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The Tabernacle nacle, the story of redemption is written in language that can not be mistaken. Joseph had died; the good Pharaoh had died; and Is- rael was in bitter bondage. The opening chapter of this wonderful book tells the story of the slavery into which the «Pharaoh which knew not Joseph" had bound God's people. Israel's bondage to Egypt's wicked king is a pic- ture of the sinner's bondage to Satan and sin. Israel had no tabernacle, in which to worship God, no deliverer to lead her out from under the taskmaster's cruel lash, no Shekinah Glory to assure her that God was her Leader and Guide. Before the sinner can know anything of God's gracious guidance, he must know Him as a Deliv:rer, a Redeemer, a Saviour. The children of Israel were given a deliverer from the bondage of Egypt in the person of Moses; sinners are offered the only Saviour from bondage to Satan in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The story of the birth of Moses, his training for serv- ice, and his call from God to deliver Israel from Egyp- tian bondage is told in the early chapters of Exodus. Then follows the record of God's righteous judgment upon those who turned an unheeding ear and a rebellious heart toward God, the only Deliverer and Redeemer. The te~ plagues upon the Egyptians, only the first three of wh~ch came upon Israel, were judgments meted out to a _st_1ffnecked king, who, together with his people, defied the livmg Lord. Likewise, all who refuse to accept God's salvation in Christ Jesus must go into judgment, into everlasting torment, and eternal separation from God. Only by faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ can the sinner be saved, redeemed from bondage to Satan and sin. The last of the ten plagues upon Egypt was associated with the first passover in Israel. And the paschal lamb was
12 The Tabernacle interceding, and reigning Lord Jesus. And such a pic- ture we are to behold in the study of the Jewish tabernacle, which we begin today. There is no portion of the Scrip- tures that will better establish a young believer in the faith and show him his position in Christ than that of the Jewish tabernacle. Every part of this "sanctuary" has a finger pointing to Christ and a tongue to tell forth His glory. Exodus-The Book of Redemption Exodus, the book in which the description of the tab- ernacle is found, logically follows Genesis, and precedes the three remaining books of Moses which come after- wards. Genesis tells the story of man's failure. Opening with the sublime expression, "In the beginning God ..." it closes with the symbolic words, " ... in a coffin in Egypt." From a perfect creation to sin and death, yet with hope through the promised Saviour-this is the story of Genesis. Then follows Exodus, the book of Redemp- tion. Leviticus tells how sinful man may worship a holy God. Numbers is the record of God's gracious guidance, in spite of human failure and murmuring. And Deuteron- omy is a rehearsal of God's ways with His redeemed, yet stumbling people. This, in brief, is the setting of the book which gives us the description, not only of the pattern of the taber- nacle that God gave to Moses on the mount, but also of the building of that sanctuary, in which He dwelt among His people. The entire book of Exodus covers forty chap- ters, thirteen of which have to do entirely with the taber- nacle and the priests who were to minister therein. Almost all of the latter half of the book is given over to a descrip- tion of this «tent of meeting" between God and His re- deemed children. But before mention is made of the taber-
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