Tabernacle

During the patriarchal time (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph) worship is mainly informal.

There are no set patterns of worship.

There is no fixed location for worship.

Patriachal worship is spontaneous.

Worship truely begins (for the Isrealites) after God's act of deliverance, the Exodus.

The passover is not only a way of remembering, but also an act of worship.

At mount Sinai God revealed the ways in which worship should be expressed.

Sacrifice played an important role in Isrealite life and then also gave them a focus point to offer these sacrifices . . . the tabernacle.

Now this gave the people a very visual impression of God. The tabernacle was a portable temple and shrine that could be packed up and moved from place to place.

The main thing I want to stress to you at this point in the exodus story is that God showed them the way by a cloud and fire. The Isrealites didn't know who long they would be staying in one place or when it would be time to leave.

They may set up camp and stay for a couple of hours, or months.

They were totally dependant on God.

Love you X