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Israel's tabernacle was a portable worship center that (a) housed the presence of God and (b) provided a sacrificial worship site for Israel wherever they were. The tabernacle and its courtyard were made of linen cloth, animal hair cloth, hides, gold, silver, bronze (copper), and wood overlaid with gold. Many of its furnishings were fitted with rings. Acacia wood poles overlaid with gold were inserted into the rings. The furnishings were moved by carrying them on these poles.
In the wilderness, when Israel moved camp, the priests (Aaron and his sons) prepared all the holy furnishings for the move by covering them [see Numbers 4:5-15]. The Kohathites (an extended family in the tribe of Levi) were escorted by the priests to the covered furnishings and assigned their load. If they saw or touched any of the holy furnishings, they died [see Numbers 4:15, 17-20]. The permanent assignment of the Kohathites was to carry the furnishings of the tabernacle when it was moved.
The Gershonites (another extended family in the tribe of Levi) carried the curtains and the screens of the tabernacle [see Numbers 4:22-26]. They served under the direction of the priests who assigned them their loads [Numbers 4:27,28].
The Merarites (another extended family in the tribe of Levi) carried the boards, bars, pillars, sockets, pegs, cords, and such like equipment [see Numbers 4:29-32]. They also functioned under the guidance and direction of the priests [Numbers 4:33].
The tabernacle was designed to be portable, and provision was made for moving it. It was constructed of materials provided by free will contributions [Exodus 25:2]. Everything was built by the pattern that God provided Moses while he was on the Mount [Exodus 25:9].
The first day of the second year (of Israel's departure from Egypt), the tabernacle was assembled and erected for the first time [see Exodus 40:1-33]. It was assembled according to God's instructions. Each holy furnishing was put in place and committed to its function.
Upon the completion of these tasks, a cloud covered the tent of meeting, and God's glory filled it [see Exodus 40:34-38]. On this occasion, the cloud prevented Moses from entering. For the next 39 years a cloud was over the tabernacle each day and the appearance of a fire was in it each night. The cloud and the fire verified God's presence. Day or night, any Israelite who looked at the tabernacle saw God's presence in Israel.
When the cloud lifted, the Israelites broke camp and moved. Only when the cloud lifted did they move. For 39 years their travels were guided by a specific, direct act of God. The visible presence of God was with them, and the visible presence of God guided them.
During their wilderness experience, the tabernacle (with God's presence) occupied the central role in Israel. When Israel camped, the tabernacle stood in the center of the camp [see Numbers 2:1-31]. To the east of the tabernacle, the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun camped. To the south, the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad camped. To the west, the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin camped. To the north, the tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali camped. The Levites camped in the center by the tabernacle.
When Israel moved camp, they followed a specific order. Leading the way was the ark of the covenant [Numbers 10:33]. Then came the soldiers of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun who were followed by the Merarites (carrying the boards, bars, pillars, etc.) and the Gershonites (carrying the curtains and screens). Following the Merarites and Gershonites came the soldiers of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad. They were followed by the Kohathites (carrying the sacred furnishings). Then came the soldiers of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin. The soldiers of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali formed the rear guard [see Numbers 10:11-28].
The tabernacle was additional evidence of the fact that God was distinctive. Why did God provide Israel with a portable center of worship? The common answer: Israel was traveling. Israel had no homeland. If Israel had a center of sacrificial worship as it traveled, it must be portable. Only a portable center of worship could accompany them.
That common explanation misses the significance of the tabernacle. (1) Often, the presence and power of the gods were limited by geographical boundaries. The Lord God was not affected by geographical boundaries. His presence and power were everywhere--Egypt, the wilderness, and Canaan. Wherever Israel was, God's presence and power were there. (2) Anywhere Israel traveled, they were in God's territory. Only the gods were restricted by physical territories. (3) God was superior to the "established" gods of Egypt, of the countries near the wilderness, and of Canaan. The gods who were housed in temples could not compare to the God who lived in a tent.
Only a portable tabernacle that traveled everywhere with Israel was adequate for the God who is everywhere. If the God who delivered them from Egypt and guided them in the wilderness could not be restricted to a territory, his center for sacrificial worship could not be restricted to a territory. Since He could not be confined to a territory, how could his sanctuary be confined to a building?
Deuteronomy 12 restricted sacrificial worship in Israel to a single location. When they entered Canaan, God would choose a place among the tribes, and everyone would go to that place to sacrifice [verses 2-7]. Only in that place would they offer sacrifices and observe holy assemblies [verses 10-14]. For many years that place was the site of the tabernacle--Shiloh [Joshua 18:1]; Nob [1 Samuel 21:1-9]; Gibeon [1 Chronicles 16:37-40]. The God of the tent was among Israel in Canaan.
King Benhadad's enormous army invaded Samaria [1 Kings 20]. Benhadad's messengers told Ahab, "Your gold, silver, wives and children are mine" [I Kings 20:3]. When Benhadad said that he would send servants to take everything Ahab valued, Ahab refused [20:6-12]. God told Ahab that He would give him victory over this enormous army to prove that He was the Lord [20:13].
After God gave Ahab this incredible victory, Benhadad's loss was explained in this way: "Their gods are gods of the mountains, therefore they were stronger than we; but rather let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they" [20:23]
When Benhadad assembled an enormous army in the plain, God again promised Ahab victory "because the Arameans have said, 'The Lord is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of the valleys'" [20:28].
God, again, proved that He is God everywhere. The earth belongs to the God in the tent.
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