YESHUA As Our Tabernacle
Last month we learned how the
structure of the Tabernacle in the wilderness was a shadow of Yeshua.
This month, we will continue to
learn some exciting things about this same theme.
We know that the Mishkan
(Tabernacle) in the wilderness was a copy, a duplicate of the Mishkan that is
in heaven. Hebrews {9:11} “But Messiah being a high priest of good
things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands,
that is to say, not of this building; {9:12} Neither by the blood of
goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place,
having obtained eternal redemption for us”. Therefore what was done in the
earthly Mishkan was a duplicate of what was being done in the heavenly Mishkan.
It is like a “dress rehearsal” for the exciting time when we live with Yeshua
for ever.
As we pass through “the Way” which
is the first entrance into the courtyard of the tabernacle, we cannot go
further until we stop at the Brazen Altar. The brazen altar of sacrifice is the Old Testament type of
the cross. This is where we offer up our sacrifice to The Most High. We are the
sacrifice. (Rom 12:1). No one could enter the tabernacle unless they came
prepared to offer up a sacrifice showing a need of divine forgiveness.
The fire of the altar of sacrifice was first kindled by a
direct act of God. "And the glory of the Lord appeared unto the
people, and there came out a fire from before the Lord--(probably from the
pillar of fire and cloud)--and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and
the fat, which when all the people saw they shouted and fell on their
faces" (Lev. 9:23-24). This was done to impress the people in the most
solemn manner that the fire on that altar was God's fire; and had a most awful
significance. We observe here also that the fire on the altar was to be kept
burning forever. "And the fire on the altar shall be burning on it. It
shall not be put out . . . the fire shall be burning upon the altar,
it shall never go out" (Lev. 6:12-13).
Careful tending of the fire was needed daily. If the fire
went out, there was no promise from the Most High that He would ever re-kindle
it again.
Next we come face to
face with the Brazen Laver. The brazen laver is a type of the Holy Spirit. This
is where we are cleansed and sanctified by the washing of water by the word.
(Eph 5:26) John refers to the functions of both the brazen altar of sacrifice
and the brazen laver in the following verse:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins [brazen altar: cross: Jesus Christ], and to cleanse us [brazen
laver: water: Holy Spirit] from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).
The Tabernacle provided a daily reminder to the Children of Israel
that their God was a covenant-keeping God.
The priests had to be set apart and cleansed for service.
We, as believers, need to be set apart in service to our God. In 1 John 1:9, we
are promised that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. He sets us apart and
cleanses us so that we can be of service for Him.
On the table of showbread were 12 loaves – one for each
tribe. They were to be replaced every Shabbat and the old ones were to be eaten
by the priests. Amazing was the fact that despite the hot climate, the loaves
never got stale or mouldy.
Another wonderful picture of Yeshua in the Tabernacle was
the altar of incense. The rising smoke form the incense was representative of
the prayers wafting upwards to The Most High.
In Hebrews 7:25 we read “He ever lives to make intercession
for them”.
Our Messiah, Yeshua, is constantly before the Father of
heaven and earth pleading our case.
The incense had healing properties that provided constant
healing to the priest who would breathe in the aroma. Yeshua provided healing
for our bodies by the stripes that He bore. Isaiah 53
All of these shadows and typologies are also found in the
Temple. The Temple was a building that replaced the Tabernacle in structure and
practice. It was a more permanent house of worship for Israel.
How faithful our God is to provide a plan so perfect and
complete. It reminds us of His greatness. We need to stay in close relationship
to Him to stay healthy both spiritually and physically.
Shalom!
Lynda MacDonald
