ENTERING THE TABERNACLE COURTYARD

THE TABERNACLE IN THE WILDERNESS

Gloria Phifer

Last week we studied the final piece of the linen curtains surrounding the Tabernacle Courtyard. It was the Only Entrance. Which is a picture of Jesus Christ. He is The Only Way to God. He is The Only Way of salvation. He is the Only Way to Heaven and eternal life. John 14:6 “I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man comes unto The Father but by Me.” John 10:7-9. The Door of the sheep.

Jesus Christ is The Only Entrance.  The colors of the curtain were blue (Heaven) purple (royalty) scarlet (the blood of The Lamb of God.)

As we enter through the Curtain, into the courtyard we come to the Altar of burnt offering. Exodus 38:1-7. The altar was made of Acacia wood. (Hebrew for, pierced, flogged, scourged) and it was covered with “Brass.” Brass or bronze is a picture of Judgement. This is where the sacrifice was made.

LB “The Burnt-Offering Altar was also constructed of acacia wood; it was 7 ½ feet square at the top, and 4 ½ ft. high. There were 4 horns at the 4 corners, all of one piece with the rest. This altar was overlaid with bronze (brass). Then he made (Bezalel was the workman) the bronze utensils to be used with the altar. The pots, shovels, basins, meat hooks and fire ans. Next he made a bronze grating that rested upon a ledge about halfway up (in the fire box). 4 rings were cast for each side of the grating to insert the carrying poles. The carrying poles themselves were made of acacia wood, overlaid with bronze. The carrying poles were inserted into the rings at the side of the altar. The altar was hollow, with plank siding.

This is where the sacrifice for sin was made.'

Rose Guide:” a proper sacrifice was offering what was valuable and perfect, not unwanted or flawed. Sin was serious. Only shed blood, which stands for life, could pay for sin. By laying their hands on it, the Israelites identified with the animal to be sacrificed.”

Rose: “Once the priest approved the sacrifice, the worshiper would lift it onto the huge 7 ½ by 71/2 ft. bronze-covered altar and bind it to the horns at the altar’s corners solemnly, he laid his hands on the animal’s head. The priest caught its blood in a basin below.”

There was a fire under the altar. When the Tabernacle was dedicated and the sacrifice was on the altar, fire came down from Heaven and burnt it up. Leviticus 9:24.

Leviticus 10:1-2. Nadab and abihu, the sons of Aaron offered strange fire. Only the fire from The Burnt Altar could be used. The blood of the sacrifice fell down through the grating onto the fire. The two sons of Aaron brought their fire from another source.

This Burnt Altar is a picture of the cross. In order to approach God, we must come to The Cross of Jesus Christ…the sacrifice for our sins. John 1:29 The Lamb of God, Which takes away the sin of the world. John 1:36. Jesus took our judgement upon that cross. Isaiah 53: 4-12.  “For the transgression of My people was He stricken.”

God gave His Most Valued. He gave His Son for us. He took all of our judgement. When He was on that cross, all of our sins were placed upon Him…The pure, Holy Lamb of God. His blood cleanses us from all sin. Our sins were placed upon Christ and were paid for…by His Blood.

The Burnt Altar had 4 horns where the sacrifice was bound. The cross had 4 corners, the top and bottom of the beam reaching up to Heaven and the corners of the wood where Jesus arms were stretched…stretching out for mankind.

Let’s look at Psalm 118. It begins with the House of Aaron…who were the Priests of The Lord. In vs. 6 man is against this person. There are those who hate Him. He puts His confidence in The Lord. All nations are surrounding him…nation in Hebrew is “gowy”. “In the sense of massing. A foreign nation; hence a Gentile. A troop of Gentiles, heathen, nation, people. Usually non-Hebrew people”. Who surrounded Jesus at the cross?  Gentiles. In Psalm 22 9-18. 

 The Jewish people called the Romans “Dogs.”

Vs. 20 The Gate of The Lord into which the righteous enter. Who is The Gate? How do we enter? How do we become righteous?  Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 Vs. 21-22 “The Stone which the builders refused is become the Head Stone (Capstone) of the corner.” The very Stone that was needed was rejected.  Matt. 21:42-46.

Vs. 23-26. Matt. 21:1-11, Matt. 23:39. On Palm Sunday Jesus came riding upon a donkey…and the crowd was saying “Hosanna to the Son of David: blessed is He that comes in the Name of The Lord; Hosanna in the Highest.”

Ps. 118: 27 “God is The Lord, which has showed us Light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.”

