The tabernacle was where the children of Israel met with God and everything in the tabernacle foreshadowed Messiah. Chapters 28-31 provide instruction about the priest’s functions and preparations before meeting with God. The priests wore particular garments and they were to be consecrated (made holy). Priests were to make offerings in relation to sin and were called to serve God in the tabernacle.
The Lord chose the priests and gave them skill to perform their priestly service. Aaron and his sons were therefore chosen to serve the Lord as His priests. God filled the skilful workers with a spirit of skill to make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him for the priesthood. The practical as well as the priestly role, was also enabled by God. Chapter 31 is rarely considered whereby Oholiab and Bezalel undertook essential practical service. Now consider that if you are preaching or praying, playing music or making practical repairs.
Priests chosen by God
What is a priest? The Lord designated Israel as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:6). A priest is a representative of the people to God and performs a mediatorial role. A priest is to be consecrated, involved in holy matters and is concerned with sin and being reconciled to God. In Rabbinical Judaism, since there is no temple currently, the question is asked, “have you asked the rabbi?” In Catholicism, confession is made to a priest in a confession box, though the priest is by no means sinless! In Islam, if you want to do what is right, the frequent response might be, “have you seen the imam?” In Hinduism, there is a priestly caste, namely the brahmins. Yet only Messiah can make atonement for sin.
How can one choose a priest or a priesthood? The Lord chose Aaron and his sons. The tabernacle is a picture foreshadowing Messiah. The high priest Aaron foreshadowed Yeshua (Jesus) the great high priest. Aaron and his sons wore special garments and involved themselves in cleansing, making offerings and burning incense. The Lord Jesus is the sinless perfect high priest, who offered Himself as a sacrifice. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)
The book of Hebrews in the Brit Hadasha (New Testament) says much in relation to priesthood in the Torah. In Hebrews 1, God spoke in many ways and by the prophets and now He has spoken through His Son. Normally Bible characters are terrified of angels though the Lord Jesus is greater than angels. He is not only greater than angels but has a more excellent name than theirs.
Think of the term ‘HaShem’ meaning ‘the name.’ How great is His name! At His name, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11). There is a famous hymn with the line, ‘name Him brothers name Him.’ He was named ‘Yeshua’ meaning Saviour for He brings salvation and saves people from their sin.
In Hebrews 2, Jesus the Messiah is the founder of salvation. In Hebrews 3, we learn that Jesus is even greater than Moses. The old adage says from Moses to Moses (meaning Rambam-Maimonides) there was none like Moses. Yet Moses foretold and foreshadowed the Prophet, of whom Moses is a type. Jesus the Messiah is Prophet, Priest and King, Messiah and the Son of God.
Hebrews chapters 4-7 portray the greatness of the Lord Jesus as the high priest. He is matchless, incomparable, the God Man, God incarnate and a priest like none other. He is the author of salvation, the perfecter of faith, the first and the last. He is the way, the truth and the life and there is no other name under heaven by which we may be saved.
Someone who would serve the Lord would seek to be consecrated (made holy) for service. In other words, holiness is required before action, or worship is required prior to service. Let us once again consider the priesthood consisting of Aaron and his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. In Leviticus 10, Nadab and Abihu offered unauthorised (profane) fire and fire came from before the Lord and consumed them. In the same chapter, Eleazar and Ithamar did not eat all of the sin offering, though they were spared. In Exodus 32, Aaron was involved in building an altar to the golden calf. His life was spared though that day, three thousand died because God is holy. We must never serve God under the pretence of our imagination since God is indescribably holy.
The priestly garments
The garments had a specially designed priestly function and pointed to the Lord Jesus as high priest. The garments were put on before service and in an equivalent way, consecration or holiness needs to precede service. The ephod (ornamented breastplate) made of gold, blue, purple, scarlet yarns and fine linen speaks of deity, heaven, kingship, sacrifice and purity. Aaron wore twelve stones on his breastplate and would bear the judgement of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly (Exodus 28:30). It was called the ‘breastplate of judgement’ and the Lord has laid on His Son the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6, 10).
In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve sinned and the fig leaves were insufficient to cover their sin. God provided them with animal skins since a sacrifice had to be made and sin atoned for. A Messiah was promised (Genesis 3:15). Everyone is a sinner, but for those who trust in the Lord, He is able to clothe them in righteousness. We see that so graphically in Zechariah 3 with the vision of the high priest.
In that vision, Joshua was the high priest following Babylonian captivity (cf. Haggai 1:1). Joshua was standing before the Angel of the Lord and Satan was standing at his right hand to oppose him. Joshua was clothed with filthy garments. Satan is the accuser and that is what he does. But the Lord rebuked Satan. And what did the Angel of the Lord command? The filthy garments were removed, his iniquity was removed and He clothed Joshua with rich robes.
Who was the Angel of the Lord? The Lord Jesus in preincarnate form. Moses met Him at the burning bush, Gideon encountered Him before facing the Midianites and Samson’s parents saw Him before the birth of Samson. The Angel of the Lord was able to clothe Joshua in holy garments and remove his iniquity. This is no mere angel because Yeshua is greater than angels and He has greater authority. If you are trusting in Messiah and the devil were to accuse you, you must look to the Lord Jesus since He is both your advocate and your Cohen Gadol (high priest). Have you been clothed in righteousness and has your iniquity been removed? Can you sing along with Elvina Hall and have peace (shalom) with God? “Jesus paid it all-All to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.” Are you trusting in yourself, a priest or a middleman? They are no use since you must go to the Lord!
