1-800-HEAVEN  PILLARS OF THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES

PART ONE

The Significance of the Pillars in Moses' Tabernacle

The Tabernacle of Moses, as described in Exodus, was a central place of worship for the Israelites during their forty-year journey in the desert. God instructed Moses to build this sacred structure, where the people would come to seek forgiveness and connect with God. Often called the Tent of Meetings, the tabernacle is seen by many as a shadow of the heavenly Jerusalem, foreshadowing God's plan for salvation.

Focus on the Outer Pillars

Given the complexity of the tabernacle, it is helpful to examine its features step by step. This section focuses on the outer pillars—twenty on the north side and twenty on the south side, for a total of forty. These pillars are different from those used in the tabernacle, which will be discussed separately. Symbolically, these pillars tell the story of the Cross of Calvary, with each element pointing to God’s future work of salvation. Remarkably, the story of redemption was woven into Israel's history long before the actual sacrifice on the cross, showing God's consistent focus on humanity's salvation.

Symbolism and Construction of the Pillars

At the beginning of the Israelites' journey, God commanded the building of forty pillars—symbolizing the forty years spent in the wilderness. This connection served as both a warning and a reminder. Each pillar was identical, symbolizing God’s impartiality; He regards each person as having free will and does not interfere with personal choices, though there are consequences. The pillars were made as follows:

  • Acacia Wood
  • Bronze Base or Socket
  • Silver Hook at the Top

Materials and Their Symbolic Meanings

The pillars measured about 7.5 to 8.75 feet and were built from acacia wood. This type of wood is known for its resistance to moisture and insects, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Its strength and hardness make it difficult to work with, and no two pieces are the same. Symbolically, wood stands for humanity—unique and often hard to shape.

The base of each pillar was a sturdy bronze socket, essential for stabilizing the post in the desert sand and supporting the curtains' weight. Bronze symbolizes judgment, suggesting that humanity is under judgment.

At the top of the pillar was a silver cap, or hook. The silver symbolizes salvation, implying that even as humanity faces judgment, salvation remains available. This setup reflects the plan of salvation as seen in Moses’ tabernacle.

There is detailed teaching about the Tabernacle of Moses in Exodus. It describes the items that make up the entire tabernacle that God instructed Moses to build, where the people of Israel would come to worship and seek forgiveness during their forty-year journey in the desert. Many believe that this tabernacle is a shadow of the heavenly Jerusalem. It is also known as The Tent of Meetings.

It would be a massive task to describe the entire meeting place in one sitting, so I have chosen to take it step by step. This message will focus on the outer pillars—twenty on the north side and twenty on the south side of the tabernacle. There are more pillars, but they are separate and specific to the use in the tabernacle, and will be addressed in a future message. These pillars tell the story of the Cross of Calvary, with each piece contributing to the whole and pointing to God’s future work of salvation. Just think, for many years before the actual sacrifice on the cross, the story was told of how God was about to rescue humanity from its destructive path. What a glorious God we serve, whose entire focus from the fall in the garden was on the salvation of humanity.

At the start of their forty-year journey in Israel, God told them to build the tabernacle. There are 40 pillars in total on the north and south sides combined. Interestingly, the total number of years spent in the desert was also forty. God gave them—and us—a warning of what was to come. All the pillars were identical. Symbolically, this shows that God does not show favoritism. He sees us as individuals with our own free will to act as we choose. He doesn’t interfere with our decisions; however, there are consequences to those choices. The composition of each pillar is as follows;

  1. Acacia Wood
  2. Bronze Base or socket
  3. Silver Hook at the top of the wood post

The pillars measured approximately 7.5 to 8.75 feet and were made of acacia wood. This wood is resistant to moisture and insects. Its durability makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. It is a hard, dense fiber that is very difficult to work with. Interestingly, no two pieces are exactly alike. 

The symbolic meaning of wood is that it represents man. It is interesting that the wood itself, which symbolizes humanity, is hard to work with and very dense. Sounds like the human race.

At the bottom of the pillar was a bronze base or socket for the post. It was large enough to secure the post in the desert sand. Considering the weight of the curtains hanging from these posts, the bronze socket must have been quite large. Symbolically, bronze represents judgment. The post, made of acacia wood, which stands for man, is placed in a socket that signifies judgment.

At the top of the post was a silver cap, also called a hook. So now we have an acacia wood post, a bronze socket, and a silver cap or hook. Symbolically, silver represents salvation. Let me describe it this way: humanity is set in judgment, with salvation covering it. That illustrates the plan of salvation, as seen in Moses' tabernacle. The story doesn't end there; in the next paragraph, we will discuss the future church's tabernacle speeches that our Lord established and how they should function.

Now, let's understand the significance of the cap at the top of the post. Silver symbolizes salvation offered to us through Christ's sacrifice on the cross. But what about the hook at the top of the cap? What is its purpose in the tabernacle? The scripture describes it as a hook that supports the rods connecting the pillars. On these rods hang the curtains. The rods are silver, indicating that all saved people are connected through the same saving grace. We are united in Christ; we are the expression of His unifying grace in the Church. We are all one through the common salvation found in Christ.

Now, let us understand what God is telling us through the tabernacle's pillars. The pillars represent the people who have come to Christ, with humanity symbolized by the acacia wood pillars. These pillars are supported by sockets of solid silver, representing the judgment we face for our sins. All sin is the same because its root is rebellion against God and His authority, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the Creator and our Savior if we are willing to surrender our will to Him. The silver cap and hook at the top of the pillar serve two purposes: to symbolize salvation covering the pillar, and to hold a hook from which the silver rod of salvation extends from one pillar to another, symbolizing unity and connection in Christ for all believers. God has not failed to reveal His plan of salvation through Moses’ tabernacle, which spans centuries of humanity’s journey as He calls mankind to Himself. 

These are the pillars of the outer court of Moses' Tabernacle. They separate the outside world of the desert from the inner court where God fellowships with the believer, dividing death from the living. The inner court contains the altar of sacrifice and the Holy of Holies. The altar of sacrifice is for the forgiveness of sin, and the Holy of Holies is the place of God’s presence. There is much more to learn from the teachings of Moses' Tabernacle, and we will explore more in the upcoming lessons. 

May our God bless you with a deep understanding of His grace, which is given to you through Christ, to sustain you in this wicked world. Stand strong in Him and enjoy the victory that has already been won at the cross.