Why do you think God instructed Moses to use acacia wood with golden overlays for the construction of the Wilderness Tabernacle?
Today we will explore this topic a bit further.
WELCOME
Thank you for viewing this past lesson from our ongoing bible study lessons called COME AS A CHILD. Welcome. From time-to-time we like to repost our older articles, especially if we feel they are relevant to the present season. This is one of our reposted lessons from our Exodus Group Study.
Your comments are warmly welcomed.
If you wish to explore the following subject closer; this lesson along with others has now been published and summarized into a book written by Gail Landgraf. The book title is EXODUS TO FREEDOM. You may purchase it at Amazon.com
In the following article we were looking at the structure of the wilderness tabernacle. Our text for this article was taken from the scriptures found in Exodus; Chapter 26.
God has just finished giving Moses a general idea about how to place the coverings of the wilderness tabernacle.
Now God is advising Moses about the plans for making the framework to support those coverings.
CONSTRUCTING THE FRAMEWORK:
THE BARS MADE OF ACACIA WOOD:
God instructed Moses that the inside of the bars (which will be used to make the boards for the framework inside the tabernacle) should be made of acacia wood.
Acacia wood comes from acacia trees. Acacia trees are graceful trees that like warm climates. They have deep root structures.
Landscapers understand that acacia trees are excellent to use in preventing erosion. They grow in any type of soil, even in sandy areas. These hearty trees have bright, colorful and beautiful leaves. The trees produce very pretty flowers within the season for blooming.
Acacia trees surely sound like trees that God would approve of. Perhaps He wishes for His people to reflect the nature of these trees: graceful, warm, having deep roots, being preventative, easy-growing, etc. Maybe God admires their hardy attitude, their colorfulness and their beauty. Most of all He probably likes the way they bloom where ever they are planted. I would think the fact that they produce lovely flowers in their season would tend to make God smile.
Yes, I can see why God would have picked the acacia tree to use in His tabernacle, but are there even more reasons?
Additional to all of the above traits, the acacia tree is still used for many modern-day purposes.
Acacia wood is widely known for its beauty and strength.
In this present age, we are still using acacia wood for making furniture and for producing hardwood flooring. Manufacturers of outdoor furniture especially love this wood because it is so moisture-resistant and solid. For more information on how we still use acacia wood; you might enjoy reading this link: https://simplewoodworker.com/acacia-wood-facts-guide/#:~:text=We%20delve%20into%20the%20fascinating%20world
HIGH QUALITY
These many qualities of the acacia wood certainly made the choice an excellent fit for the structure of the wilderness tabernacle. Quality truly mattered as the pieces of the sacred structure of the wilderness tabernacle traveled along with the people through the wilderness.
For instance, the structural elements of the tabernacle would be constantly exposed to the harsh elements of the desert. The quality of such hard-wearing, strong and heavy wood; could survive the elements well while the people traveled through the wilderness.
NOTHING IS WASTED IN GOD’S ECONOMY
Another interesting trait of the acacia tree is that the whole tree, including the flowers, the leaves, and the wood, can be used in some type of good and beneficial way. Nothing is ever wasted in God’s economy.
Whether it was used for food, medicine or building materials, absolutely nothing from this tree was wasted during the construction stage. All parts of the acacia tree were considered useful.
Interestingly, the acacia tree grows very fast and lives to be about 30 years old. The wood is very durable. Therefore, it is able to withstand pressure from heavy weights. This durable quality would make the acacia wood an ideal material for supporting the four heavy layers of the tabernacle’s heavy covering curtains.
I suspect God loved all of these fine qualities from this amazing tree. Perhaps that might be why acacia wood was used so many times in the construction of the tabernacle. In past lessons and articles we noted that acacia wood was used inside the Ark which was placed inside the Holy of Holies. It does appear that God took note of all the wonderful qualities of the acacia tree He created and said, “Come here little tree; I have a great mission for you!”
