
Episode #32
A Walk Through the Bible - Part 10 - The Tabernacle 5
Joshua Boyd The Bread of His Presence | Tabernacle — Part 5 In Part 5 of our Tabernacle series, we continue looking beyond the history and physical design of the Tabernacle to discover what it reveals about God’s desire to dwell with His people . The Tabernacle was built according to a heavenly pattern. Every piece of furniture, every boundary, and every instruction pointed toward a spiritual reality that would ultimately be fulfilled through Jesus Christ. God Wants to Dwell With Us From the Garden of Eden onward, God’s desire has always been relationship. Sin separated mankind from God, so under the Old Covenant, the Tabernacle provided a carefully prescribed way for God to dwell among His people. Under the New Covenant, Jesus has changed how we approach God. Instead of outward cleansing and obedience to external rules making us acceptable, Jesus cleanses us from within. God writes His law on our hearts and places His Spirit inside us. Christianity is not simply following rules—it is covenant relationship. We obey God because we love Him. Protect the Covenant Within You In the Tabernacle, layers of protection surrounded the Ark because it contained the covenant—the most holy and precious thing. Today, God's covenant is written on our hearts, and we have become the temple of the Holy Spirit . That means we should guard what enters our lives through our eyes, ears, minds, and mouths. Holiness means being set apart for God’s purposes . As we separate ourselves from the noise and influences of the world, we become more sensitive to the voice of God. The Holy Spirit: God's Deposit When we receive Christ, God gives us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our inheritance. Ephesians 1:13–14 describes the Spirit as God's guarantee that we belong to Him and will receive what He has promised. Romans 8:15–16 tells us that the Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. God doesn't want to speak to us once a year through someone else. He wants daily fellowship with every believer. The Bread of the Presence Inside the Holy Place stood a gold-covered table holding twelve loaves known as the showbread , or more clearly, the Bread of the Presence . “Place the Bread of the Presence on the table to remain before me at all times.” — Exodus 25:30 Every Sabbath, twelve fresh loaves were placed before God. The previous bread was then eaten by the priests in the holy place. The bread was a continual reminder: God is here. His presence is among His people. Interestingly, Revelation describes heavenly counterparts for the other furnishings of the Tabernacle, but no table of showbread is specifically described. Why? In heaven, we won't need a symbol reminding us of God's presence—we will be living fully in it. Jesus, Our Bread of Life At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and said, “This is My body.” The bread ultimately points to Him. Jesus is the eternal Bread of Life. Through Him, we now have access to God's presence and fellowship. Even the gifts presented to Jesus by the wise men— gold, frankincense, and myrrh —echo elements found within the Holy Place, reminding us again that Jesus fulfills what the Tabernacle foreshadowed. We Need Fresh Bread The Bread of the Presence was regularly refreshed, and spiritually, we need fresh bread too. We cannot live only on yesterday's revelation or yesterday's fellowship with God. Jesus taught us to ask for daily bread , and Scripture reminds us that man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Gathering together, hearing God's Word, worshiping, praying, and spending personal time with Him continually refreshes our awareness of His presence. The Tabernacle ultimately tells one beautiful story: God loves His people, God wants to dwell with His people, and through Jesus, He has made a way for us to live continually in His presence. Key Scriptures Exodus 25:8, 30 • Leviticus 24:5–9 • Hebrews 8:5 • Ephesians 1:13–14 • Romans 8:15–16 • Matthew 22:37–40 • Matthew 2:11 Main Takeaway: Guard the temple God has given you, make room to hear His voice, and seek fresh fellowship with Him every day. God isn't distant—He desires to dwell with you.