On Friday, Jesus was nailed to the cross…the altar of sacrifice…He shed His Blood for us… He took our sin and our judgement upon Himself. His blood poured out at the foot of the cross. Colossians 2:9-15.

 He took all our sins and nailed it to the cross…His Blood blotted out our sins. He also spoiled satan and triumphed over him at the cross.

THE SEED OF THE WOMAN

Gloria Phifer

Isaiah 10:27 the yoke is broken because of the anointing. Christ means Anointed One.

Gen. 3:14-15 the woman and the serpent (devil) will be enemies. Her Seed would crush the enemies head and the enemy would bruise Christ’s heel.

A woman does not have the seed for conception. She has the egg and the man has the seed that fertilizes the egg. But in this 1^st prophesy of The Bible…it is speaking of The Redeemer. A Redeemer is Someone Who buys back what has been lost. Christ Jesus suffered for us. When He crushed satans head, satan bruised His heel. Christ bought back the dominion for mankind. Ps. 69:20-21, Isaiah 50:4-7…He set His face toward the cross like a flint. Isaiah 53. Psalm 22.

Isaiah 7:14 A virgin shall bear a Child and shall call His Name Emmanuel…God with us.

Isaiah 9:6-7. Unto us a Child is born. Unto us a Son is given. His Names shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father andThe Prince of Peace. And the government shall be on His shoulders.

After Malachi was written…the last book of the OT, there was silence from God for 400 years. That silence was broken by The Cry of a Baby.

Gal. 4:3-7 in the fullness of time…sent forth His Son…made by a woman. The Seed was Christ. Our Redeemer. Who took on flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14.

Luke 1:26 Mary the virgin.

1:46-56…the Magnificat.

Marriage was a binding contract, although it still wasn’t consummated. Joseph was betrothed to Mary. Matt. 1:18-25

Joseph believed the angel in his dream and took Mary as his wife but knew her not (sexually) until after The Child was born.

THE WHITE LINEN CURTAINS

Gloria Phifer

Exodus 25:8 “Let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. God’s heart was with man…wanting to be with them. In the Tabernacle we see a picture of God’s heart that would bring His Son into this world, to be a sacrifice for our sins, to present His blood as atonement for our sins. And now He is alive, sitting on the Right Hand of The Majesty on High as Our High Priest, Who continually intercedes for us.

One of my favorite scriptures John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt (Tabernacled) among us. And we beheld His glory as The Only begotten of The Father, full of grace and truth. Galatians 4:4-7. “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Why did God send His Son, in the fullness of time? What does the fullness of time mean to you? I thought of the cross…in this period of time Rome had brought crucifixion…Jesus became a curse for us to redeem us from the curse of the law. Galatians 3:13-14. Anyone who was hung on a tree according to the law was cursed. Jesus, hanging on the cross, redeemed us from the curse of the law. Thoughts?

We are going to look at the fence that enclosed the court yard of the Tabernacle and The Tabernacle itself.

Exodus 27:9-18. On the south and north side were 150 feet of curtains, the west side of the court was 75 feet. The east side was also 75 feet. On each side of the entrance there was 22 ½ feet of curtains. The entrance to the court yard was a 30 ft. wide curtain. All the curtains, except for the entrance, (which was also fine linen), were made of white fine-linen. The height was 7 ½ feet. The curtains were hung by silver rods, using silver hooks. The posts, of acacia wood, were imbedded into solid bronze bases.

As we studied the materials that were used, we saw the symbolism, the significance of each material. White, fine linen is for righteousness. These curtains were 7 ½ feet tall. Far above the height of man. Not to be attained to. If you stood next to them, you would not be able to see into the court yard. Can you imagine how bright this was as the sun shone down on the curtains?

 No person can attain to the righteousness of God on their own. Isaiah 64:6 our own righteousness is as filthy rags. The Hebrew for filthy is very daunting: “the menstrual flux. Soiling, filthy. Menstruation. Filthy rag, stained garment.” What are your thoughts?

What I see is we are stained. To me it is interesting that this would have to do with “blood.”

Isaiah 1:18”…though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” A sheep’s coat (in most cases) is white and that is where they get wool. Isaiah 53:6 “All we as sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and The Lord has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all.” Thoughts?

 There is only One cleansing agent for our sin…and it has to do with “blood”…Matthew 26:27-28. Christs blood for the remission of our sins. 1 John 1:7 “The Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” It is interesting to me that “filthy” had to do with blood and stain. And Jesus blood cleanses us from all sin. (All filthiness and stain…making us, as His sheep, white as snow…like white wool.) What are your thoughts?

