Today our walk is not sight, we do not have a tabernacle that we go to when we walk with God, for His Holy Spirit is with us continually. Our walk with God is by faith, for we take God at His Word, and stand on the promises that He has made to us through His Word. God is allowing us to see the tabernacle that is now in Jesus Christ, and by the dimensions of this earthly tabernacle, help us to understand the heavenly Tabernacle, which is our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to see the method of approaching God, for those that might be a little slow in understand this relationship. Here we will have a picture of God's ways.

So this chapter twenty six is very detailed by earthly standards in it's dimensions, and of course this structure is done away with in and for our spiritual lives. So at the beginning of this chapter we will have a picture of the tabernacle of Moses' day, showing how it was set up in the midst of the camp of the children of Israel. So notice how the curtains were put in place around the tabernacle to enclose it, with the taches, knobs or holding pins, hold the curtains in place.

Notice how God instructed Moses that exactly 20 panels of curtains be placed on the long sides of the north and south each, with only one gate at the end. When God started giving the instructions; notice that He started with the Holy of Holies, where only the High priest could enter into the this place of communing with Him. At the head of the Holy of holies was the Ark of the covenant. As we read in the prior chapter, the ark of the covenant was the place where the two cherubims would sit on the mercy seat, placed on top of the ark of the covenant. Within the Ark of the covenant was kept the tablets of the law, the manna, but the mercy seat is always place over the law.

The Mercy seat is the place where Christ would sit, it is His position alone to to give mercy to those that by faith come to Him in repentance. This is the place where Satan wanted because he knew exactly what that mercy seat meant. So this table of shew bread, and this ark of the covenant are furniture that was kept in the Holy of Holies. At the entrance of the Holy of Holies, is a heavy vail, or curtain that separated the children of Israel from the place where God met and communed with His people. The instant that our Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross, that most precious place of the Holy of Holies; was made available to you and I and all the people that want to come in to commune with God.

This is a picture for you and I, to make it more real in our minds as to what happened on that instant that our Lord sacrificed His life for one and all time, for the sins of many, for those that come to Him in repentance. Also in the Holy of Holies was the "Altar of Incense", which is also called the golden altar, which is different from the "altar of Burnt offerings" [the brazen altar] which was outside the Holy of Holies. As you can see by the sketches, the "altar for burnt offerings" was much large than the "altar of incense", and at different times would be shaped differently; yet it would always have the four horns mounted at the four corners of the altars. The altar of Incense though had the golden staves mounted on it so it could be carried in their travels.

So the Ark, the table of shew bread, and the altar of incense were the three items that were kept in the Holy of Holies. The candlestick was placed on the south side of the first apartment of the tabernacle, opposite the table of shew bread. The candlestick represented the Light of the World. Where as the shew bread represented the body of Christ. With those two, and the alter of incense, and the table of shew bread, stood in the holy place, before the vail that was outside the ark of the testimony. Jesus Christ is the "Light of the world" and the "Bread" that was given for you, that you must have before you can enter into the Holy of Holies, which is the throne of God for where we go to obtain forgiveness. When you have that bread of life, you have the spiritual incense from God's altar in your being.

Also outside the Holy of Holies is the washing place, "the Brazen Laver on wheels", and the Altar of Burnt offerings. So lets apply this to what is happening today. First you leave your "burnt offering" for the sacrifice, then go to the "Lava" for cleansing [repentance] the outside, and then you can enter into the "outer court" of the holy of Holies to receive Christ and His forgiveness and Mercy: You enter boldly past the "vail" that was rent allowing us to enter by the "incense" of the Holy Spirit into the Holy of Holies. This takes us right to the "Ark of the covenant", which today is the very Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. God has given us this physical structure, furniture and instruments to allow us to see exactly how His method works.

If we would have gone through this chapter without reviewing the purpose of these things first, we may have lost the understanding of why it was so important to God that each of us understand. So now with these things in mind, and the pictures and sketches given beforehand; read the chapter for the dimensions of those things we can now visualize. Notice that there was a difference between the curtain panels that made up the wall around the tabernacle, from the curtain panels that were part of the tent, making up the tabernacle.

