Image: “Moses and Joshua in the Tabernacle,” c. 1896-1902, James Jacques Joseph Tissot (French, 1836-1902), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Tabernacle of God
During the Exodus, God took a people he chose for himself and brought them out of slavery in Egypt into freedom in the Promised Land of Canaan.
The Israelites had lived enslaved in a pagan nation for more than 430 years. God remembered his promise to Abraham, and he heard the cries of his people. He rescued them, then taught them how to live as his people. God also taught the Israelites to worship him. Today, there is much we can learn from the tabernacle.
Check out these facts about the tabernacle for kids.
What Was the Tabernacle?
Facts about the Tabernacle for Kids
Your kids will love these Tabernacle facts:
- The tabernacle and the furniture were designed by God.
- Each piece of furniture teaches us something specific about our need for Jesus, our relationship with God, and/or how we are to worship God.
- God chose to dwell with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Then, he dwelled with the Israelites through the tabernacle. Jesus dwelled with the people of Israel during the Gospels. Today, the Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of Christians. Our great God wants to be with us!
- When the people left Egypt, God had them ask their neighbors for jewelry. The slaves left Egypt paid well for their labor. Later, the Israelites gave their gold, silver, and bronze to build God’s tabernacle.
- How much did they give? The Israelites gave so much gold, it weighed as much as a car. The amount of bronze they gave weighed as much as a truck. They gave silver until it weighed as much as a motorhome.
- The bronze washbasin was made from mirrors the Egyptian women used.
- To find out how big the tabernacle was, visit a football field. The fence was about as big as a quarter of the field–from the endzone to the 25 yard line.
- God gave men and women skill in creating art. The Israelite artists used their talents to glorify God, making beautiful tapestries, the furniture of the tabernacle, and creating the wooden posts.
- It took the Israelites 7 months to construct the tabernacle.
- In the sandy wilderness, the pure white fencing of the tabernacle, with God’s pillar of cloud and fire over the Most Holy Place, stood out to all the neighbors.
Fun Tabernacle Resources
As they learn about the tabernacle, our kids can better understand who God is, why we need a Savior, how Jesus saved us, and how we are commanded to worship him. These resources can help!
- What Was the Tabernacle? by Danika Cooley | What Was the Tabernacle? (Christian Focus Publications, 2024) is a fun way for kids to learn about God’s portable temple and its furniture, and how each part of the tabernacle pointed toward Jesus. They’ll also learn how we worship God today, following the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
- You can also purchase What Was the Tabernacle? from Thinking Kids Press. Or, purchase all three Who What Why | Exodus books.
- You can also purchase What Was the Tabernacle? from Thinking Kids Press. Or, purchase all three Who What Why | Exodus books.
- Old Testament Tabernacle Model | Your kids will create a model of the tabernacle with the fencing, courtyard, High Place and Most High Place. By building the tabernacle model, your kids will remember important details about how the tabernacle was structured.
- Ark of the Covenant with Tabernacle Furniture Craft | Your kids will construct the Ark of the Covenant and each piece of tabernacle furniture. As they build, your kids will remember what they learned about how each piece of the tabernacle furnishings points forward to Jesus, and teaches us to worship God.
- High Priest of the Tabernacle Craft | Your kids will build the High Priest and two additional Levite priests, along with a lamb and goat. This hands-on project will help kids remember the clothing the High Priest and priests wore.
- What Was the Tabernacle? Lapbook | The lapbook completes your unit study of the tabernacle, allowing your kids to record what they’ve learned about:
- The impact of the tabernacle on the Old Testament world, on the Church, and on your child’s world.
- The Old Testament world. Your child will learn about what it was like to live during the time of the Exodus.
- The people involved in the biblical, historical story of the tabernacle.
- Bible history vocabulary.
- The timeline of the tabernacle story.
- The geography of the tabernacle story.
- Theology: John 1:14, Exodus, Leviticus, Hebrews 8-10, and passages from John.
The tabernacle is a valuable lesson for our kids in how we worship the Lord and about his great plan for salvation!
Every Who What Why Christian history book has a timeline with relevant dates. Your kids can keep track of dates from their studies in history with the My Timeline Journal!
Learn more about the Who What Why series and get your FREE Exodus Lapbooks here.
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Christian Biographies for Kids | Christian History for Kids | Theology for Kids
Christian History Matters for Our Kids.
History matters. Now, more than ever, we see how important it is for our children to know and understand history and the Bible.
Here’s why:
- God is the sovereign ruler of all things. It’s important for our kids to see his hand in the history of nations and in the lives of both peasants and kings.
- Christian history is the story of our family history. Our kids get to see how people who love Jesus follow him.
- Understanding history can help our kids learn historic and biblical theology. They learn what the Bible says and what that means for us. They also see when the study of Scripture has taken important turns that have changed the Church.
- Reading Christian biographies and history can be a wonderful way for kids to think outside their own time and culture. God’s Church spans centuries and includes people from every nation.
- Christian biographies help kids consider their own faith, walk with Jesus, and the impact their witness may one day have on others–and on history.
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