THE GOLDEN OVERLAY:
God told Moses to overlay the acacia with gold, despite the amazing beauty and durability of this wonderful acacia wood. Have you wondered why this was so?
Acacia trees never grow very tall. This might be one reason for the golden overlays. Most of the tree’s branches would not be long enough to form one long, solid board. So, five wooden sections fit together by the gold. The golden overlays hold all of the pieces together.
I can’t help but think of how God uses The Holy Spirit’s work in our lives to hold His Church together. We are all weak in certain situations, but God’s Spirit give us strength.
At first glance the bars look as though they are solid gold. However, we know that solid gold would have been too heavy for the ancients to carry through the wilderness. Instead; we note that the wood is appropriately overlayed with gold. The covering of God’s glory on a person makes them appear to be much more valuable than they would be should God not surround them and give them extra strength.
SIMILAR TO US
Hence; these golden overlayed boards of acacia wood appear to symbolize humanity. People (represented by the wood) typically need God to put their best pieces together and to form, cover and strengthen their weak places. Thus, we must conclude that the gold represents the covering of God over His people.
God takes the talents of each of us. Then, He puts them all together. Next, He covers us with his love to make a beautiful structure which we have come to call the Church. God’s gifts, His people and their lives under His love make up the living tabernacle today.
BOARDS FOR A GOOD FOUNDATION
Acacia wood sections overlayed with gold come together to make the boards for the foundation of the tabernacle.
The boards became a type of steady foundation underneath the layers of the coverings of the tabernacle. Measurements for each bar was 10 cubits high and one cubit broad.
This hidden acacia wood resting within each bar of the structural formation of the tabernacle represents the redeemed souls of humanity. The practical, durable, yet beautiful wood is symbolic of the flesh of mankind.
The wood in the outer court has a bronze overlay. Bronze represents mankind covered with sin.
Gold overlayed wood bars are present inside the inner courts. The gold overlays are symbolic. They express how mankind can be stronger when covered by The Presence of God.
Wooden bars overlayed with gold existed inside the tabernacle. These represented mankind covered by The Presence of God. Thus, humanity must become redeemed by the glory of God to transform into its most beautiful state.
FIVE BARS MAKE A BOARD:
Five bars made up each board. Consequently, the number five is the number for grace.
The golden covered acacia wood bars which construct the foundation of the tabernacle are invisible. These hidden pieces are very important to the worship process.
THE HIDDEN BAR IN EACH BOARD SECTION:
Five sections of hidden bars make up each of the boards. That part is not visible to the eye. The best part of each board was inside. It existed in the middle, similar to an Oreo cookie.
Hidden within the middle bar was the sweet supporting bar. It ran from end-to-end in the middle of each board section.
The supporting bar in the middle of it all represented Christ coming to live among men in order to redeem mankind.
Without that middle supporting bar, the whole structure would have been useless.
IMPORTANT SUPPORT
The other bars were good support too; but the support from the middle bar was what made those bars work together and hold in place.
Without the love of God mankind cannot dwell in unity.
Without God we fall, and we all break.
We cannot hold ourselves upright. It takes that middle supporting golden bar; the one that holds everything steady and firm, to accomplish the needed support. Also, it takes Christ living within our souls for mankind to dwell together in peace, strength and harmony.
THE ENTRANCE WAS IN THE EAST:
20 boards were on the north and the south. Additionally, there were six boards on the west with two additional corner boards. The east had no boards; as it was the place of the entrance. Pillars supported the tent in this east entrance area.
Forty-eight acacia boards overlaid with gold held the tabernacle together.
The meaning and symbolism of the elements which make up the foundation and structure of the wilderness tabernacle are an exciting and insightful subject for anyone interested in understanding how awesome the mind of God truly is.
No man of that age could ever have composed such a structure for humans to be able to haul through the wilderness. Only God’s mind could conceive such an awesome and workable plan.