King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Chapters: Exodus 36-38
Message: Exodus: The Tabernacle
Hello My Friend,
When Moses ascended the mountain the first forty days, the people grew impatient and their restlessness delayed the building of the Tabernacle through their disastrous involvement with the golden calf. Yet the second time Moses went up, the people waited patiently, and when he returned, they were eager and ready to begin the work God had commanded. Their posture had changed, and with it, their readiness to obey. As we continue in the reading of Exodus, Moses, gathers everyone together, it was time to build the Tabernacle, God, had given each and every willing person something to do to play a part in this.
[Exodus 36:1-3 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded. 2 And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it: 3 And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.]
God Himself qualifies us for the work to which He calls us, and because of that, He ought to remain our first priority. When He declares that it is time to labor, our response should be immediate and without hesitation. A quick and willing obedience not only reflects our readiness, it also demonstrates that we are faithful and diligent in what He has asked of us. Even if the task appears small, even if the only thing He asks of us is to bring an offering before Him, our willingness reveals the posture of our hearts, [I Chronicles 16:29 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.]
The Israelites wasted no time in bringing their offerings. Their eagerness was so great, and their generosity so abundant, that the craftsmen eventually approached Moses and asked him to command the people to stop bringing more. They had more than enough for the work God had appointed.
[Exodus 36:4-7 And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made; 5 And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make. 6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. 7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.]
We should all be so blessed that we would have to restrain people from giving us what we need. Perhaps a few millionaires could say that, but the rest of us live each day by our daily bread. And yet, amazingly, God always shows up to give us exactly what we need. He provides in ways we could never orchestrate ourselves, and He does it with perfect timing, perfect measure, and perfect faithfulness, [Philippians 4:11-12,19 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.]
The moment we accept Christ as our Saviour, we are chosen to serve Him in some capacity, offering our time and talents so that others might be reached. God graciously gives us skills, knowledge, and abilities that enable us to make a living, yet His primary purpose in giving them is that they might be used for His glory. Many hands truly do make light work, and for the first time since leaving Egypt, the Israelites were united in their labor. Sometimes the greatest offering we can give to God is our time, and whenever we give Him our time, it must be sincere and offered with the right intention. It is no surprise, then, that the very first item constructed for God’s sanctuary was the tent itself. Every piece was crafted exactly as God commanded, and each part fit together to form one unified Tabernacle.
[Exodus 36:8-10,13 And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them. 9 The length of one curtain was twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: the curtains were all of one size. 10 And he coupled the five curtains one unto another: and the other five curtains he coupled one unto another. 13 And he made fifty taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto another with the taches: so it became one tabernacle.]
Think about it. Just as the Tabernacle became one when every piece was joined together, God’s people are the same way. We are the body of Christ, individually crafted yet divinely fitted to function as one. No single part stands alone, and no believer is without purpose. When each of us offers what God has given—our time, our gifts, our obedience—we become unified in His work, just as the pieces of the Tabernacle were unified in His dwelling place, [I Corinthians 12:3-6 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.]
This is the true meaning of diversity and inclusion. God is not a respecter of persons; He does not choose anyone based on race, color, gender, wealth, or family background. He chooses those who choose His Son. In His kingdom, every believer has a place, a purpose, and a part in His work. Now that the fabric was complete, the boards that would give the Tabernacle its structure were crafted.
[Exodus 36:20-22,30-31,34 And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up. 21 The length of a board was ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half. 22 One board had two tenons, equally distant one from another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle. 30 And there were eight boards; and their sockets were sixteen sockets of silver, under every board two sockets. 31 And he made bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, 34 And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold to be places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.]
Each board was made with precision, overlaid in gold and designed to stand upright and support the dwelling place of God. Together, they formed the framework that held everything else in place. Next came the veil, the cherubims, and the pillars that would keep the Tabernacle from sinking. Each of these elements was crafted with the same precision and purpose as everything that came before it.
[Exodus 36:35-38 And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work. 36 And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver. 37 And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework; 38 And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.]
The veil would separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, the cherubims would symbolize symbolized the protection of God’s holiness, reminding Israel that nothing impure could enter His dwelling place, and the pillars—set firmly into their sockets—would ensure that the entire structure stood secure. Nothing was accidental, and nothing was without meaning. Every piece played a role in supporting the dwelling place of God. And now that the tent itself was complete, it was time to construct the furniture and every sacred item that would reside within it. The very first piece to be made was the Ark of the Covenant, also called the Testimony.
[Exodus 37:1-3,5-7 And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it: 2 And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about. 3 And he cast for it four rings of gold, to be set by the four corners of it; even two rings upon the one side of it, and two rings upon the other side of it. 5 And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. 6 And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 7 And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat;]
Cherubims are not cute, fictional Valentine characters with tiny bows and arrows, they are real angels—mighty beings you do not want to mess with. They even stand at the entrance of Eden, which still exists to this day. Their wings overshadowed the mercy seat, the very place where God would sit when communing with the priests. They embody the holiness of God outraged by sin, ever ready to defend the Word of God at His command. They stand as a reminder that God’s Word is forever settled in heaven, [Psalms 119:89,92-94 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. 92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. 93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. 94 I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.]
You see, faithful Christians do not serve God because it is required of them; they serve because it is what He has called them to do. In our faithfulness, God may even use us to bring others to Christ. And now, we come to the table of Shewbread (showbread), along with the bowls, utensils, and the menorah.
