In Exodus 35-38, we see the building of the Tabernacle come into existence. The pattern was given on the mountain before and now it is actually happening.
Before Abba’s house could go up, there had to be things with which it would be built. Sure, He could have had the structure miraculously appear if He wanted. But we play a part in this process. He wanted His presence here on earth and He needed man to want it, as well.
This is an amazing truth. Abba wants to dwell here but He needs for us to want it in equal measure. As a rule, He will not force Himself into your life. He wants an invitation.
That’s step #1.
Look at the level of detail Abba gave in the design of the Tabernacle. Everything for a purpose. Everything.
To amplify the meaning of this we look to 1 Corinthians 3. We see that we are now that Tabernacle:
16 Don’t you know that you people are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 17 So if anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you yourselves are that temple.
How seriously do we consider this? The design of the Tabernacle is a map of man.
Unsure of who you are? Look closely at what is written here and you will begin to know yourself.
This is both encouraging and terrifying.
This is a progression into the depth of man.
The view of the Tabernacle from the outside can be made beautiful for all to see. The reds, purples, and blues make for an attractive exterior. But it takes coming inside the gate to learn how people operate.
They say the eyes are the window to the soul. This is more true than you may realize. The eyes of man are the gate to the Tabernacle. The eyes are the entry point into the being of a person.
The first thing you will see as you come close to others is the place of sacrifice. Most of the time people are eager to share with you what all goes on the altar. It’s almost a source of pride.
“Here’s what I gave up and that proves my dedication to God.”
But what do they sacrifice?
The longer you know them, the more you see what is actually being sacrificed.
Just behind their eyes is where you find the sacrifice in their lives. Never become smitten with the eyes only. No matter how sincere or beautified, this is just the gate. Sure, we can see both pain and joy in people’s eyes, but it’s what goes on behind there that fuels what you see.
What do they give themselves to?
What gets consumed in their lives?
Is there oil left for the lamps? Enough to burn continually?
Is there bread left for the Table of Faces?
Is there a unique blend of spices to be taken to the incense table?
See what all gets put onto the altar in their lives. Those things of value that get sacrificed will speak volumes to the cost they are willing to pay in order to stay alive. Alive within their lifestyle.
This is not a tool of judgment. It is an opportunity to gain understanding into the depths of their pain.
While most believers can willfully make their sacrifice, it becomes more challenging when they try to face the laver.
Can they wash themselves clean?
Most people can’t get beyond this because they know what goes on deep within themselves. They know how unclean they really are.
Shame prevents most people from progressing beyond this point. Because once you have washed clean it will be time to go behind the first curtain.
Most people keep this strictly off limits. They may parade around the pool but never really immerse themselves. They will tell you they are clean, and they’ve been active around the laver so you believe them.
And most rookie priests will think they have made a lot of headway and progress towards this person getting healed but they are deceived -- both the person and the priest.
This is generally the depth of most believers. If people peek over the fence, the furthest they will let you see is the outer curtain.
What if someone decides it is time to go after true healing? Going behind the first curtain opens a can of worms.
Are there loaves on the table? An opening into their heritage and history generally produces a deep and prideful fight.
Is the menorah lit? Is there any light at all? These are the 7 Spirits of God and they light up the inside of man. Rest assured, if the oil was consumed before reaching this place, the light will be dim if it is lit at all.
Do they truly make it to the place of prayer? People claim to pray all the time but how many people actually make it to the place of prayer? Slaves can cry out for deliverance from outside the fence. But it is the son that enters into that place of sincere prayer. Deep conversations with Abba on your actual state and the state of man. You grieve together and you rejoice together. An alignment of hearts takes place in this space.
And our heart is desperately wicked so it prevents you from seeking out the secret place. The self-deception keeps you locked into a false reality that has you working and striving to survive.
If people ever make it into the holy place of prayer, there is still more they must do to experience freedom. Most people keep the veil in place because there is no real understanding of what Yeshua did.
They may “know” but they really don’t know.
But have they ever really taken a look behind the veil?
Those that do have an encounter not many have the privilege of experiencing.
The place most people protect with all their might is their heart. It was likely used and abused throughout their life so much that the walls around it are thick and they are many.
Behind that veil is the most Holy Place.
What is inside the ark?
This is our heart:
These are all of the things the Adversary counterfeits. It’s what was used to tempt Yeshua. It’s what is used to tempt you.
The cherubim sit above your heart and cast a shadow on it;
Hebrews 9:1 Now the first covenant had both regulations for worship and a Holy Place here on earth. 2 A tent was set up, the outer one, which was called the Holy Place; in it were the menorah, the table and the Bread of the Presence. 3 Behind the second parokhet was a tent called the Holiest Place, 4 which had the golden altar for burning incense and the Ark of the Covenant, entirely covered with gold. In the Ark were the gold jar containing the man, Aharon’s rod that sprouted and the stone Tablets of the Covenant; 5 and above it were the k’ruvim representing the Sh’khinah, casting their shadow on the lid of the Ark — but now is not the time to discuss these things in detail.
