CHRIST AND THE DESERT TABERNACLE

J. V. FESKO

EP BOOKS

Faverdale North, Darlington, DL3 0PH, England

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web: http://www.epbooks.org

© John V. Fesko 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

First published 2012

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data available

ISBN-13: 978-0-85234-781-2

ISBN-10: 0-85234-781-2

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, published by HarperCollins Publishers © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Dedicated to the

tireless service of elders

Wallace B. King

and

Carleton ‘Bud’ Winslow

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I want to express my thanks to David Woollin for his interest in pursuing the idea of publishing this book. I am also very thankful for the staff at EP for their diligent effort in reading early drafts of the manuscript, offering helpful suggestions, and seeing this book to press.

I am also thankful to my wife, for her constant support, love and encouragement. As the old song goes, ‘You’ve got a smile so bright, you could’ve been a candle!’ I am grateful to our faithful covenant Lord that he has given her and our boys, Val and Rob, to me.

In many ways this book is about the ultimate church-building programme. Though it begins with the blueprints for the tabernacle, these portions of Scripture are ultimately about Christ, the cornerstone, and the final dwelling place made out of living stones, the church. As I have reflected upon these texts, my mind has been drawn back repeatedly to my time in the pastorate at Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church (Woodstock, Georgia), where this book originated as part of a sermon series on Exodus. I have been reminded not merely of the Sundays when I delivered the messages but of my own small efforts to build, care for and protect the small section of God’s final dwelling place that Geneva represents. I did not work alone. The love, care, labours, prayers and ceaseless shepherding of my two ruling elders, Wallace B. King and Carleton ‘Bud’ Winslow, were indispensible. These two men gave up countless hours on behalf of the saints at Geneva. They continue to labour in this way to the present. Bud and Wally, thank you for your tireless service to Christ’s church. It is to you, dear brothers, that I dedicate this book. May our faithful triune Lord continue to bless your labours as you build the final dwelling place of our triune Lord.

J. V. Fesko

Escondido, California

September 2012