(Exodus 25:8) "Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them."
God gives very specific and detailed instructions regarding everything, because the tabernacle and everything inside it would represent something about God. It was another physical "visual" for the Israelites in order to - not only prepare them but - help them recognize their Messiah... Christ, Jesus coming to earth...
(Hebrews 8:1-6) Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. 4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; 5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
There are many symbols and parallels that the tabernacle represents, but I'm just going to focus on how it represents Jesus overall. As the high priest was to carry out duties to help the people find redemption for individual sins, Jesus, the High Priest, would perfect this...
(Hebrews 9:6-14) Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship, 7 but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, 9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
God also made it clear that He was going to dwell among them. Another preparatory message of Jesus' coming...
(Exodus 29:42-46) "...a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway of the tent of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there. 43 I will meet there with the sons of Israel, and it shall be consecrated by My glory. 44 I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar; I will also consecrate Aaron and his sons to minister as priests to Me. 45 I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. 46 They shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God."
John 1:14 tells us that God (JESUS) became flesh to dwell among us - literally - 100% man and 100% God. And then because of His work on the cross, when we believe - we are consecrated - meaning "set apart" - "made holy" - so we are cleansed and we can go before God. Not only go before God, but call Him our heavenly Father. And just as we are like our earthly parents, we should WANT to be more and more like God... God who loves us so much!
(1 Corinthians 6:17-20) ...the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
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