What is the meaning of Exodus 26:7? You are to make God begins with an imperative, placing responsibility on His people to construct exactly what He has revealed (Exodus 25:8-9; 25:40). • The command underscores obedience; Israel must not improvise but follow the divine pattern, foreshadowing Christ’s own obedience to the Father’s plan (John 5:19). • Skilled artisans, “everyone whose heart stirred him,” later fulfill this word (Exodus 35:10-11), illustrating that willing hearts and gifted hands come together under God’s direction. • Hebrews 8:5 reminds us these earthly items are “a copy and shadow of the heavenly things,” showing that the workmanship matters because it reflects a greater reality. curtains of goat hair The material is specified—no linen or silk, but simple goat hair (Exodus 35:23-26). • Goat hair yarn spins into a coarse, durable fabric ideal for weatherproofing, providing a sober, practical contrast to the ornate inner linen (Exodus 26:1). • Goats feature prominently in sacrificial law (Leviticus 1:10; 16:5-10), so even the fabric silently points toward substitutionary atonement that Christ would ultimately fulfill (Hebrews 9:12). • The choice of a humble textile reminds us that God values faithfulness over flashiness (Micah 6:8). for the tent over the tabernacle These goat-hair curtains form a second layer, covering the gold-plated boards and embroidered linen inside (Exodus 26:14). • Functionally they shield the holy things from sun, sand, and rain—God cares about preservation as well as presentation (Deuteronomy 29:5). • Spiritually, there is a picture: glory within, plainness without, anticipating Jesus, who “had no beauty that we should desire Him” (Isaiah 53:2) yet housed “all the fullness of God” (Colossians 2:9). • The language “tent” reminds us of the transitory nature of this structure (2 Corinthians 5:1); it points forward to the permanent dwelling God will establish among His people (Revelation 21:3). eleven curtains in all Precision matters to God; He instructs not “about eleven,” but “eleven curtains in all” (Exodus 26:8). • The inner linen set contains ten panels (Exodus 26:1); the outer layer receives one more, ensuring the protective covering fully overlaps. • Such exactness echoes Noah’s ark dimensions (Genesis 6:15) and the temple plans given to Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:19), showing that divine worship is not left to chance. • Each curtain was roughly forty-five feet long, creating a unified shield when coupled—mirroring how believers are “joined and held together” as a single dwelling for God’s Spirit (Ephesians 2:21-22). summary Exodus 26:7 commands Israel to craft eleven goat-hair curtains to cover the tabernacle. In this simple verse God displays His authority (“You are to make”), His provision of appropriate materials (“goat hair”), His concern for protection and holiness (“for the tent over the tabernacle”), and His attention to detail (“eleven curtains in all”). The passage invites us to obedient craftsmanship, humble devotion, respect for God’s patterns, and confidence that every specification ultimately points to the perfect, protective, and saving work of Jesus Christ. |
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