A Place for God to Dwell – Lesson 2 – The Outer Wall and the Gate to the Tabernacle of Moses

Memory Verse: John 10:9

We saw that the Lord had commanded the children of Israel to build a tabernacle, a movable tent every time they encamped so that He could dwell among His people.

The wall of the tabernacle was made of 60 pillars on which the curtain wall hung. There were 10 pillars on the east and west and 20 pillars on the north and south respectively. It is believed that these pillars were made of acacia wood. Each pillar had an ornamental top of silver and they were held in place by ropes or cords tied to pegs that were driven into the ground. There were rods passing from pillar to pillar which had silver hooks from which the fine linen curtains hung.

These fine linen curtains were white in color.

WHITE – denoted the righteousness of God. The tabernacle, the place that God dwelt, or the House of the living God was covered on all four sides by white linen curtains. That means no one could just walk in or enter in but only through the door or the gate. The House of God is holy, no one can just enter in but only through the door, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gate of the tabernacle was a beautiful one. It was beautiful hand-woven tapestry of blue, purple, scarlet, and white. It was 30 feet wide, 5 cubits high and was held by 4 pillars.

What do we learn?

• Jesus is the ONLY WAY to Heaven. John 14:6 says “I am the Way the Truth, and the Life, no man cometh to the Father but by me.” Also John 10:7-9 says that Jesus is the door to the sheep. If you want to be part of His sheep, you must accept Him as your shepherd and only through Him can you enter His fold.
• The Gate is 30 feet wide, that is, it is wide enough for all who come on God’s terms. There is no big sinner or small sinner in God’s sight. Anyone who repents and is willing to accept His sin is most welcome into the outstretched arms of the Lord Jesus. Jesus says in Mathew 11:28 “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” God’s love knows no boundaries, all are welcome.

What do the colors on the gate symbolize?

• Blue – The color of the skies or the heavens – Jesus Christ, the Son of God or the Divine One
• Purple – The color of royalty – Jesus Christ, the King of Kings or the Royal One
• Scarlet – The color of blood – Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, the One who purchased us by His precious blood
• Fine Linen – The color of purity – The sinless Lamb of God, the One who is the righteous faithful Servant of God

The curtains were hand-embroidered. “And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.” Exodus 35:25, 26

The women labored for the Lord and not just this, all the people put in their time, talent, and treasure to build this beautiful tabernacle. The Lord’s House is not a temple built with hands, it is when we surrender our lives to the Lord to serve Him and to use all that the Lord has given us for the furtherance of His gospel, He will bless us.

CRAFT: JESUS, THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN

You can draw the kite, add on the other images so that it looks like the completed kite (the blue kite). You can use a thread for the kite’s rope and color the bows and fix them on. Get imaginative. Use your creativity to show that Christ is the only way to heaven.