Pete Enns makes some great observations about the parallel between Exodus 25-31 and the Creation narrative found in Genesis. 

In Genesis, God is creating a new home for a newly-created humanity so they can walk with and worship God. In Exodus, God is creating a new home for a newly created family nation so He can walk with them, and they can worship Him. 

The instructions for the building or creation of the Tabernacle are given in six segments, each beginning with “Yahweh said to Moses” (25:1; 30:11, 17, 22, 34; 31:1). These very words of God given to Moses for the construction of the Tabernacle are comparable to the creative words found in Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 14, 20, 22. The seventh creative word in Exodus 31:12 introduces Sabbath instructions, just as the seventh day followed God’s creative work (Genesis 2:2). The same word is used in Genesis (2:2) as in Exodus (39:32; 40:33) to declare the work was finished. 

Moses inspected the work (Exodus 39:43) and blessed it. God inspected His created work and “saw it was good.” The Tabernacle was constructed according to a heavenly pattern (Exodus 25:9), being an earthly representation of heavenly worship experienced by the 73 men with Moses on Mount Sinai, as we observed in the last chapter. 

Tabernacle Design (1-7)

The entire Tabernacle is a replication of Heaven and the Garden. The blue, purple, and scarlet linens were designed to make the worshiper think heavenly and “garden-ly.” The stones and skins were all designed to create a picture of Heaven and a garden merged into one sacred place of worship in a chaotic world. Moses had the children of Israel contribute fourteen types of material. The acacia wood was taken from Sinai and was indestructible by insects. The goatskin referred to in verse 5 was probably the dugong that thickly populated the eastern shore of the Red Sea.

The materials were collected as a contribution from the hearts of the Israelites (1-2). Much has been made of the materials of the Tabernacle and their symbolic meaning. It becomes easy to overemphasize the minutiae of detail; however, below is some basic symbolism accepted among those who ponder those kinds of applications.

• “Gold” (Deity) (3)

• “Silver” (Redemption) (3)

• “Bronze” (Judgment) (3)

• “Blue” (Heaven) (4)

• “Purple” (Royalty) (4)

• “Scarlet thread” (Sacrifice) (4)

• “Fine linen” (Purity) (4)

• ”Goats’ hair” (Cursed sin offering) (4)

• “Rams’ skins” dyed red (Substitutionary sacrifice) (5)

• “Goatskins” (Outward appearance—unattractive) (5)

• “Acacia wood” (Incorruptible humanity), also called Shittim Wood (5)

• “Oil” (the Spirit’s anointing) (6)

• “Spices” (Joy and pleasure) (6)

• “Incense” for the oil and incense (Prayers) (6)

• Onyx stones, engraved with the names of the 12 tribes were assigned for the priest’s breastplate (7). 

Tabernacle Designed According to the Pattern (8-9)

This was to be a sanctuary to God, a home for Him to dwell with Israel (8-9). The details may have a symbolic application, but the detail given was to emphasize that the home was made for Yahweh to live with Israel on their journey. Constructing it according to the detailed instructions defined the ownership of the building (Hebrews 8:5).  

The Ark of the Covenant (10-22)

The Ark of the Covenant was probably a rectangular box 3 feet, 9 inches long and 2 feet, 3 inches wide and high. It was made of acacia wood, which was known to the Egyptians as the “Tree of Life” due to the medicines derived from it (10-16). Over the Ark or box of wood covered with gold was a Mercy Seat. The Mercy Seat was hammered out of one piece of gold. Included in the one plate of gold were two cherubim, sitting on each end of the golden plate, formed to face each other. The wings of the cherubim were to entirely overshadow the Ark of the Covenant, with the Mercy Seat forming the throne of God (17-22). 

The presence of Heaven touched Earth at this Ark and Mercy Seat. This is the very spot from where Yahweh spoke to Israel, just as he had from Mount Sinai. 

The Ark had attached poles for transit, and the testimony Yahweh was going to give Moses was to go into the Ark.

Because the Ark was God’s throne, it was to be a symbol of His presence and power among them wherever they went.

The Table for Bread (23-30) 

The Table for Bread measured 3 feet by 1.5 feet and was 2 feet, 3 inches high. It was made of acacia and, like the Ark, was covered with gold with a rim around the top. It also had rings and poles for transit (23-28). 

Dishes and plates, ladles, and pitchers were made for the liquid offerings and were crafted in association with the Table (29). On the Table sat 12 loaves of bread continually, baked fresh each week, each loaf representing the 12 tribes (30). The priests would eat the bread on the Sabbath and place fresh loaves in their place. The bread was called the “Bread of the Presence” because it was always in the Lord’s presence, representing Yahweh’s desire for fellowship and communion with His people. Not only did Yahweh want people to enter His presence, but He also wanted to fellowship with them. 

This corresponded to the Table, and the 73 men ate with Moses on the slopes of Sinai.