assured that all life is God-given – overawed with God’s holiness – and thankful for God’s mercy. Every nuance of the sacrifices themselves, the tabernacle in which they were offered, and the priests who initiated them spoke of a right relationship with God.
Ultimately, Jesus was the fulfillment of the sacrificial system. And in hindsight we can see that very detail of the sacrifices, the tabernacle, and the priesthood spoke of Him. A study through the tabernacle will deepen your appreciation of the effectiveness and sufficiency of the cross and priesthood of Jesus Christ.
Tonight, I want to begin with an overview of the Tabernacle and its furnishings. A lot of this we’ve talked about, but you’ll benefit from the pictorial overview… When you first approached the Tabernacle you saw a white, linen fence – 7½’ tall - hung on bronze posts and sockets, with silver hooks and bands. Dimensions of the outer court were 150’ long x 75’ wide – about half the size of a football