The Construction Of The TabernacleSample

THE FRAMES OF THE TABERNACLE

The tabernacle's two rooms, the Holy and the Holy of Holies, were constructed from 48 frames which were made ​​from acacia wood overlaid with gold (Exod. 26:15-30; 38:8-31). The two rooms were made ​​up of upright boards or planks (acacia), and covered with curtains and coverings of different materials. Each frame had two projections, which fitted into the silver bases. The frames were covered with gold and held together with fifteen crossbars, also covered with gold.

An outstanding feature of acacia wood is the durability of it. It is totally resistant to any climatic conditions. Throughout, we have a twofold symbol: Christ and His twofold nature - human and divine. Acacia wood speaks of His humanity and the gold of His divinity. Typo-logically, acacia wood speaks of the perfect humanity of Christ. 

His body never saw corruption (Acts 2:31). The image is therefore one of a perfect, sinless and, therefore, immortal humanity.

In John 8:58 Jesus declared that He was before Abraham was, therefore, also before His mother. This shows that Jesus' mother did not give Him personality or essence, for this He already had in His pre-existence, but what He did receive from His mother, was His human nature.

In the acacia wood we see Christ in His humiliation. For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground (Isa. 53:2).The frames of acacia wood were overlaid with gold (Exod. 26:29). The wood was a separate material from the gold with which it was covered. The frames therefore consisted of two separate materials. The duality of the frames is a beautiful symbol of the Lord Jesus Christ's two natures - divine and human together in one Personality. 

The acacia wood symbolises His human nature; gold typifies His divine nature. The wood never became gold and the gold never became wood. Likewise, Jesus' two natures are also separate from each other. Although these two distinct natures are in Him. He is not two persons, but one. The Lord Jesus Christ is a true man - the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5) and true God - great God and Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). 

The mystery of how the two distinct natures complement each other in one person, is an above-reasonable mystery.· Jesus Christ's true humanity may be best seen in His human limitations. He was hungry (Matt. 4:2); He was thirsty (John 19:28); He was tired (John 4:6); He slumbered (Matt. 8:24); He wept (John 11:35). In all this He was true man, yet He claimed to be part of the Godhead.

• Jesus Christ's true deity is recognised by the Father. Your throne, O God, is forever and ever (Heb. 1:8). In John 8:58 Jesus said to the Jews: Jesus said to them, Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM. Jesus confirms beyond any doubt that He is the "I AM" of Israel, and He identifies Himself as the God who appeared to Moses in the burning bush: I AM WHO I AM (Exod. 3:14). This is what Jesus meant and what the Jews understood, and that is why they wanted to stone Him (John 8:59). (See also John 5:18; John 10:30-36; John 20:28.)