The general pattern of religion is a sort of contract with God – 'if you do 'x' for me then I will do 'y' for you. That was the style of the Old Covenant – the Law of Moses. Obeying God brought blessing (Deuteronomy 28:1-2), and disobedience resulted in being cursed (Deuteronomy 28:15).

Laws, the rules which restrict wicked behaviour, are written down – in Bible times they were engraved in stone, impressed into clay, or written on papyrus scrolls or animal skins. These documents allowed the rules to be read, transmitted, learned and stored; but they could not change anybody's inner desire to do right instead of wrong. The rules could only describe the crimes and their punishments; they had no power to make anybody righteous.

Some have suggested that the symbolism contained in the Old Testament law, especially the regulations for worship, is more in the mind of the interpreter than from God. Certainly, it is possible to invent some fanciful explanations for Old Testament narratives; but today's verses remind us that God provided a model for us to understand what He would achieve through Christ. Also, that the tabernacle was intentionally incomplete and inadequate.

Most people, if you say 'worship place' will think of a church or other religious building. We ask where is God worshipped? Our eyes habitually look around us and we look for a place on earth where God will meet with us. For the Old Testament 'church', the answer was the tabernacle and the temples which superseded it. For the earliest Christians, who were all Jews, there was some confusion. The temple was still standing, sacrifices and purification ceremonies still took place.