A Life in Exile

The garden was a special place made for man. Not only was it for him to work in and watch over, but it was a place where God could live in fellowship with his creation. It was a lovely existence until it wasn’t. Sin messed it all up.

Even though the relationship between man and God was broken, that didn’t mean God’s original plan changed. Living among man or tabernacling with man has been the goal from the beginning, and those of us who know Christ as Savior look forward to the day when God will again make his dwelling among men in the new heaven and new earth. But, what does that have to do with our lesson from the Old Testament today? Well, everything, because the writer of Hebrews got the connection between the first tabernacle in the wilderness and the final glorious tabernacle to come.

There’s a pattern set by God.

Hebrews is written to Jewish believers in Christ at a time when they were facing trials and persecution which led to the temptation to return to their Jewish ways. His goal is to show them the supremacy of Christ to keep them focused on the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He also shows them that Christ is the plan from the beginning.

Now the main point of what is being said is this: We have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not man.

Hebrews 8:1-2 CSB

Everything established by God is done for a purpose and to reflect what is to come in the restored Kingdom. For this reason, Moses received specific instructions about how to build a tabernacle in the wilderness.

These [the earthly priests] serve as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For God said, Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain. But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been established on better promises.

Hebrews 8:5-6

In quoting Exodus 25:40, the writer of Hebrews reminds the believers that the priesthood, the tabernacle, and even the covenant all foreshadowed the perfection to come through Christ, the new covenant, and God’s dwelling among men. If the Israelites had kept these things perfectly, they would have been blessed by God, but they didn’t. Priests were corrupt and failed in their duties. The tabernacle didn’t last (nor did the Temple), and the people did not keep the covenant established between them and God but turned to idols.

God’s perfect place.

This lack of perfection in the earthly priesthood, tabernacle, and covenant is exactly why we need Jesus. Jesus had to come to fulfill all the Law and words of prophecy in order to establish a new priesthood and covenant with man. In ushering in his Kingdom, he prepared the way for the heavenly tabernacle to one day come down.

Any good we see in the tabernacle, any majesty in that first Temple, temporary though they were, still point to God—the God who desires to dwell among us.

What does it mean for us today?

When I read Hebrews in light of its original audience, I get the point. They needed reminding of God’s perfect plan in order not to be tempted to return to the Law and the earthly Temple. They needed reminding that the Christ they trusted is worthy of their faith and life. He is supreme. He’s worth sticking with through thick and thin.

But for me? Do I need to know this? Am I tempted to return to something “less than” Jesus? Maybe not in the sense of a legalistic Jewish faith, but I do often find myself tempted to fall back on self-sufficiency, when I should remember that Christ is all-sufficient. So, yes, in that way, I do need this reminder of God’s better way.

However, I see another lesson here. Just as God told Moses to be careful to make everything according to the pattern he gave him, I too must be careful to live out my life as a reflection of the pattern of Christ in me. When I live as Christ lived, I reflect that true state of tabernacling that God desires everyone to have. My pattern of life is obviously going to be imperfect and flawed, but it is still possible, on my good days—on the days when I’m letting the Spirit have his way—for others to see something eternal in me. The joy of living in harmony with God and his will is a beautiful reflection of that perfect union we’ll know in the life to come. Folks can get a glimpse of that now when I’m careful to live according to the pattern.

How about you? Are you following the pattern God’s provided? Let others see Jesus in you.

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Learning from the Past post, click HERE, or start the series from the BEGINNING.