Righteousness…we have no righteousness of our own…we were lost and undone…stained beyond cleanliness…as filthy rags…and then…Jesus Christ…The Anointed One…The Word made flesh came and tabernacled among us and became sin for us, on that cross…so…2 Cor. 5:21 “For He has made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

Right now, it is like I am seeing this again for the first time. I never realized that the filth had to do with blood and our righteousness has to do with Jesus blood…I had never put the two together. Thank You Lord Jesus…thank you that you have made me white as snow in Your Righteousness. Amen. How great is our God!!! What are your thoughts?

Righteousness is also part of the Armor or God that we wear. Ephesians 6:10-18. The breastplate of righteousness that covers the heart and the vital organs. Our righteousness was paid for by The Blood of The Lamb…Jesus Christ.

Exodus 27:9-10 the curtains were held together by silver hooks attached to silver rods. Earlier, when we were looking at the meaning of the materials, silver represents “Redemption.”

Our salvation, our righteousness ,hangs on and is held together by the redemption that Christ paid for us. Redeemed means to be “bought back.” To buy back that which once belonged to you and was lost or stolen. We are redeemed, bought back, by the price of The Blood of The Lamb.

1 Peter 1:18-20. Redeemed by The Blood of The Lamb. Revelation 5:9-14.

Silver in Hebrew is the word “keceph.” ‘Silver (from its pale color); by implication…money…price…silver. It comes from another word “kacaph”. To pine after, have desire, to long for, yearn for, long after. To long for deeply.” When I read this I thought of God longing after us…yearning for us…and paying the price to redeem us back to Himself.

The sockets of the pillars were brass. They stood in these sockets. As we saw in the material study, brass is for “judgement.” Psalm 19:9, Psalm 33:5, John 5:27, Isaiah 53:4-12. Jesus took our judgement on the cross.  

Next week, we will look at the Entrance…the colored curtain…to the court of the Tabernacle.

There was only One Way to enter.

MATERIALS USED FOR THE TABERNACLE IN THE WILDERNESS.

Gloria Phifer


I know this is a long list...but each material is a type and shadow of Jesus Christ and our salvation...There is so much information here...I hope you will read through it and find it a blessing...

Where I have put a *** is from a site I found “Bible History.”

Exodus 25:1-9. vs. 8 “And let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.  As we talked last week The Lord is always wanting to dwell with us. He wants to be with us. How does that make you feel, knowing He wants to be with you?  Matthew 1:23…they shall call His Name Emmanuel, which interpreted is “God with us.”

LAB footnotes: The portable nature of the Tabernacle shows God’s desire to be with His people as they traveled. The Tabernacle, it’s furnishing, and the service performed there provide a picture of the atonement that would one day come through Jesus Christ.

LAB footnotes: Much of the Tabernacle and its furniture was made of acacia wood. Acacia trees flourished in barren regions and were fairly common in OT times. The wood was brownish-orange and very hard, making it an excellent material for furniture. Acacia wood is still used in furniture making today.

Acacia (shittim) wood was the wood used for construction. In Hebrew it is “Shittah.” “The acacia from its scourging thorns.  It comes from another word “Shotet”. “To pierce, to flog, a goad, scourge. A lash, scourge, whip.

This wood is a picture of Jesus suffering for us.  Ps. 22:16, John 19:34-37, Revelation 1:7. He was pierced for us. Matthew 27:26 Pilot scourged Jesus (to whip, lash as a public punishment.) Isaiah 53:5 “With His stripes we are healed.”  What are your thoughts that the Hebrew word for acacia (shittim) word is a picture of Jesus suffering for us?   All the furniture for the Tabernacle except for the Golden Candlestick, were made of this wood.

*** 'Acacia Wood' (Incorruptible humanity) also called Shittim Wood

The Shittah tree grew in the deserts of Sinai, and the deserts around the Dead Sea. The wood is hard, very heavy, indestructible by insects, and has a fine, beautiful grain. It was remarkably luxuriant in dry places, sometimes attaining a height of twenty feet. It had lovely yellow flowers and its insect-resisting Acacia wood was used in making mummy cases. This Acacia wood undoubtedly speaks of the incorruptible humanity of Christ, for we are told that His humanity would never see corruption.

Ps 16:10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

He was the truly human One, "the man Christ Jesus". The Bible calls Him, "the son of Mary", and the "son of man". A body was prepared for Him:

Heb 10:5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.

And that body He still possesses in a glorified form. "This same Jesus" is in heaven right now and one day will return for us and glorify us also.”