The way that Israel camped at night, the lay out of the camp, if you were to view the camp from the heavens, it would have appeared to be a five pointed star with this very tabernacle itself in the very center of the camp. With the pillar of fire shining down on the Holy of Holies itself. This picture of the camp will demonstrate the lay out of the camp.

Exodus 26:1 "Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them."

The word "tabernacle" in the Hebrew text is "mishkan"; meaning "the place of God's presence or habitation."

Exodus 26:2 "The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure."

The "cubit" or "ammah" as called in the Hebrew tongue ranges from 21 to 25 inches. It is also called the "yomed" in Judges 3:16.

Exodus 26:3 "The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another."

In the term "coupled together", it is used like the five commandments were on each of the two tablets of stone in Exodus 20:1.

Exodus 26:4 "And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second."

Exodus 26:5 "Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another."

Exodus 26:6 "And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle."

These "taches of gold", were hooks made of gold.

Exodus 26:7 "And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: L eleven curtains shalt thou make."

The curtains mentioned here were fit as the upper panels of curtains on the tabernacle tent forming the top of the tent. The word "coverings" as used in relation to the tabernacle is "ohel" and it is a tent.

Exodus 26:8 "The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure."

Exodus 26:9 "And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sexth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle."

Exodus 26:10 "And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second."

Exodus 26:11 "And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one."

Exodus 26:12 "And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle."

Exodus 26:13 "And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it."

When God said, "I will meet" it was by appointment, and this is the same word "zad" that is used in relations to the use of "side" in this verse. These panels of curtains came together and fit like a glove to give the appearance of order and beauty.

Exodus 26:14 "And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams skins dyed red, and a covering above the badgers' skins."

Exodus 26:15 "And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of chittim wood standing up."

Exodus 26:16 "Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board."

Each of these chittim boards is to be about 20 feet long and three feet wide.

Exodus 26:17 "Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle."

Then on the end of the tabernacle, these "two tenons" are mounted one against the other. "Tenon" in the Hebrew dictionary is 3027, the word; "yad; a prine root word, meaning "a hand, open hand, denoting power, means and direction." It is the entrance into the tabernacle.

Exodus 26:18 "And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward."

"Side" as used here is "Peah" in the Hebrew and it means "Region"; on the south-ward region of the tabernacle.

Exodus 26:19 "And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons."

Exodus 26:20 "And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards:"

Exodus 26:21 "And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board."

Exodus 26:22 "And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards."

This westward side of the tabernacle is the Hinder side, in the Hebrew the "Yarkah".

Exodus 26:23 "And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides."

Exodus 26:24 "And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners."

Exodus 26:25 "And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board."

Exodus 26:26 "And thou shalt make bars of chittim wood; five for the boards on one side of the tabernacle."

Exodus 26:27 "And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward."

Exodus 26:28 "And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end."

Exodus 26:29 "And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold."

Exodus 26:30 "And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashing thereof which was shewed thee in the mount."

Exodus 26:31 "And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:"

This is now talking about the vail, the door entering into the Holy of Holies. This vail was to separate the holy of holies from the people, and only the high priest could enter through this door. Matthew 27:51 tells us what happened the moment that our Lord Jesus Christ gave up His Spirit and died.

Matthew 27:50 "Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice,, yielded up the ghost."

Matthew 27:51 "And, behold, the veil of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent."

God gave this old earth a good shaking the moment that Jesus died, and that barrier that separated man from approaching God at the Holy of Holies was removed, torn apart from top to bottom. We no longer approach our Heavenly Father by the blood sacrifice of animals, but we can now approach our Heavenly Father by faith in our repentance in Jesus name. He was our blood sacrifice for one and all time.

Exodus 26:32 "And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold upon the four sockets of silver."

Exodus 26:33 "And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide into you between the holy place and the most holy."

