Then Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, / … you shall take from them: gold… / … and acacia wood, / … / And let them make a sanctuary for Me that I may dwell in their midst… (Exod. 25:1, 3, 5,8)
Chapter 25 of the book of Exodus reveals a very specific desire in the heart of God. He is desiring a dwelling place to be with His people. With a detailed list of items for constructing it, we see specifically repeated two materials: gold and acacia wood. Out of all of the materials used in the construction of the tabernacle, gold and acacia wood are the major components from the inside out, appearing from the center to the circumference of the tabernacle.
From the first step into the tabernacle, the gold and the acacia wood are there; the pillars, bars, and boards of acacia wood overlaid with gold serve as the structure to uphold the entrance into and the supporting frame of this sphere. Then, from the bronze altar of acacia wood to the holy place, the bread of the presence is displayed on a table of acacia wood with gold. Finally, the pillars of acacia wood and gold uphold the veil in front of the ark of the testimony, which is made entirely of gold and acacia wood. But why are these two materials so important? What is so significant in their use?
Though a type of tree, acacia wood is not a common wood like an oak or a pine but a dense, solid desert wood, strong and durable to bear weight as structure. Yet, gold is a precious, malleable metal — easily crafted to take a form or shape. These seemingly unrelated materials are brought into one function serving as the base of the contents and the structure of the tabernacle. These materials are more than physical elements for a physical building. They also represent two key characteristics of God’s dwelling place: humanity and divinity. The tabernacle at its core is these two elements brought together for supporting and presenting one testimony on the earth.
Today, while we may not see the physical boards and pillars, the church life is both the entrance and domain upholding and ushering sinners and seekers into the experience of the sanctuary — passing through the outer court to the inner court to the Holy of Holies — where God speaks. It is here in the church that we find a new humanity — that acacia wood overlaid gold — so strong, solid and weighty in human experience yet testifying and living something so divine.
(Above are notes of fellowship taken from a gathering on 11/26/2023, not reviewed by the speaker.)