Gold…for Deity. Gold in Hebrew is “Zahab.”  “To shimmer; gold, as oil, a clear sky, gold (en). As precious metal. As a measure of weight. Of brilliance, splendor”     .  When the Wise men brought gifts to The new born King they brought “gold,” a symbol of Kingship. Matthew 2:11.  Gold is also a symbol of faith. 1 Peter 1:7. We talked last week how gold is tried in the fire. As the heat is put under the gold, the dross comes to the top and it is skimmed off, until the Maker can see His reflection in that gold. Jesus is the Author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:2.

As we are looking at this gold in the Tabernacle it is the Deity of Jesus Christ, He is God.

***Gold' (Diety)

According to Ex 38 they gave 2,800 lbs. of gold. Pure Gold throughout the scriptures speaks of divinity, that which cannot be reproduced by man. Gold is made by God and comes down from God. Gold speaks of the deity of Jesus Christ. It typifies the divine glory of the Lord Jesus as "the Son of God" and "God the Son". According to Ex 38 they gave 2,800 lbs. of gold.

Jesus was none other than Jehovah in the flesh. He is "Malach Yaweh," Jehovah the King. When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up as the King in all His glory John in the New Testament tell us that it was Jesus that he saw:” John 12:41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.”

 Silver…for Redemption. Redeemed means “To be bought back.”  To buy back what had belonged to you. Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. Matt. 27:3-10. Silver is a symbol of redemption. Exodus 30:14-16. This shekel was used for atonement.  We were redeemed by The Blood of The Lamb. 1 Peter 1:18-21. Jesus is our atonement. Romans 5:11 Greek for atonement “katallage”. “Restoration to The Divine favor. Atonement, reconciliation.” 1 John 2:2 He is The propitiation for our sins… Propitiation means atonement.

***“The tabernacle stood upon sockets of silver. Both Joseph and Jesus were sold for silver. Judas was paid off in silver as the Scriptures said. Silver is redemption money. Silver is symbolic of the redemption that comes through Jesus Christ and Him alone. It prefigures the preciousness of Christ as the ransom for sinners. Notice also that there is no silver mentioned in heaven. The people will already have been redeemed.”

Brass…For Judgement John 3:14.21. Numbers 21:4-9 just as the brass serpent took the judgement of the people…Jesus hung on the cross and took our judgement as we look to Him as our Savior. Revelation. 1:15 “And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.”

***“Bronze typifies the divine character of Christ who took upon Himself the fire of God's wrath, holiness and justice by becoming a sin offering.”

Onyx stones…to carry the names of the tribes of Israel on the High Priests shoulders. Hebrew for onyx is “shoham.” “From an unused root probably mean to blanch; a gem, probably the beryl (from its pale green color): onyx. A precious stone or gem.” (All of the Hebrew and Greek are from Strong’s Concordance.)

Gem stones for the High Priests chest piece. These stones represented the twelve tribes of Israel. They were placed on his chest piece that he wore. Carrying them over his heart. Malachi 3:16-18. Vs. 17 “They shall be mine, says The Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him.” Jewel here in Hebrew means “wealth, jewel, peculiar treasure, proper, good special. Valued property.”

Fine twined linen…for Righteousness. Hebrew “shesh.” “Bleached stuff. White linen. Something bleached white, byssus, linen, fine linen. Alabaster, similar stone, marble. “Revelation 19:8 “arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Romans 14:17.  2 Cor. 5:21.

***Fine Twisted Linen

'Fine Linen' (Purity)

The linen was most interesting. Made from Egyptian flax, it was finely woven, brilliantly white, and bore a special name, "byssus". This material was used for garments for royalty and persons of rank and has been found in the tombs of the Pharaohs. Linen in one tomb was found to have 152 threads per inch in the warp and 72 threads per inch in the woof. White linen always speaks of purity and righteousness:

Rev 15:6 And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands.

Rev 3:5 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."

Rev 19:14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

The fine-twined, white linen speaks of righteousness and typifies Jesus, the Son of Man, spotless, pure, and sinless.

I Jn 3:3-5 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure...and you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.

***'Goats Hair' (Cursed sin offering)

Goats were common in those days for their milk, their meat, their skin which was used for many things such as water bottles, etc., and their hair, which was very long, dark and course, was spun and woven into cloth. The goat was a sacrificial animal. The Goat's Hair covering was the first above the tabernacle curtain. This drab color tells us of Jesus in His humility and poverty. Goatskins were worn by the poor and throughout the Bible represented extreme poverty.

And the hair speaks of Christ as the separated One, just as the hair must be separated from the goat, so Christ had to sacrifice His own covering in order to provide a covering for others.

