Exodus 26:1-14 NKJV
26 “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them. 2 The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. And every one of the curtains shall have the same measurements. 3 Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. 4 And you shall make loops of blue yarn on the edge of the curtain on the selvedge of one set, and likewise you shall do on the outer edge of the other curtain of the second set. 5 Fifty loops you shall make in the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is on the end of the second set, that the loops may be clasped to one another. 6 And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains together with the clasps, so that it may be one tabernacle.
7 “You shall also make curtains of goats’ hair, to be a tent over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains. 8 The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; and the eleven curtains shall all have the same measurements. 9 And you shall couple five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves, and you shall double over the sixth curtain at the forefront of the tent. 10 You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain of the second set. 11 And you shall make fifty bronze clasps, put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one. 12 The remnant that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. 13 And a cubit on one side and a cubit on the other side, of what remains of the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on this side and on that side, to cover it.
14 “You shall also make a covering of ram skins dyed red for the tent, and a covering of badger skins above that.
The Tabernacle—the place where God dwelt with Israel to meet with them—was not very pretty from the outside. The outermost layers consisted of “a covering of ram skins dyed red for the tent, and a covering of badger skins above that” (14). Underneath the dyed ram’s skin covering was a curtain of goat hair, probably for waterproofing. Underneath the goatshair curtain were “ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread;with artistic designs of cherubim” (1). These beautiful curtains could only be seen from inside the Tabernacle. This reminds us not to judge things by their outward appearance.
Today we celebrate the birth of the eternal Son of God in human flesh. St. John writes, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14). The word translated “dwelt” comes from the word for tent/tabernacle. Jesus “tabernalces” among us. Just as Moses’ tabernacle did not have an outward beauty to it that would make us think it was the dwelling place of God with man, neither does our Lord Jesus Christ. He is born in lowly circumstances. During His ministry He will say, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air havenests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay Hishead” (Matt 8:20). Isaiah prophesied, “He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him” (Is 53:2). Instead, at His crucifixion He will be red with His own blood, similar in outward appearance to the tabernacle’s ram skins dyed red.
But from the inside—from what God has revealed in His Word—Christ’s poverty makes us rich. His lowliness atones for our presumption. His suffering and death reveal God’s grace and truth: that He wants all people be saved and come to repentance, so that they might dwell with Him in eternal joy, peace, and rest. Though He may not look like much to the eyes of the world, the eyes of faith see the most beautiful things—the grace and truth of God—in the lowliness of Christ.
Let us pray: Dear Father, grant us eyes to see the great beauty of Christ’s birth, lowliness, suffering, and death for our sakes, that we may always give You hearty thanks and praise. Amen.