The Old Testament tabernacle was designed by God.
God gave his servant, Moses, specific instructions for its construction and had Moses build the traveling temple.
Hebrews 9:23-24, ESV, tells us:
Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
The tabernacle served three primary purposes for the Israelites, and–now–for us:
- God dwelled with his people in a visible way, in the cloud of glory that rose over the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle.
In the Gospels, Jesus was born to be fully God and fully man, and he dwelled among his people. Today, God dwells in his people through the Holy Spirit. - God taught his people how to worship him.
Today, the worship God instituted under the Old Covenant directly ties to our New Covenant worship, with some changes now that the Messiah has come. - God pointed forward to his great plan for salvation through Jesus Christ, who is God the Son.
Through parts of the book of Hebrews and the Gospel of John, we can look back on Old Testament Scripture about the tabernacle and understand how it was a copy, shadow, or type of spiritual realities.
These three points are important for Christians to understand. Our children will benefit from learning them early, and from understanding them thoroughly.
Old Testament Tabernacle Model
The story of the tabernacle is found in Exodus chapters 25-40, the book of Leviticus, Hebrews 8-10, and parts of the Gospel of John. That can be a lot of Scripture for your kids to read and synthesize, so I’ve created a resource to help.
Your kids can read all about the story of the construction of the tabernacle, and learn about the biblical feasts, in my narrative nonfiction from Christian Focus Publications, What Was the Tabernacle?. The book is a fun way for your kids to learn about each aspect of the tabernacle and about what God’s Word has to say about how the tabernacle relates to salvation and how we worship the Lord.
And, as your kids read about God’s tabernacle, this fun craft will allow your kids to make a tabernacle model. Hands-on learning is a great way for children to remember what they’ve learned.
What Was the Tabernacle?
God gave the Israelites the tabernacle as a place to worship him, but also as a wonderful picture that points to Jesus.
Although God had rescued his people out of slavery in Egypt, they rebelled against him and worshiped other gods. So God gave Moses rules to teach his people how to love God and each other. He also gave him instructions for how to build a moveable temple for the Lord. This tent provided a way for the Israelites to serve and worship God his way, in reverence and awe. But the tabernacle was also full of symbols that pointed to Jesus – when God became a man and lived amongst his people.
Amazon | Thinking Kids Press | Christian Focus Publications | Barnes and Noble
Now, God does not really live in a cloud. God is actually everywhere all the time. And, though God dwells–or lives–with us, he is not at all confined to one place or even one time in history. But, he helped us understand that he is with us by showing his glory through his presence in the pillar of cloud and fire.
What Was the Tabernacle?, Danika Cooley (Christian Focus Publications, 2021), page 17
Tabernacle Model for Kids
You can help your kids commemorate what they’re learning about biblical history in a hands-on way! Check out this fun video of the tabernacle model!
Tabernacle Model Supplies
You’ll need a few supplies to make your tabernacle model:
- Cardstock (colored and white)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Pencil
- Permanent Marker
- Craft Foam Sheet or Cardboard Sheet
- Printable Templates with Instructions
- Don’t forget this fun book that will teach your kids about God’s Tabernacle: What Was the Tabernacle?
Old Testament Tabernacle Model | Instructions
Your child’s representation of the tabernacle is a great way to help them consider what they learn as they read What Was the Tabernacle? from the Who What Why series!
1) Print your templates.
Print the template page from the step-by-step instructions on cardstock and cut out the pieces.
Trace the templates onto white cardstock for the fence (you will need to cut 3 or 4 lengths), gold for the tabernacle, and the tent coverings will be: white for the bottom linen layer, black for the next goat’s hair layer, red for the next dyed ram skin layer, and gray or gray blue for the top sea cow or porpoise skin layer. The entrance curtain will be red.
2) Assemble the Tabernacle, Courtyard, and Fence.
First, use permanent markers to draw the tent posts onto the white linen fences, and red designs on the entrance curtain and on the front of the tabernacle.
Fold the tabernacle where indicated by the yellow lines on the template. Glue the short edge to the inside of the adjoining wall to create a four-sided structure. Then, fold the short edges of the tabernacle base into the walls of the tabernacle and glue them inside the structure. This base will give you a way to glue the tabernacle to the courtyard ground.
Create the courtyard ground using a craft foam sheet or a piece of cardstock.
Fold a thin edge inward on the linen curtains. Then, glue the then edge to your courtyard base, as shown.
Continue to glue the curtains to the perimeter of the courtyard until all four sides have curtains, as shown.
Glue the entrance curtain to the middle of one of the short sides of fencing, as shown.
Glue the tabernacle to the courtyard ground, centered in the middle, as shown.
Layer your tabernacle coverings on top of the tabernacle, in the following order: white, black, red, and then gray.
Display your craft as you read What Was the Tabernacle? as a reminder that God taught us how to worship him, and that he had a plan for salvation that pointed to Jesus from the very beginning!
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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