Another interesting point about the goat is that it was used on the Day of Atonement. After the high priest completed the blood sprinkling in the holy of holies he would go into the court of the tabernacle and lay his hands on the head of the scapegoat, confessing over it all the sins of the people. The goat was then led away, by a man standing ready, into the wilderness, and there let free, to signify the carrying away of Israel's sins which God had forgiven. This reminds us of Jesus, humble and poor, becoming a curse for us, that we might have our sins carried away into the land of forgetfulness.

2 Cor 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

***'Rams skins dyed red' (Substitutionary sacrifice)

A ram is a grown male sheep and the head of the flock. A shepherd may have one or two rams in a flock of ewes to promote uniformity. The ram is forever in the eyes of the Jew as the substitute animal, faithful unto death. This is of course because God provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac on that day when Abraham's faith was revealed.

Gen 22:12-13 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

The ram's skins were dyed red to represent the sacrifice of a substitute. So Jesus as the head of the human race, the last Adam, sacrificed His own life as a substitute for all who would put their trust in Him.

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

Heb 2:17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Jn 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

***'Badger skins' (Outward appearance-unattractive)

Badger skins were the final covering, the outer covering that everyone saw. They were tough and course and very plain in their appearance. But how does this speak of Christ? It speaks of what Christ was to man. There was no outward beauty to the tabernacle proper, so it was with Christ when He came to earth when He pitched His tabernacle among men. As the prophet foretold:

Is 53:1-2 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.

What was Jesus to the Jews? nothing but a course, hard badger skin. What is Jesus to the world today? nothing but a course, hard badger skin. But to those of us who have opened up our hearts to Him He is much much more. He is the "altogether lovely One", He is the "Rose of Sharon", the "Lily of the Valley", and the "Fairest among 10,000" to our souls. If anyone desired to look beyond the outer flesh covering they would see the transfiguration of Christ's glory. "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Jesus says, "Come and see".

Jn 1:10-14 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

 Ps 16:10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

He was the truly human One, "the man Christ Jesus". The Bible calls Him, "the son of Mary", and the "son of man". A body was prepared for Him:

Heb 10:5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.

And that body He still possesses in a glorified form. "This same Jesus" is in heaven right now and one day will return for us and glorify us also:

1 Jn 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Rom 8:18-21 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

***'Oil' (The Spirits anointing)

The oil was obtained by crushing the olive berries of the land. Oil, as we know, was the liquid used when the prophet, priest, and king were anointed in Old Testament times. And because of passages like:

1 Jn 2:20-21 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

1 Sam 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

Is 32:15 Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest.

We have scriptural authority for seeing the oil as a type of the Holy Spirit. In the Bible the olive tree is symbolic of many things:

a) Beauty

Hos 14:6 His branches shall spread; his beauty shall be like an olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon.

b) Fertility

Ps 52:8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.

c) Richness

Judg 9:9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

The Holy Spirit, then, as olive oil, is the One who possesses all that man needs for life and godliness. Richness, fertility, and beauty are all His in an abundant measure. Jesus was anointed by God as prophet, priest, and king. Everything Christ did was filled with richness, fertility, and beauty because He was the temple of the Holy Spirit and filled with all fulness:

Jn 3:34 "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.

It is interesting that the olives weren't beaten or pressed but crushed. So Jesus was crushed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Heb. Oil Press) and then by the very wrath of God on a Roman cross, as the Scriptures say:

Is 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to crush him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

The anointing oil was restricted for tabernacle use only, anyone violating the command was put to death. The olive oil was to be pure and nothing but pure because it represents the HOLY Spirit of Christ. The word "Christ" is the Greek word for the Hebrew "Mashiach" (Messiah) which means "the anointed One". It literally means "to smear" as with oil. The oil was also used to anoint the Holy Tabernacle and its furniture, and to light the golden lampstand.

'Spices for the oil and incense' (Sweet smelling fragrance to God)

There were three spices to be added to the frankincense and oil:

Ex 30:34 And the LORD said to Moses: "Take sweet spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, and pure frankincense with these sweet spices; there shall be equal amounts of each.

a) Stacte

A powder from the hardened drops of the fragrant resin found in the bark of the Myrrh bush. The word means "a drop".

b) Onycha

A powder from the horny shell cover of a clam-like mollusk found in the Red Sea. When burnt, this powder emits a penetrating aroma. The Hebrew word means- "aromatic shell". The Red Sea is an isolated warm water pocket of the Indian ocean and is known for its peculiar subspecies of mollusks.

c) Galbanum

A brownish pungent resin that exudes from the lower part of the stem of a Ferula plant. This herb plant is found at the Mediterranean Sea and has thick stalks, yellow flowers, and fern-like green foliage. It has a musky, pungent smell and is valuable because it preserves the scent of a mixed perfume, and allows of its distribution over a long period of time.

