January 31st | Exodus 25

     There is a sign in my house that says “Home is wherever I’m with you.” My wife and I have moved quite a bit, and our home has changed many times in our marriage. This sign is a simple but profound idea—home isn’t just a place; it’s about presence. Spiritually, our true home is found in the presence of God. Yet, so often, we wander, searching for fulfillment elsewhere. But Scripture reveals that the road to God’s presence is the road home, and the only way to dwell with Him is through Jesus.

The Promise of God’s Presence

     Throughout history, God has been near His people but not fully dwelling among them. Think about Abraham—God spoke to him but then was gone. With Moses, God appeared in a burning bush but then disappeared. But everything changes in Exodus 25. After delivering Israel from Egypt, God instructs Moses to build a tabernacle—a dwelling place—so He can live among His people:

"And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst." (Exodus 25:8)

     God's desire has always been to be with His people. He is not distant or indifferent; He longs to dwell with those He created and loves.

      Interestingly, the tabernacle’s design points back to Eden, the first home where God dwelt perfectly with humanity. Exodus 25:7 mentions onyx stones, just like those in Genesis 2:12, reminding Israel of the perfection of Eden—the home they lost. Now, through the tabernacle, God is making a way to dwell with His people again.

The Ark of the Covenant: A Covering for Our Failures

     The first item God instructs Moses to build is not the outer structure but the Ark of the Covenant—the very place where His presence would dwell. The ark was a small, gold-covered box, containing the Ten Commandments, a testimony of God’s law. But on top of the ark was something even more important: the Mercy Seat.

"There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat... I will speak with you." (Exodus 25:22)

     The Mercy Seat, or Kapporet in Hebrew, means "to cover." Each year, the high priest would sprinkle the blood of a sacrifice on the Mercy Seat, symbolizing atonement for Israel’s sins. The law inside the ark revealed the people's failure to meet God's standards, but the Mercy Seat covered that failure. This foreshadows Jesus, our ultimate covering. His blood, shed on the cross, permanently covers our sins so that we can enter God’s presence.

The Table of Presence: God's Provision

      The next furnishing in the tabernacle was the Table of Presence, holding twelve loaves of bread, representing Israel’s twelve tribes. This bread was a constant reminder that God provides for His people:

"And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly." (Exodus 25:30)

      Jesus fulfills this as the Bread of Life (John 6:35). Just as the priests ate the bread in the tabernacle, we are invited to partake of Christ, our daily provision and sustenance.

The Golden Lampstand: Light in the Darkness

      The final furnishing was the Golden Lampstand, decorated with almond blossoms, branches, and flowers—symbolizing the Tree of Life in Eden. Its purpose? To give light:

"You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it." (Exodus 25:37)

      This points to Jesus, the true light of the world (John 8:12). Through Him, we are no longer in darkness but can walk in the light of God’s presence.

Jesus: The True Way Home

      Everything in the tabernacle—the ark, the bread, the lampstand—pointed forward to Jesus. He is the only way to truly dwell with God. Through His sacrifice, provision, and light, He brings us home into the presence of God.

      Are you searching for home? Stop wandering. The road home is through Jesus. Draw near to Him today, and find the presence of God as your true dwelling place.