I will meet you there, and from above the atonement lid, from between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will command you for the Israelites.
Into the Text
God wanted to be with His people, but the Israelites’ sin created a barrier between them and a holy God. So God, in His kindness, created a way for the people to come before Him: the tabernacle.Â
The tabernacle was a movable temple set up in the wilderness among the Israelites. The tabernacle was a place of offering sacrifices where the people could atone, or make just payment, for their sins. The priests would enter the tent to offer these sacrifices to God.
In the middle of the tabernacle stood the Holy of Holies. This was the place in which God’s presence would dwell. Once a year, the high priest, Aaron, would enter into the Holy of Holies with the blood of the sacrifices to seek God’s forgiveness for the people’s sins.Â
God didn’t have to make a way for people to pay for their sins. He could have left them in their sinful state to face the consequence of their actions. But God is merciful, loving, and gracious. He offered forgiveness for the people of Israel through the sacrificial system, and He offers us forgiveness today through Jesus.Â
As merciful as the sacrificial system was, it was incomplete. The blood of animals could never fully pay for sins. That is why Jesus offered up His perfect life. His blood completely paid the price for our sins. Now, for those who have trusted in Jesus, we can freely go to God in prayer whenever we want.Â
Though we no longer need a place like the tabernacle, we are thankful for it because it points to our greater Savior, Jesus Christ.Â
Prayer
God, thank you that you have always wanted to be with your people. Thank you for Jesus and that He makes a way for me to meet with you daily. Amen.