In these spices or perfumes we see Jesus as the sweet smelling aroma bringing joy to the Father's heart. When mixed with the olive oil we see the sweet illuminating work of the Spirit of Christ, and when mixed with frank-incense we see the sweetness of prayer as a "sweet smelling aroma in God's nostrils". How fitting that these perfumes would point to Christ.

Jn 8:29 "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."

Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

2 Cor 2:15-16 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

 These were the materials used for the Tabernacle…a picture of Jesus Christ and the salvation He paid for us.

 

  Bible we must remember that it is completely God-breathed. When we look at each Word we must remember that every Word is specifically God-breathed. That was the 

THE TABERNACLE IN THE WILDERNESS

Gloria Phifer

                                        

MOUNT SINAI

                                                         

            Psalm 90:1 “Lord You have been our Dwelling Place in all generations.

The Lord has always wanted to dwell with man. As David asked “What is man that you are mindful of him?” Why does God want to dwell with us and in us?  One of my favorite Names of God is Emmanuel…God with us.

John 1:14  The Word was made flesh and tabernacled among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of The Father, full of grace and truth.

The children of Israel were delivered out of bondage.  In the 3^rd month of their travel in the wilderness they reached Sinai.  The people were to prepare for God’s coming to the Mount of Sinai. Exodus 19:1-15. 

 Notice in vs 3, even though no one, not even animals, could come near the mount, Moses went up to God.  Vs. 6 what did The Lord want these people to be? What are your thoughts on this chapter? 1 Peter 2:5 and 9. Who are we unto The Lord? What do priests do?

 Exodus 19: 11-25. On the 3^rd day, God manifested Himself on the mountain top. What a fearful happening. In vs 20 God called Moses to the top of the mountain. Moses came back down and in chapters 20-23 Moses tells the people God’s law.

 In Chapter 24 …I find this very interesting vs. 9-18 Moses, Aaron, Nadab, abihua and 70 of the elders of Israel went up the mountain with Moses and they saw The God of Israel and they ate and drank with Him. This was a Covenant meal. What are your thoughts? 

 After this Moses went up into the mount. What did the mountain look like to the children of Israel?  The glory of The Lord looked like a devouring fire. Moses was on the Mountain with God for 40 days and 40 nights.

 (Remember when Jehovah God first appeared to Moses, it was in a burning bush…a bush that looked like it was on fire, but was not consumed.)  Exodus 1-4.  Now the top of Mount Sinai appears to be on fire.

Hebrews 12:18-29. We have come to Mount Sion…unto The New Covenant, we have received a kingdom that can never be shaken. Vs. 29 for our God is a consuming fire.   Thoughts?

Moses is now on the mount, in the Presence of Jehovah God. He is given the 10 commandments on tables of stone. From Exodus 25-31 The Lord gives Moses extensive instruction on the Tabernacle. The materials, the structure, even the names of the men who God had given the ability to make this Tabernacle.

This Tabernacle would be placed in the camp of the Israelites. As we will see, it is a picture of salvation. A type and shadow of God’s plan for salvation. A picture of His Son, Jesus Christ.

There is much detail and symbolism. We have seen in our studies how salvation was a mystery hidden from the foundation of the earth. The Tabernacle is like a mystery…a foretelling of Christ’s suffering and ministry.

THE MAD PROPHET

Gloria Phifer

You have heard of “The mad scientist?” We are going to be find “the mad prophet”.

We are going to see someone who I am very surprised The Lord used…but He did.

The children of Israel have been rescued from Egypt. Moses is leading them through the wilderness. They have been to Mount Sinai, where The Lord gave them the law. The Tabernacle has been made, following the patterns and instructions, Jehovah God gave to Moses. They have a cloud that leads them by day and becomes a pillar of fire by night. When the cloud moves…they break camp and move with it. (How wonderful would that be???)

The Tabernacle is set up in camp when they stop. The tribes are put in the order God commanded, as they camp.

They are nearing Canaan (the land of Israel). The fear of them are on the nations. This is when we come to a Moabite king named Balak. Numbers 22:1-4 “What was Balak afraid of?” LAB actually says they were all “terrified.” (I looked up Balak in Hebrew it means…”Waster…devastator.” Not a good definition. Thoughts?

