Importance of the Pattern
Yahweh has used the events of natural life to reveal otherwise hidden, spiritual truths, which are eternal. One area of the Bible in which we find this so is in the design and building of the Sanctuary—the Tent of Meeting, the Tabernacle and the Temple.
8Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. 9According to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all of its furniture, even so you shall make it. Exodus 25:8-9
In several places, God reminds Moses that he is to make the various items within the Sanctuary according to the pattern that Yahweh had shown him upon the mountain.
40See that you make them after their pattern, which has been shown to you on the mountain. Exodus 25:40
4This was the workmanship of the lamp stand, beaten work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was beaten work: according to the pattern which Yahweh had shown Moses, so he made the lamp stand. Numbers 8:4
44“Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern that he had seen; Acts 7:44
Not only was there a pattern given for the first Holy Place of Yahweh, but when David purposed and Solomon fulfilled the purpose of building Yahweh a permanent dwelling place, the Holy Spirit gave David a pattern for the Temple as well.
11Then David gave to Solomon his son the plans for the porch of the temple, for its houses, for its treasuries, for its upper rooms, for its inner rooms, for the place of the mercy seat; 12and the plans of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of Yahweh’s house, for all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of God’s house, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things; 1 Chronicles 28:11-12
David again reminds Solomon of the surety of his design for the Temple by relying upon a revelation:
19“All this”, said David, “I have been made to understand in writing from Yahweh’s hand, even all the works of this pattern.” 1 Chronicles 28:19
The writer to the Hebrews reminds his readers that this pattern was important because it was a shadow of the coming truth.
5who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said, “See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.” Hebrews 8:5
He contrasts the earthly ministry, embodied by the Levites, who offered animal and grain sacrifices and thereby "served" a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, with the Lord Jesus Christ, Who serves the true and spiritual by entering Heaven itself and sacrificing Himself (Hebrews 8:1-4).
Although the details of these patterns have been lost through the millenia, following the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple in 70 A.D., the descriptions of the items themselves remain in scripture for us to study. Upon studying the pattern of the Tabernacle and Temple, we can discover the spiritual reality which they are shadowing and copying.
Take nothing in the Bible as written for no reason, especially in the Law, as it is spiritual and holds great truths for those seeking God and wishing to grow in the knowledge of Him! Study these patterns and discern Yahweh to a greater degree.
Discerning Yahweh
Seeing how Yahweh likes to use natural things to explain spiritual truths, including Himself, we can become more aware of our surroundings in order to discern Him better.
Viewing the makeup of the things of this world will give us insight into His nature; not describing His outward form, but describing what He is like.
Think of how the many, varied things in this natural creation reflect Him and you can come to know Him better through discerning them. Don't be like the unbelieving world, which although it sees evidence of Him through His creation, denies Him as God and does not glorify Him in and through those things.
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. 20For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse. 21Because, knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. Romans 1:18-21