The tabernacle illustrates God’s desire to be with his people. In it, we see that God’s original creation design—for his image bearers to live with him in a perfect world where they rule under his authority—has not changed. It’s the people who have changed. We now are all faulty image bearers who can no longer be in God’s presence, or rule the world with his character.  But God will recover what was lost in the garden, and the tabernacle previews how he’ll do it.

In the frame for the tabernacle, we saw Eden woven into the text like the cherubim were woven into the curtains. Several textual clues signal that the building of the Tabernacle is a second creation account, or an “Eden Remix” according to GK Beale.

In the foundation for the temple, we noted the generosity of God mirrored in the generous contributions of his people. And in the furniture, we began to see the provisions God made so that he can once again dwell with his people, deformed as they are by sin. 

The tabernacle is not Eden. So long as the cherubim guard the way back to God, no one can stand in his presence. But the tabernacle does hint at how Eden might be restored. If only we had a better high priest than Aaron; if only we had a better sacrifice than the blood of bulls and goats, maybe we too could slip through the veil and be with God.