One of those great passages today where we like to glance over it because we are not in the mood to build another tabernacle. Do you ask yourself why it is all so specific? If you have ever built an Airfix kit or an Ikea set of drawers and the instructions are incomplete, one of two things usually happens. Either you can't finish its construction or otherwise it is not built fit-for-purpose (I have seen both!).
What we have here is God giving no room for mistakes by saying something non-specific like, "build me a tabernacle about 100 feet by 50 feet" which would have led to either more questions than answers or otherwise some horrible cheapskate tent (you know what Christians are like!). Also however, God has the way of making sure that we make good things even if we don't know what we're doing. He tells them to overlay various items with gold. Why? Because he's extravagant? Nope, because gold doesn't corrode and it was probably the most abundant metal around their neighbourhood that behaved like that. The fact it was expensive was also good because it meant the tabernacle cost something!
Acacia wood, apart from being available, has many symbolistic and physical properties including its scent and medicinal uses which may have contributed to its choice.
As for the other designs such as angels and the priestly garments, we of course believe that they have little physical significance but much symbolic significance such as the precious stones reminding Aaron of who they are representing and the idea that angels somehow watch over the places where God meets with men. We are seeing a mystery but one which God has partially revealed to us in these chapters.
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