This vail, or two part door made of heavy curtains will hang at the opening of the Holy of Holies and separate the people from the Ark of the testimony, or covenant, housed within the Holy of Holies ["the most holy"].

Exodus 26:34 "And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place."

Remember from Exodus 25 that the "mercy seat" has the two cherubims mounted on top of it, and is set on top of the Ark of the Covenant, in which the stone tablets of the law and commandments are kept.

Exodus 26:35 "And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side."

This candlestick is the seven branched lamp stand, which was to be all caste as a one piece item, not made in many parts and assembled.

Exodus 26:36 "And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twine linen, wroght with needlework."

Exodus 26:37 "And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of chittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them."

This was a beautiful picture of the children of Israel, all twelve tribes camped at night with this tabernacle placed in the center of the camp. Our Heavenly Father watching over them continually. God promised them that He would never leave them or forsake them, and these are the words of our Heavenly Father that apply to those even to our generation, if you love Him, and you visit Him in His Tabernacle, which today is our Lord Jesus Christ. This love and worship that we give our Father today is not made by man, but by our heavenly Father, God. It is by His Spirit we are drawn to Him today, and it is our Lord for Him through His Son that we become His child. Use this tabernacle of Moses' day to picture in your mind Father's love your you even today.

God has given us His method for truly worshipping Him through His Word, and the use of these examples. Today we must enter into that Holy of Holies, which today means that our Heavenly Father is the holy of holies. He is the creator of all things, and controls all things. It is at His mercy seat that we must come for forgiveness and that is where our Lord Jesus Christ is. The things that they did in Moses day, are the same things that we must do today, for we must worship Him; to love Him; and to follow His instruction; for that is the only was we can come out of the darkness of this world, and into the Light that only our Heavenly Father can give, through His Son. When Jesus Christ went to the cross and died, these needs of blood sacrifices of animals ended.

Hebrews 10:9 "Then said He, "Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God." He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second."

Hebrews 10:10 "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

It would be over 1500 years before this final offering of our Lord Jesus Christ would take place at the cross of Calvary in Jerusalem, but this is the method that our Lord set for His children to follow, to come to Him. Today God's love is extended to all people of all races, to all those that will hear the Word, and in faith, believe and come to the Father in repentance accepting the sacrifice that Jesus gave for those that would believe on Him. This is your method of approaching God today, we don't have this tabernacle with a vail at the door, for that vail was rent in two, and we can now enter into the presence of our Lord personally. It is up to you what you do with the Word of God, and whether you take that light it gives, or whether you remain in the darkness of this world.

The truth has to be in your mind before you can believe, for you have to know what you believe in. The law came first and is the school master, instructing us of how we are to worship in Christ. The bible teaches us how to love God, and be blessed by Him. No that hasn't changed one bit from Old to New Testament, God expects you to follow His instructions, and pay attention to when He tells you that all the Old blood rituals of Moses' day were fulfilled at the cross. The love required by man to God hasn't changed, obedience to His Word and ways is just as real today as then, but the daily sacrifices today is not given through the blood of animals, but in our love for Jesus Christ. Our Father is the Holy of Holies, and that is the place we come into his presence to tell him that we love Him. And that requires our love for Christ and to be obedient, for His blessings flow to those that deserve them.

Blessings flow to those people that deserve them, and you deserve them by being obedient. The picture of the requirement that God demanded from His people displayed their obedience. God demanded order, discipline, and everything in it's own place in time; but most of all at the very center was "the pillar of fire", for God's Holy Spirit is that "Consuming fire", and He had better be at the very center of your heart and mind. The Father that created your soul is your true Father. Your soul is the child that He created, that was placed in the embryo at conception in your mother's womb. God has taken away the need for a vail between you and the mercy seat, but are you fit to enter into that holy of holies? All you have to do is repent of your sins in Jesus name, and God's mercy is there for you. Let Him know you love Him, for your love is the only sacrifice that you can give Him today.