I should have made man a little bit smaller! Slumber Party with God! Can’t get any better than this! Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Psalm 61:4

Begin your time in prayer. Ask that God would reveal His marvelous truths about His tabernacle. Read Exodus 29:45-46 together. Write the verses down here: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Read Exodus 25:2 and 35:21: How did the Isrealites respond to God when He asked them to “pitch the tent? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ How does the Tabernacle represent Christ? Students, now it’s your turn to teach your parents! Remember the “P”s ? Below, write down what those P’s represent and share how each part of the tabernacle represents Jesus: P ___________________________________ (The Brazen Alter) Read: 1 John 4:10 and 1 Peter 1:18-19 P __________________________________ (The Bronze Laver) Read: 1 John 1:9 and Psalm 51:2 P ________________________________ (Table of Shewbread) Read: John 6:35 P _______________________________________ (Lampstand) Read: Psalm 119:105 and John 8:12 P ___________________________________ (Alter of Incense) Read: Romans 8:34 and John 17:9 P _______________________________ (Ark of the Covenant) Read: Matthew 27:50-53 and Hebrews 10:19-22 How does God “tabernacle” with us today? Read: Galations 2:20, Romans 8:9 and John 14:16-17___________________________________________________ What is “so” important about “the gate?” Read John 14:6 ______________________________________ ______________________________________ TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU AND YOUR PARENT IN YOUR TENT, PRINT IT OUT AND PASTE IT HERE:

Dear Parents, First of all I want to thank you for giving up your own cozy bed for the night! I assure you, this is going to be the craziest homework assignment I give all year. However, I truly believe that God will bless the time you and your son/daughter have together as you share God’s Word and “tabernacle” together in the creative tent that you’ve made! Speaking of “tabernacle,” we have been talking about something AMAZING! We’ve been learning about the first place that God chose to “dwell” with His people here on earth – in a TENT! It’s so overwhelming to think that God Himself decided to make Himself known to His people by wanting to come down and share life together with us!! A brief history. Tabernacle means “tent,” “place of dwelling” or “sanctuary.” It was a sacred place where God chose to meet His people, the Israelites, during the 40 years they wandered in the desert under Moses’ leadership. It was the place where the leaders and people came together to worship and offer sacrifices. The tabernacle was first erected in the wilderness exactly one year after the Passover when the Israelites were freed from their Egyptian slavery (circa 1450 B.C.). It was a mobile tent with portable furniture that the people traveled with and set up wherever they pitched camp. The tabernacle would be in the center of the camp, and the 12 tribes of Israel would set up their tents around it according to tribe. The instruction on how to build the tabernacle was first given to Moses in the wilderness, who then gave the orders to the Israelites. God knew that the Israelites needed visual evidence of His presence. And so God dwelled among His people in the tabernacle in the wilderness. He appeared as a pillar of cloud over the tabernacle by day and a pillar of fire by night in the sight of all Israel. The people would not set out on their journey unless the cloud lifted. It was an unmistakably powerful visual statement indicating God’s presence among them. As you take your journey through the bible tonight, enjoy cruising through one of the most incredible sites this world has ever known – the tabernacle! Write a reflection of how your night went: ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________

Here is a diagram of the tabernacle. Discuss each part and what they represented. 1. Brazen alter: The altar was the place for burning animal sacrifices. It showed the Israelites that the first step for sinful man to approach a holy God was to be cleansed by the blood of an innocent creature. For a sin offering, a person had to bring an animal — a male one without blemish or defect from the flock or herd — to the priest at the tabernacle gate. 2. The wash basin: The laver, or basin, was a large bowl filled with water located halfway between the brazen alter and the Holy Place. Although God did not give specific measurements for the Laver, it was to be made entirely of bronze. The priests were to wash their hands and their feet in it before entering the Holy Place. 3. Table of Bread: “Shewbread” also was called “bread of the presence” because it was to be always in the Lord’s presence and eaten by the priests. There were 12 loaves always on this table representing the 12 tribes of Israel. 4. The Golden Lampstand: The lampstand was the only source of light in the Holy Place, so without it, the priests would have been moping around in the dark. The light shone upon the table of showbread and the alter of incense, enabling the priests to fellowship with God and intercede on behalf of God’s people. 5. Alter of incense: The incense was a symbol of the prayers and intercession of the people going up to God as a sweet fragrance. God wanted His dwelling to be a place where people could approach Him and pray to Him. 6. Holy of Holies: Within the Holy Place of the tabernacle, there was an inner room called the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place. No ordinary person could enter. Only the High Priest once a year. It was God’s special dwelling place in the midst of His people. 7. Ark of the covenant and mercy seat: Within the Holy of Holies, shielded from the eye of the common man, was one piece of furniture comprising two parts: the Ark of the Covenant and the atonement cover (or “mercy seat”) on top of it. The atonement cover was God’s dwelling place in the tabernacle. It was His throne, flanked by angels. EAST ENTRANCE GATE WEST