The Tabernacle
I do not in anyway claim to be knowledgable about all of the intricate details of the tabernacle in Exodus. I don't even feel worthy to be teaching such an important part of the Bible to children - so I will merely do the best that I can and trust that God will take my words and turn them into what He wants the kids to hear. I have included this series of lessons about the Tabernacle that I've watched. Please watch them so that you can discuss with your children this plan and how it points to Jesus. Pointing to Jesus, reaching Jesus, following Jesus...is so important. These videos that follow are for your own education as parents, we will not watch them in class.
I do not in anyway claim to be knowledgable about all of the intricate details of the tabernacle in Exodus. I don't even feel worthy to be teaching such an important part of the Bible to children - so I will merely do the best that I can and trust that God will take my words and turn them into what He wants the kids to hear. I have included this series of lessons about the Tabernacle that I've watched. Please watch them so that you can discuss with your children this plan and how it points to Jesus. Pointing to Jesus, reaching Jesus, following Jesus...is so important. These videos that follow are for your own education as parents, we will not watch them in class.
MUSICAL CHAIRS
Two weeks ago we talked about how God parted the Red Sea so that the children of Israel could pass. We talked about how they went to war and Moses had to keep his hands held high in order for the Israelites to be victorious. Some time later - God told Moses to climb a mountain that he wanted to speak to him. So, Moses went. On top of the mountain God spoke with Moses. He gave Moses tablets of stone that he'd written 10 rules for the Israelites to live by. And He requested that Moses build Him a tabernacle where He could dwell with His people. That Tabernacle became a foreshadowing of the plan of Salvation when Jesus came as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.
The Tabernacle
Bronze Altar
Entering the Tabernacle you would find the Bronze Altar. The people would bring the offering and would put their hand on the head of the animal while it was killed. Before they could approach God - there were very important steps to take in order to prepare. The first step was to offer a sacrifice for their sins. This symbolized repentance. Jesus had not yet died on the cross for the sin of the Israelites - so they sacrificed an animal to take their place. Their sins rolled ahead of them until Jesus died to cleanse them.
The following steps were not performed by individual Israelites. Only a priest could continue the steps into the Tabernacle.
Bronze Laver
The following steps were not performed by individual Israelites. Only a priest could continue the steps into the Tabernacle.
Bronze Laver
At the bronze laver the priest would wash his hands after assisting in the sacrificing of the animal at the bronze altar. This step represents baptism. The Lord told the priests that they must wash before entering his presence so that they did not die.
The Tabernacle
The Tabernacle
The bronze altar and laver sat in the outer courts of what we call the Tabernacle - but this part was actually the Tabernacle. Inside was divided into two different parts: Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (aka Holy of Holies). If you peeled back the curtains covering the Tabernacle, it would look like this:
Inside of the Holy Place was a golden lamp stand, table of showbread - this was 12 loaves of bread to represent the 12 tribes of Israel. This was eaten weekly by Aaron and his sons and was replaced with fresh bread. The altar of incense was in the Holy Place. Here the priest would offer up a sweet smell to the Lord. Separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was a veil. This veil served as a barrier between God and man and only the high priest could enter beyond it. Later, when we learn about Solomon's temple, we know that he reconstructed this area and put another veil. This is the veil that - when Jesus died on the cross - the Bible says that it was torn from top to bottom.
Most Holy Place
Beyond the veil was the Most Holy Place. Only the high priest entered here and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (the day the Israelites sins were rolled ahead another year. They were rolling ahead to Jesus.) Inside of the Most Holy Place was the Ark of the Covenant.
Most Holy Place
Beyond the veil was the Most Holy Place. Only the high priest entered here and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (the day the Israelites sins were rolled ahead another year. They were rolling ahead to Jesus.) Inside of the Most Holy Place was the Ark of the Covenant.
This is the very place were God dwelled. It was here that God would meet with the High Priest - the top of the Ark where the angels are is called the Mercy Seat. The priest would sprinkle blood once a year on the Mercy Seat to atone for the sins of Israel. Inside of the Ark of the Covenant was the stone tablets that had the Ten Commandments written, a jar of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded.
The High Priest was told to where garments when he entered the Holy of Holies. Each piece on his clothing represented something.
The High Priest was told to where garments when he entered the Holy of Holies. Each piece on his clothing represented something.
The kids will watch the first two minutes and 50 seconds of the video below.
I want to end this post by again stating that I feel wildly unprepared to teach this lesson about the Tabernacle plan. It feels strange for me to say that as my unprepared feeling does not come from a lack of studying. This is a lesson that I am depending on God to take my words and turn them into the right words before it reaches the ears of the children. This is a heavy topic for kids. Please, parents, talk to your children about the Tabernacle this week.
Class Schedule
Musical chairs - 10 minutes
Review from 2 weeks ago - 5 minutes
Video - 5 minutes
Lesson about the video - 10 minutes
Coloring/snack - 20 minutes
Time filler: hot potato