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Let Them Make Me a Sanctuary That I May Dwell Among Them
t was an unforgettable night. A night that has come down through the ages as a symbol of deliverance and triumph. The well-known story, recorded in Exodus 14, tells how the newly escaped children of Israel went from horror to ecstasy as God delivered them from the pursuing Egyptian army by parting the Red Sea, bringing them through dry land to the other side, and then drowning their enemies by causing the sea to come crashing down on Pharaoh and all 600 of his finest horsemen and chariots. Following this incredible experience, the Holy Spirit inspired Moses to lead the children of Israel in one of the most sublime songs in Scripture. Known as the “Song of Moses,” it begins in Exodus 15:1, 2: “I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He have thrown into the sea! The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. . . .” The song tells the story of God’s deliverance and looks forward prophetically to the conquering of Canaan and God bringing His people to “the mountain of Your inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which You have made for Your own dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established” (verse 17). It is in this prophetic passage that Scripture first speaks of a “sanctuary,” possibly referring here to the holy place of Mount Moriah, later known as Mount Zion. It also looks forward to the time when God’s people will dwell with Him in the Holy City, New Jerusalem. Until then, however, God still longed to be with His people. So, as recorded in Exodus 25, He invited the people to bring their offerings of “gold, silver, and bronze” (verse 3), along with many other precious items (see verses 4 to 7), and tells Moses, “Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them” (verse 8). A DWELLING PLACE
This sanctuary was not to be of any human devising, as God Himself provided the pattern they were to follow, giving very specific details, as recorded in Exodus 25 through 28. This special “dwelling place” became known as the “wilderness sanctuary.” Patterned after the heavenly sanctuary, it served as a vivid illustration of the plan of salvation, with every aspect of its services, every detail of its Image: iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
