Moses was reluctant to tell the Israelites about his encounter with God because he was a poor speaker and he doubted the Israelites would believe him. But God backed up his words by manifesting his presence and by performing miraculous signs.

The tent with God’s Pillar of Fire was called the Tabernacle. It housed the Ark of the Covenant, upon which God would manifest his presence.

Here is a diagram showing how furniture was arranged in the Tabernacle (the left rectangle))

Outside cut-away view

Life size reproduction of the Tabernacle >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This is the Ark of the Covenant that was housed in the Tabernacle.

The Ark of the Covenant /Tabernacle of Moses is comparable to a Catholic Tabernacle. Both house the presence of God in a special way. God’s manifest presence hovered above the Ark, and the Eucharist is kept within the Catholic Tabernacle.