The Tabernacle in Exodus-A pattern of our prayers.
After Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, the land of slavery, they wandered in the wilderness for forty years. In the third month after coming out, Yahweh called Moses to Mount Sinai and gave him the commandments and laws. He also gave Moses a pattern of the Tabernacle or dwelling place for the Lord, so that Yahweh could dwell in the midst of His people. The instructions were very specific, the measurements, the materials to be used, the design of all things, the pattern and design of the things inside the tabernacle, everything was specifically laid out. There was to be no deviation or compromise, because Yahweh is holy and perfect and he wanted his dwelling place to be perfect. So Moses had all things made according to the pattern.

The tabernacle was composed of three parts, the Courtyard, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies) which housed the Ark of the Covenant. Sacred objects were found within the courtyard, which was enclosed with a screened, wooden-post fence. The courtyard contained the altar of burnt offerings and the brass laver. The Holy place contained the table of showbread, the lamp stand and the altar of incense. The Holy of Holies contained the Ark of the Covenant.
As we study the pattern of the Tabernacle, we see that it is a pattern of prayer in our lives.

The Gate: Praise: "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise." (Ps:100:4).  When we enter into his sanctuary, we should enter with praise on our lips. We should be happy that we are going to have fellowship with the Lord. It is he who has made us, and it is right that we should praise him. Even in the model prayer that Messiah taught us, the first lines are for praising Him.

Altar of Burnt:  Offering: Confess Sins: The next object that we see is the altar of burnt offerings. We confess our sins here. "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1John 1:9). However much we may try to lead pure, holy lives, we are all sinners and there will still be some sin which we have not confessed. We cannot enter into his presence with sin and guilt in our hearts.

The Laver: Be Washed of Sins:  The laver was a basin of water which the priests used to wash themselves before serving at the holy place. For us this represents cleansing ourselves from sin by the washing through his word. We have to cleanse ourselves daily to come into his presence and to serve him. Heb 10:22,’ Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.’

The Candlestick: Pray for the Spirit: The golden lamp stand or the ‘menorah’ stood at the left side of the holy place and was the only source of light in the holy place. The lampstand was placed in Elohim’s dwelling place so that the priests could approach Yahweh. Yahshua, as the true light, came into the world so that man could see Elohim and live in the light of Yahweh forever. Messiah said,’I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ‘(John 8:12).

The Table of Showbread: Study of God's Word: The table of showbread held twelve loaves of bread placed on it, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. They were placed in two stacks of six loaves each. The bread shows that Yahweh is willing to have fellowship with us. The bread represents the word of Yahweh which we should study daily to have communion with Elohim.
"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:51).

The Altar of Incense: Personal Petitions: The third object in the holy place was the altar of incense. It was made of wood and overlaid with gold. The priests were commanded to burn incense on the golden altar every morning and evening at the same time as the daily burnt offerings were made. The incense would    burn continually throughout the day and night as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. The incense is a symbol of our prayers and petitions to the Lord. He wants his dwelling place to be a place where people could approach him and make their prayers of intercession.
Psa. 141:2,’ Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. ‘

The Ark of the Covenant:: Forsake Defects in Character: The Ark of the Covenant was placed inside the Holy of Holies, which was separated from the holy place by a curtain or veil. This veil separated Elohim from man showing that sinful man could not have direct access to Yahweh. The ark contained the Ten Commandments. We must compare our lives with the commandments and correct ourselves so that we may be worthy of being called His children. The curtain was torn in half from top to bottom showing that Messiah has made atonement for our sins and he is our High Priest, interceding on our behalf (Heb.7:25)
Heb 10:20,’ By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.’
Understanding the pattern of the Tabernacle and the objects in it will make our prayer more meaningful.

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