LAB footnotes. “Chemosh, the national god of Moab was worshiped as a god of war. This false god, however, was no help to this nation when it fought against Israel. Israel’s God was stronger than any of Canaan’s war gods.” (So here we see people who are idol worshippers.)

Numbers 22:4-5 Notice Balak says these people arriving from Egypt “are threatening me.”

Sounds scared to me.  What did Balak do? Who did he send? Who did he send them to?

What did The Lord say to Abraham? Genesis 12:1-3. What will happen to anyone who curses Abraham and his descendants?  We need to remember this in our country. God will bless the nation that blesses Israel.

Now, Balaam is a strange character. Lab footnotes. “Why would God speak through a sorcerer like Balaam? God wanted to give a message to the Moabites and they had already chosen to employ Balaam. So, Balaam was available for God to use, much as he used the wicked pharaoh to accomplish His will in Egypt. Balaam entered into his prophetic role seriously, but his heart was mixed. He had some knowledge of God but not enough to forsake his magic and turn wholeheartedly to God. Although the story leads us to believe he turned completely to God, later passages in The Bible show that Balaam couldn’t resist the tempting pull of money and idolatry.”

In Hebrew Balaam means “not of the people.” From another word…”a failure, not at all, neither, no, none, nothing. To fail, by implication to wear out. Decay, old, spend, waste.” So, sounds like Balaam was “a waste…a failure.”

Numbers 22:7-17 what was offered to Balaam to curse the people of Israel? What did Jehovah God tell him?  vs. 12 “These people are BLESSED.”

Vs. 14-16 Balak insisted. Who did he send next?  Balak upped the price.

Vs. 18-19 God had already given His instructions to Balaam…but he prayed again. What do you think was in his heart? Did he hope Jehovah God would change His mind? Was the money tempting?

 2 Peter2:14-17 gives us a look into Balaam’s heart. Peter calls him “The madness of a prophet.”

Vs. 20 what did God tell him? What was Balaam to do?  Do you think God had changed His mind?

Let’s read Numbers 22:21-35. It looks like God had not changed His mind from the 1^st instructions he gave Balaam…”Do not go…cannot curse these people…they are blessed!!!”

In vs. 22 “God was angry that Balaam was going.”

  Who did God send to meet Balaam? What was the angel going to do?  Who saved Balaam? How did Balaam treat his always faithful donkey (she was a she)?  

What does it tell us about a man who is cruel to his animal? (Wonder if he had a wife…yikes). Proverbs 12:10 a righteous man regards the life of his animal: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

 What are your thoughts that the donkey saw the angel first?

Out of a donkey’s mouth, she defends herself. Vs. 28-30. God given words….ability to speak.

I know of no other time in The Bible when an animal speaks. Oh, and in my life, I have never heard it. I remember in the movie Chronicles of Narnia when the children arrived in Narnia, a beaver came up to them talking. The oldest girl said something like, “he’s a beaver…he shouldn’t be speaking.”

Notice in vs. 29 Balaam reason for hurting his donkey was she made him look like a fool. He told her if he had a sword he would have killed her.   Huh…your donkey is speaking and you are so angry you are talking back?  Hello??? Thoughts?  Temper, temper.

Vs. 31-32 what happened when The Lord opened Balaam’s eyes? What did he see? Who saved Balaam’s life?  I love in vs. 32 that the angel takes up for the donkey…he would have spared her life…but not Balaam’s. (I like that he took up for her and would have spared her.)

Vs. 34 what does Balaam say to the angel? What you have sinned? Think so? What is Balaam willing to do now?

Vs. 35 what are the angel’s instructions?  I noticed Balaam went on with Balak’s officials? Do you think they were with him during this episode?  And, I am sure that faithful donkey carried him all the way…bless her heart.

Vs.36-37 ah ha…Balak was going to reward Balaam richly. Vs. 38-41. Vs. 38 I find it interesting when Balaam said he doesn’t have the power to say whatever he wants. He will now speak only the message God puts in his mouth. (Lab). I guess if God can put a message in a donkey’s mouth, He can sure put one in Balaam’s mouth.

Numbers 23:1-5.The Lord gave Balaam the message for king Balak. Let’s look at the message…vs 6-10. Balaam says the name of Jacob.  He declares that Jacob descendants are a numerous as dust. He calls them “Israel’s people.” (Remember Jehovah God gave these promises to Abraham’s seed. God changed Jacob’s name to “Israel.”) These were Jehovah God’s words…not Balaam’s.