The priestly offering
It is vital that we consider and appreciate what the sacrificial system involved. Imagine taking an innocent animal to be sacrificed and it is all your fault. Would you be able to look that animal in the eye? Think of the guilt, as well as all the blood and the mess. Consider the stench and texture of blood everywhere. You may have felt nauseous. Sin comes at a great cost. A sacrifice had to be paid. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).
And now think of Messiah, the Prince of glory, the innocent lamb of God who suffered and died and was offered in our place. Jesus was beaten, flogged repeatably with a roman scourge, a whip with metal and bone that would lacerate the flesh. He was mocked, spat on and given a purple robe and a reed for a sceptre, in mock disdain for a king. He wore a crown of thorns and they removed the robe, struck Him and put His garments back on. He was crucified and hung on a cruel cross and was dehydrated and asphyxiated for six long lonely hours.
Crucifixion was intended to be the severest punishment for the worst criminals, though Yeshua was innocent. He prayed and interceded for the transgressors and assured the thief on the cross of salvation. Today you will be with Me in paradise! What had the thief done to earn or merit salvation? Nothing! Yet he recognised his punishment was just and that the Saviour of the world was innocent. He begged God for forgiveness and He received forgiveness. He trusted in the Lord and though he died a slow agonizing death, he would live. That day, he went to be with the Lord Jesus in paradise.
Priestly preparation
Some of the sacrificial duties undoubtedly sound strange to a 21st century western reader! Before an animal was sacrificed the hand was placed on the head of the animal and blood was placed on the ear, thumb and toe of the priest. Placing the hand on the animal acknowledged the penalty of the offender was being transferred. The ear speaks of obedience to the Lord’s will, the hand service for the Lord and the feet walking with Him. Are you obedient to the Lord? Are you serving Him? Are you walking with Him?
Have you thought about these sacrifices and looked back to the ultimate sacrifice? Where do you stand before God now? Do not assess your standing before God by your own standard but by His infinite holiness. Ask, what does the Bible state about the human condition and the need for a Saviour? The psalmist says, “There is none who does good.” (Psalm 53:1). Isaiah says that “all our righteousness is as filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6). If you think you are good and the Lord will accept you without repentance, then consider the high priest. They wore beautiful ornate garments and prepared to be holy. In addition, their sin also required a sacrifice.
Think of the altar of incense which was the last stage of the journey in the tabernacle before entering the holy of holies. Preparations were made, so how can we prepare our hearts and minds to serve the Lord? Matthew Henry observed that, “Our daily devotions are the most needful of our daily works, and the most pleasant of our daily comforts. Prayer-time must be kept up as well as meal-time. Those starve their own souls, who keep not up constant attendance on the throne of grace; constancy in religion brings in the comfort of it.”[i]
How important or formative is your devotional time with the Lord? Take time to be holy and seek the Lord daily. Be in His word and pray daily. Joshua was commanded to be in God’s Law day and night, that he might do that. Prayer should precede action or service and worship should come before activity. Consecration and holiness to the Lord before service. Take time to confess your sins to Him.
Service to the Lord
Finally, let us again consider Oholiab and Bezalel. They were appointed by God to perform vital God-honouring, holy, practical work. They were filled with the spirit of God, with ability and intelligence and knowledge of all craftsmanship. Practical ministry of which there is much to be done is vital for serving God. How can you employ your practical skills to serve the Lord?
Merrill Unger notes that “Bezalel” means (“in the shadow of God”) and Oholiab (“tent father”) were selected by God for the task. God’s call is His enablement.”[ii] How fitting to serve ‘under the shadow of the Almighty’ constructing the tabernacle in the role of the ‘tent father’!
Jamiesson, Fausett and Brown add, “I have given with Him Aholiab-He belonged to the tribe of Dan, one of the least influential and honourable in Israel; and here, too, we can trace the evidence of wise and paternal design, in choosing the colleague or assistant of Bezaleel from an inferior tribe.”[iii] Never despise the day of small things but recognise that your obedience to the Lord in whatever field of service He has assigned you is of great value and be faithful in that.
Oholiab and Bezalel are mentioned by name again in Exodus 36 although if the last third of the book of Exodus is read carefully, their handiwork is evident in several places. They made a massive contribution to the craftsmanship of the tabernacle. Remember, God called those whose heart stirred them to do the work. The people gave so much that they had to be restrained from giving! If you make time to be holy and are willing to serve the Lord, then He can use you to do a great work for His glory.
[i] Matthew Henry Matthew Henry Concise Commentary (Moody Press, Chicago), p94
[ii] Merrill Unger Unger’s Commentary on the Old Testament (AMG Publishers, 2002; Chattanooga), p140
[iii] Jamiesson, Fausett and Brown Jamieson, Fausett & Brown’s Commentary on the Whole Bible (Zondervan, 1961; Grand Rapids), p78
