Exodus 26

“Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker. Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.” Exodus 26:31-33 NIV

The tabernacle was built so that a Holy God could live among sinful people.  God has always wanted to live with and be in relationship with His people.  The thick curtain described in these verses separated the two sacred rooms in the Tabernacle—the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.  The priest entered the Holy Place each day to spend time with God.  The Most Holy Place was where God himself lived (although He is also omnipresent).  The high priest was the only one allowed to enter the Most Holy Place, and he could only do so once per year, to atone for the sins of the people.  The Tabernacle was portable, so that God could move through the desert with the people.  When they eventually lived in the Promised Land, Solomon built a temple in Jerusalem, where the presence of God lived.  When Jesus Christ died on the cross, the thick curtain in the Temple (which had replaced the Tabernacle) was torn from top to bottom (Mark 15:38).  This symbolizes our free access to God at any time, directly because of Jesus’ death.  We no longer have to approach God through priests and sacrifices, as they did in the Old Testament.  Today, God lives in us, through His Holy Spirit (1 John 4:12-16).  In the future, God will live with us and we will be able to see Him: “Look, God’s home is now among His people!  He will live with them, and they will be His people.  God Himself will be with them” (Revelation 21:3).  We are so privileged to live in a time where we live with God inside of us, instead of in a temple.  Thank you Jesus!