In my Father’s house are many rooms…I am going away to make ready a place for you.
John 14:2
By the time they arrived The Dwelling would be set up.
Numbers 10:21
Its a big big house
With lots and lots of room
“Big House,” Audio Adrenaline
No doubt we are all familiar with the revelation of Jesus in John’s gospel, “In my Father’s house there are many rooms…” Your Bible might read ‘mansions’ or ‘dwelling places.’ Those exciting words conjure up all sorts of images and get us giddy for glory. Big ole mansions for everybody. Streets of gold. Gates of pearl. Pity the person who settles for “a cabin in the corner of glory land.”
I recall in my youth how I stumbled over the translation “rooms” and got sad because I didn’t want another version of my bedroom in heaven. I wanted a big ole house with a big ole yard all to myself!
At 62-years old I think I’m starting to mature. Yours truly was reading from the book of Numbers recently and caught a really cool shadow of our future ingathering to Glory. I camped awhile in chapter ten as the glory-cloud hovered over the text.
And the Kohathites set out, carrying the articles for the sanctuary; the tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived.
Numbers 10:21
Let the reader understand. The Kohathites were responsible for the most holy objects in the tabernacle: ark, altar, veil, table, lampstand, etc. Whenever the Israelites camped, before any tents were pitched, the tabernacle was the first thing set up. In went the Koathites, carrying the Sacred Objects.
When Israel decamped, it all happened in reverse, with the tabernacle dissembled and the Sacred Objects carried out first. First in, first out. God was always out in front. Always. It’s a beautiful picture: before any of the tribes arrived, God was in place, waiting for them.
In those days the tabernacle was always moving, always mobile, mile after mile, battle after battle, set up, break down, backward, forward, another day, another long night of the soul, another leg of the journey… starting to sound familiar, fellow temples?
But one beautiful day a permanent house — with rooms (1 Kings 6:2-8; 1 Chron. 9:33; Ezek. 40:5-36) — was built. It suddenly dawned: when Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you,” and in his house are “many rooms” this is the picture of that.
We get caught up in the idea of heavenly “dwelling places” and romanticize about our having “mansions” in gated communities but that is not the picture Jesus was painting. He’s showing us his house is a Temple in which he is its Center. And there we will ABIDE with him, and he will ABIDE with us. Forever.
Soon and very soon the trumpet will sound and every nation, tongue, tribe, and ethnicity, Jew and Gentile, saved in Christ will, in their turn – the dead in Christ first – leave the wilderness behind, enter the wide open gates, and find our home ready.
Come, ye Judah!
Come, ye Issachar!
Come, ye Levites!
Come, Manasseh!
Come, Zebulun!
Reuben and Simeon and Ephraim, Come!
Come along, Benjamin and Asher and Gad!
You too, Dan!
And Naphtali!
Come, Egypt!
And you, Rahab and Babylon, Come!
Philistia and Tyre, yes you!
Come with us, Hobab!
Time out. Who? Hobab? Read on in Numbers 10 and we’re introduced to Moses’s brother-in-law. When Israel was breaking camp after a year-long stay at Sinai, Hobab was going to opt out. Moses wasn’t having it.
“Come with us, brother!” Moses pleaded.
“Nah, I think I’ll just meander back to my people,” Hobab replied.
“Nonsense,” protested Moses. “We need you! We’re your people! There’s room!”
One of my favorite kingdom parables is the story of the Great Banquet. Invitations were sent out to all the Host’s family and friends. From the jump everyone’s intention was to go; it would be the social event of the year! But as the date for the banquet drew near, every last one bailed. Excuses, excuses.
Long story short, the Master of the House was not happy. He instructed the servants to go up and down the alleyways, into the red light district, through Shantytown and all over creation, and “compel them to come.” He stipulated that he wanted his Big House filled.
Come with us, Hobab. We’re going to see the King!
“I want my house teeming with children,” the Lord of the Feast says.
It’s a big house, with lots and lots of room. Rooms galore. Ample space.
Roomy…with a view of Jesus.
Selah, my friend.
I am always so blessed by the WITHNESS of GOD…. oh to think of eternity with that WITHNESS in HIS house! Come go with us to see the KING!! Just love it!! Thank you for soaking with JESUS and splashing on us!
Thrilled beyond measure to journey out with you in Christ. May his love tabernacle us until That Day!
Your whole message is exactly what I have been studying lately! I have been leading a Ladies’ Bible study using The Tabernacle study by Shawn Barnard, that is filled with all the details and how it all points to Christ . So encouraging
to study! I can’t help but think also about John 14:2, the Father preparing a place for us. The Jewish bridegroom preparing a place , adding on to the father’s house , and when it was ready according to the father, he would then tell the son to go get the bride. Jesus is coming soon for His Bride! May we be ready and watching!
Joy unspeakable and full of glory! Waiting for That Day with you, my friend, and sensing (as you, no doubt) it is hastening and building to its full and final climax. Until then, we wait in Hope!