[Exodus 37:10-11,14,16-17,23 And he made the table of shittim wood: two cubits was the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof: 11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about. 14 Over against the border were the rings, the places for the staves to bear the table. 16 And he made the vessels which were upon the table, his dishes, and his spoons, and his bowls, and his covers to cover withal, of pure gold. 17 And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same: 23 And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his snuffdishes, of pure gold.]
Notice that all of the utensils—even the dishes and bowls—were made of pure gold, and many of them were fashioned from a single piece. Gold preserved the wood, resisted stains, and symbolized the purity and preservation that Christ provides to every soul who receives Him as Saviour, [I Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:]
Nothing in God’s sanctuary was ordinary or casual; every detail pointed to His holiness and His sustaining power. And now we come to the altar of incense, [Exodus 37:25-26,29 And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same. 26 And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it: also he made unto it a crown of gold round about. 29 And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.]
The Altar of Incense was a simple square box, roughly the length of a forearm, yet its purpose was profound. Though small in size, it represented the continual prayers and intercession rising before God. Years ago, I became avid in apothecary. There was a deep sense of worth in easing someone’s aches and pains through scent and the use of healing oils. I imagine that this is how God feels whenever we come to Him with the things we are struggling with. We often get the idea—especially when we have not been at our very best—that God finds no joy in our coming to the altar. Yet the truth is quite the opposite. Our prayers rise before Him like a sweet fragrance, and He delights when His children draw near, seeking comfort, healing, and restoration.
[Romans 8:24-26 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.]
The Tabernacle and everything within it existed for one purpose: communion with God after the people had been consecrated. If anyone who had not been consecrated dared to walk through that tent door, they would have died instantly. This is why the court outside the Tabernacle was the very first place they entered. Within that court stood everything necessary for them to be able to stand before a holy God and live. It began with the altar of burnt offering, where sin was addressed, and the laver, where cleansing took place. Only after sacrifice and cleansing could anyone draw near to the presence of God.
[Exodus 38:1-4,8 And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof. 2 And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of the same: and he overlaid it with brass. 3 And he made all the vessels of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the basons, and the fleshhooks, and the firepans: all the vessels thereof made he of brass. 4 And he made for the altar a brasen grate of network under the compass thereof beneath unto the midst of it. 8 And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.]
Think of a BBQ grill, yet this was no ordinary grill. This was the very place where sacrifices were offered to God to make atonement and peace with Him. It was the first step in approaching a holy God. The laver, placed nearby, symbolized the cleansing power of the Gospel. The moment we ask Jesus to save us, our souls are washed clean. And when we stand before God, it is not our reflection that He sees—it is His Son’s. Christ becomes our covering, our righteousness, and our acceptance before the Father.
[I John 3:1-2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.]
Do you see how God used women as well? The brass of the laver was fashioned and polished by the women who served at the door of the Tabernacle. They made it so brilliantly reflective that it became like a mirror. As the men washed their hands and feet in the laver, they would look into it to see whether any blemish remained on them. These items stood in the open court of the Tabernacle, the place where the people gathered before entering the holy court and then the holy house. Passing through the open court first allowed them to prepare themselves to meet with God. Finally, the outer court itself was constructed.
[Exodus 38:9-13,18 And he made the court: on the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, an hundred cubits: 10 Their pillars were twenty, and their brasen sockets twenty; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. 11 And for the north side the hangings were an hundred cubits, their pillars were twenty, and their sockets of brass twenty; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver. 12 And for the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver. 13 And for the east side eastward fifty cubits. 18 And the hanging for the gate of the court was needlework, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: and twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court.]
These were woven in geometric patterns, much like the screen before the Holy Place. Can you imagine the work and time it took to embroider the designs for the gate’s hanging alone? Every stitch reflected devotion, skill, and reverence. The church here on earth is much like the court of God’s house, and those who walk its courts are blessed to be in the presence of God. Just as the Israelites entered the outer court before drawing nearer to the sanctuary, believers today step into the fellowship of God’s people as the first movement toward deeper communion with Him, [Psalms 122:1 A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.]
God does not want us to carry out His calling in our own timing; He desires that His work be done in His time. When God delays giving us something, He is preparing us for it and waiting for the moment when we will be able to fully commit. And when He calls us to a task, He already knows that we are capable of doing it at that very moment. His timing is perfect, and His assignments are never beyond what He has equipped us to handle. Finally, the sanctuary of God was complete, and a full account of the materials was given. Every detail, every offering, and every act of obedience had come together to form the dwelling place of the Most High.
[Exodus 38:21-23,26 This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest. 22 And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded Moses. 23 And with him was Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a cunning workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and fine linen. 26 A bekah for every man, that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men.]
Six hundred three thousand and fifty-three men were numbered and paid a ransom for their soul, and that does not count the others there with them who chose to have God in their lives. The work that we do for Jesus, even when it is something as seemingly simple as praying for another person, is never to be taken lightly. Unless He Himself tells us that it is time to step back, we honor Him by following through with what He has entrusted to us. We may grow weary or feel as though we are falling behind, but perhaps it is not we who are lagging. Perhaps it is God who is slowing our pace so that we may regroup, refocus, and realign ourselves with the calling He has placed upon our lives, [I Corinthians 7:17,21-22 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. 21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You, for Your endless mercies and grace, for Your never ending promise to give eternal life to all who receive Your Son as their Saviour. We are Your tabernacle, and for whatever reason, You have chosen us to serve You in some way let us do so willingly and faithfully. Lord, Lead us and guide us, fill us with Your Holy Spirit power to be able to do the work You given us to do, let us not forget to rest so that we do not become weary in well dong and faint in doing so. Forgive us where we have failed You, strengthen us, and make us durable through Your Word so we can be able to withstand the wear and tear of life that comes along the way. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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