In the Sanctuary

Have you read through the seventh chapter of Numbers recently? It’s a chapter filled with detail about the offering each tribe brought to the tabernacle. One by one, tribe after tribe, they brought their silver platters and gold bowls and sacrifices. It’s a long passage! But then at the end of the chapter we see something that doesn’t seem to fit. We read, without context or explanation, “when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat.”

The activity of Moses in the sanctuary had nothing to do with the offerings of Chapter 7 or the Levites of Chapter 8. And there is also the question of why Moses was there at all, because only the priests were to have access to the Holy Place.

We can say that Moses was allowed unique access to the Sanctuary as a special case since he was a prophet and type of Christ. But it seems to me that this verse is given a place of prominence in the midst of this account of gifts brought to the tabernacle, furnishings of the tabernacle and activity in the tabernacle, perhaps as a reminder of the true purpose of the tabernacle; bringing a holy God and sinful people together in fellowship. That unique place became a place of communion between the Lord and His prophet.

There are two things Moses did during his visits to the sanctuary. First, he was there to pray. Yes, Moses could have prayed just as well in his own tent, or anywhere else, but there was some special symbolism in that place. As he stood facing the veil that divided the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, he would be in front of the altar of incense. The fragrant smoke that arose from that altar was meant to illustrate the prayers of God’s people that ascended to Him from everywhere in the camp. The coals that burned the incense were taken from the altar of sacrifice, which pictured the judgment of God poured out on His Son on the cross. Do you know why only those coals could be used on that altar? It was because the only basis any of us have for any of our prayers is the blood of Christ that gives us a hearing before a holy God.

Second, Moses was there to listen. He would pray and God would respond with a voice he could hear coming from the Holy of Holies, over the Mercy Seat. It’s not just that the glory was there. The fact that God would speak with a human at all is evidence of mercy. It was the same voice he heard in the burning bush. It was the same voice that he heard on the mountain. It was the same voice John heard in Revelation. The same Hebrew word is used both times: Moses spoke to God, God spoke to him.

The Mercy Seat was a gold cover that sat on the Ark of the Covenant and it was there for an important reason. There were only three articles in the Ark, and each of them was a reminder of God’s provision. The Ten Commandments were there as evidence of God’s law. The pot of manna was there as a reminder of their daily bread. The rod of Aaron was there as an illustration of God’s mediator. But the same three articles were also there in the presence of God as grim reminders of the failure of the people. They had broken God’s law before Moses even came down from Mount Sinai. They lacked faith in God’s provision. They had rebelled against His leading in the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Their only hope was mercy, and that’s why the Ark was covered with a symbol of God’s mercy, the Mercy Seat that formed a lid with two angels facing each other on top. That’s why, even though God is everywhere and His voice could have come from any other place of His choosing, that voice was heard in that one place.

We aren’t told how often Moses went there, but I would expect that every day, perhaps at the beginning of the day, he would make his way to the tabernacle for this private time of fellowship with Jehovah in the sanctuary.

The literal meaning of the word sanctuary is “holy place”. It’s a place that is dedicated for God’s use alone for worship and communion with the One we were made to know and love. Yes, God is not limited and He could have fellowship with His people anywhere, but he chose that place, designed after the pattern of the sanctuary, “not made with hands,” that exists in heaven.

You see, God hates competition, and this world is full of noise that drowns out His still, small voice. There is activity around us that draws us away from the task of adoration. There are sights that demand our attention and diminish our fellowship. That’s why it’s important to have a place where the things of this world are not welcome, a place where you can speak with your Creator and wait quietly for His response.

That’s one reason why I like the concept of sanctuary in the design of church buildings. I realize that the trend in church architecture today is toward multi-purpose rooms that can be used for Awana games on Tuesday, the kid’s pizza party on Friday, basketball on Saturday and worship on Sunday. Of course it’s more cost efficient. And, of course, the Lord was aware of that when He designed a place of worship that would not be used for any other purpose. He was willing to be extravagant with resources that were used for worship and so am I.

More to the point, however, I also like the concept of sanctuary in my own communion with God. I’m talking about a time and place that is to be used, like Moses did, for times of fellowship with God. All right, reality check here - maybe like Moses on a much more limited scale. Did you even notice how Jesus often sought out a time and place away from the crowds, activity and noise, where He could be alone with the Father?

My friend, have you found your own sanctuary, a place that is dedicated for prayer alone? Can I encourage you to find one? Prayer is more than just going to God with a shopping list. It’s also time devoted to listening to Him speak. If you simply go to God with your own thoughts and desires and then go on your way, you’ll miss an important part of prayer - waiting on the Lord in your own sanctuary.