Where is the light here? There is no mention of a light in this place.
The shadow has to come from Abba Himself.
Do you realize where you stand? Have you ever been there?
You are in the most holy place on earth. Pushing deep within yourself and finding that place where He has set a dwelling place.
Deep within you. Think about this.
This is why your heart must be circumcised. If not, you will never be able to receive this truth. The ark must be opened for the Torah, manna, and budded rod to be placed inside.
In order to possess true provision, true authority, true identity, we must let Him open us up and impart these for us. Otherwise, we will seek them from the world.
We all want it and we want it desperately. But the fear of exposing who we really are is so much greater than the promise of freedom.
We can be healed in the outer court because that’s what we let people see. As long as we can continue to perform the public ceremony of sacrifice and cleansing, we are content.
Looking out among a sea of people and embracing the false shalom we secure in seeing how much better off we are than all of those that are on the outside -- this is enough for most people.
But turn around and look at that curtain behind you.
It’s in there that you become alone with only Abba Himself.
There is nothing you can hide from Him. And it’s this fear that overtakes you and prevents you from ever receiving healing.
You can go through motions in the courtyard all day long and we will all be very impressed with your spiritual purity. We’ll all be enamored by your ability to spout off Biblical precepts and truths. We will all long to have the life you possess because in our eyes you have arrived at the threshold of Eternity.
But you haven’t. And you know it.
It’s in the privacy of the Tabernacle that the real you is illuminated. And that terrifies you. The things you claim to be and who you really are are engaged in an intense battle.
The areas you long to hold onto because you are hurt and crave justice -- you really can’t let them go.
The anger. The shame. The humiliation you’ve experienced at the hands of others. It’s these that you cannot release.
And you know that once you go behind that outer curtain, the 7 Spirits of God will light up those hidden places. You know the places -- the ones you hide from everyone else on earth.
In His Sanctuary, you are naked. Fully exposed. Your shame lit up and every corner of your being illuminated.
Terrifying isn’t it?
All of the justification falls aside because you have no place to hide it. All of the unforgiveness has to dissolve because you realize it has no room in this place.
As you move from the outer curtain to the table of prayer, the scales fall one by one. And it hurts.
But here’s the promise:
By the time you reach His dwelling place, you are set free. You are given a new heart. One filled with His Torah, His miraculous provision, and the mantle of the priesthood. A heart that rests in the shadow of the Cherubim. A heart that touches His presence.
Oh, how He longs for you to come to Him. All the way. Not just the courtyard.
1 John 3:16 The way that we have come to know love is through his having laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers! 17 If someone has worldly possessions and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how can he be loving God? 18 Children, let us love not with words and talk, but with actions and in reality!
19 Here is how we will know that we are from the truth and will set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 if our hearts know something against us, God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts know nothing against us, we have confidence in approaching God; 22 then, whatever we ask for, we receive from him; because we are obeying his commands and doing the things that please him.
Go and stare at the person in the mirror. What does your heart know against you?
Now ask yourself: Is your God greater than your heart?
Sadly, for most people, the answer is no. But you aren’t most people.
I promise it is safe for you to go behind that outer curtain. Go and trade your broken heart for a heart of flesh. Abba is waiting for you to come. Seek to dwell in the shadow of the Cherubim. This is the place of freedom.
Psalm 91:1 You who live in the shelter of ‘Elyon,
who spend your nights in the shadow of Shaddai,
2 who say to YHVH, “My refuge! My fortress!
My God, in whom I trust!” —
3 he will rescue you from the trap of the hunter
and from the plague of calamities;
4 he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his truth is a shield and protection.
5 You will not fear the terrors of night
or the arrow that flies by day,
6 or the plague that roams in the dark,
or the scourge that wreaks havoc at noon.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand;
but it won’t come near you.
8 Only keep your eyes open,
and you will see how the wicked are punished.
9 For you have made YHVH, the Most High,
who is my refuge, your dwelling-place.
10 No disaster will happen to you,
no calamity will come near your tent;
11 for he will order his angels to care for you
and guard you wherever you go.
12 They will carry you in their hands,
so that you won’t trip on a stone.
13 You will tread down lions and snakes,
young lions and serpents you will trample underfoot.
14 “Because he loves me, I will rescue him;
because he knows my name, I will protect him.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him.
I will be with him when he is in trouble.
I will extricate him and bring him honor.
16 I will satisfy him with long life
and show him my salvation.”
Isn’t this what we all desire?