Every covering God ever provided both concealed and revealed, a great clue to the Big Picture.
We’re about to discuss the construction of the tabernacle proper, and the court around it, so we should think about the materials used. “You shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them” (Ex 26:1). Some people say the colors are arbitrary, like you selecting a palette for your house at the paint store, but nothing was optional here. God picked out the curtains! And this was exactly what He wanted. “Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, ‘See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain’” (Heb 8:5). The word pattern is that idea of “type” and reminds us that everything had a point. Concerning the Lord’s home on earth, David wrote, “In His temple everything speaks of His glory” (Ps 29:9, margin). The base for the curtains was fine linen, and in the True Tabernacle in heaven we see that linen speaks of righteousness (Rev 19:8). Our Savior, after He provided that righteousness for us at Calvary, was prepared for burial by Joseph who “bought fine linen…and wrapped Him in the linen” (Mk 15:46). Although two gifted men, Aholiab and Bezalel, were to construct the furniture and their accoutrements, the making of the coverings involved gifted women. “All the women who were gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands, and brought what they had spun, of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. And all the women whose hearts stirred with wisdom spun yarn of goats’ hair” (Ex 35:25-26). Interesting, isn’t it, especially in light of the often ignored teaching regarding women and their coverings in the church (1 Cor 11:3-16). Willing, wise women!