So, why would God tell Moses to go to all the trouble of making beautiful, gold-plated objects like the ark, the table and the lampstand, only to hide them behind a veil and a screen? Well, when Adam and Eve sinned against the Lord, they had to leave the Garden of Eden. And to emphasize the point that such rebels were no longer welcome in the presence of the Lord, “at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim, and the flaming sword which turned every direction, to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24). The images of cherubim woven into the veil (Exodus 26:31) and indeed into all the curtains of the Tabernacle (Exodus 26:1) made the same point: Sinners Keep Out!

And so we see that it is because of our sin that mankind can no longer gaze upon our Creator, whose presence is symbolized by the ark. In the same way, it is our sin that has cut us off from the light and nourishment of Christ, symbolized by the Table and the Menorah. Those who continue to live apart from Christ are thus doomed to darkness and hunger, and all the pain that those things always bring (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30)

But even while it so dramatically symbolizes the problem of our sin, the Tabernacle also brings us the astounding good news that God has chosen to dwell among His people. Even though we cannot see Him as clearly as we would like, and even though our sin so often blinds us to His guidance and deprives us of His life-giving nourishment, God is still among us in the Person and Work of Christ. God’s tent is still pitched in the midst of our camp.

And as we will see tomorrow when we look at the bronze altar, Christ is the One Who makes it possible for sinners once again to be welcomed into the presence of the Father, the one whose sacrifice opens a “new and living way” through the veil (Hebrews 10:19). For it was as He died on the cross that “the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51).

So, no matter how discouraged your sin has made you, no matter how far away from God you may feel today, rejoice. Jesus calls us back into the light and the truth which guide us, back into the love that nourishes and strengthens us, back to the only source of eternal life, back to God Himself. May we answer His call and go into His presence today.

Exodus 26:31-37 (NASB)

31 “And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen; it shall be made with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman.
32 “And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, their hooks also being of gold, on four sockets of silver.
33 “And you shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall serve for you as a partition between the holy place and the holy of holies.
34 “And you shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the holy of holies.
35 “And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; and you shall put the table on the north side.
36 “And you shall make a screen for the doorway of the tent of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver.
37 “And you shall make five pillars of acacia for the screen, and overlay them with gold, their hooks also being of gold; and you shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.