In the King James Version it says vs. 9 “From the tops of the rocks I see Him, and from the hills I behold Him…”   I personally believe he was seeing Christ. We will look at a picture of the way the camp was laid out…it was in a shape of a cross. (And we will be coming to another incredible prophesy given.) The very last part of vs 10...reminded me of Christ also. “Let me die the death of the Righteous, and let my last end be like His.”  (Resurrection…is what I think of because he said… “Let my last end be like His.)

Okay now, Balak is really upset!!! Balaam, with God’s words in his mouth, blessed Israel. Vs.11-16. So Balak thinks if it is another mountain…there will be a different outcome. He sure is persistent…of course, he is terrified.

Vs. 17-22. God is not a man that He should lie. God is Truth. I like “Or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” God is good on His Word…He never breaks it. Vs. 21 what doesn’t God see in Jacob? No iniquity…no perverseness in Israel. That is how God sees us, through Christ. No condemnation. No remembering our sins. They are removed from us as far as the east is from the west. Hallelujah!

Vs. 21…”The shout of a King is among them.” Jesus. The Tabernacle is a picture of Jesus. The way they camped was in a shape of the cross.  “The shout of The KING was among them!!!”

Vs. 23 there is no enchantment or divination against Israel. They belong to Jehovah God…no evil can come nigh their dwelling. And that is the way it is in our lives. Thoughts? God’s protection in our lives. “Look what God has done!!!”

Vs. 24. Here we find “The Lion” again. KJV “Behold, the people shall rise up as a Great Lion, and lift up Himself as a young lion.”  Remember the prophesy given to the tribe of Judah of the Lion and then we found Him in Revelation…The Lion of the tribe of Judah…as a Lamb slain for the sin of the world…He had prevailed!!! Genesis 49:9…like a lion who dares to rouse Him. Notice in this prophesy in numbers the Lion will destroy His enemies.

Balak just will not give up…he is desperate!!! Vs. 25-30. Another place…maybe God would change His mind??? No, God has spoken and He is not a man that He should lie. He will bless Israel forever.

Numbers 24:1 when Balaam saw that it pleased The Lord to bless Israel what did he do?( Did it take this long for him to understand that The Lord was pleased to bless Israel?)

Vs 2 Balaam sees Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and The Spirit of God came upon him. What was Balaam seeing? How the camp…the tribes…the tents were laid out. Let’s look at the page with the cross.  How extraordinary that The Lord had the tents…the camp, laid out into a “Cross.” Balaam was seeing “The Cross.”

 

Balaam was looking at the tents of Israel and they were in the shape of a cross.

Numbers 24:1-9. Vs. here is our Lion…”He couched, He lay down as a Lion and as a great Lion: who can stir him up? Blessed is he that blesses You and cursed is he that curses You.”

Vs. 8 shows that God will use Israel to destroy nations. Someday, when Jesus comes back He will rule the nations with a rod of iron. What stands out to you?

Vs 10-14 Balak is really upset!!! What does Balaam say to him? It is really interesting to me in vs 14 Balaam says what the people of Israel will do to Balak’s people “in the latter days.”

We are living in the latter days. We have seen Israel become a nation in 1948 after 2,000 yrs. of being dispensed around the world. Israel has Jerusalem in their possession after 2,000 yrs. We are living in those “latter days.” (I believe God uses Israel in order to judge nations…what nation will stand with Israel?)

Numbers 24:15-25. Now comes this wonderful prophesy “I shall see Him, but not now.” Jesus is going to come to earth. He will be a star out of Jacob. (Remember the star at His birth.) A Scepter shall rise of Israel (Jesus King of Kings and Lord of Lords.) Remember in the prophesy to Judah in Genesis…”Genesis 49: The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a lawgiver until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be. “Jesus Christ King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Lab vs. 17 “I see Him, but far in the distant future. A Star will rise from Jacob; A Scepter will emerge from Israel.” Our Lord and Savior in the fullness of time came to this earth. He will return again as the conquering King and He will rule and reign.

Balaam went home. We may think he was a good guy now, but wait…Numbers 25:1-3. Some of the men of Israel had sexual relations with the Moabite women. And they worshipped the Baal of Peor. And the Lord took judgement on them.  We will find that Balaam and Balak were behind this. After a battle with Moabites…Numbers 31:15-16. It was the counsel of Balaam to Balak to use the women to seduce the men of Israel…which brought a plague among the congregation of The Lord. Thoughts? I wonder if Balak rewarded Balaam for this after all.

Balaam meets his end. Deut. 23:3-6 judgement on the Amorites. Numbers 31:16 Balaam was slain with the sword. Joshua 13:22  Thoughts?