The tent of meeting

Exodus 33:7 Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tent of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tent of meeting that was outside the camp. 8. Whenever Moses went out to the tent all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tent. 9. And when Moses entered the tent the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tent, and the Lord talked with Moses. 10. All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tent door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door. 11. So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face (person to person), as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua, a young man, did not leave the tent.

Exodus 34:34 But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him.

This was not the tabernacle of Moses, with the holy place, where the priests (Aaron and his sons) went daily through the first curtain to do their priestly duties. This tent had nothing to do with duty; this speaks of a heart that pursues the presence of God.

There were always TWO TENTS. One was the tabernacle of the congregation and the other was the tent of meeting (with God). The tabernacle of the congregation became the structured community house of God, which was to bless the family of God. The tent of meeting was and still is the place of personal communion with the heart of God, and today each of us is that tent. These two expressions still exist (John 2:21, 1 Corinthians 6:19, Ephesians 2:21)

1. The tent of meeting was for Moses’ leadership direction for Israel and to experience of the grace and presence of God. The tent of meeting was also for everyone who sought the Lord.
2. The tabernacle was for structured community salvation, blessing, healing, and instruction and unity.
3. The Holy Nation was to be the combined expression of the holy tents of meeting and the holy tabernacle of unity and love.