Sojourners Activites

June 24, 2017

Sojourners Activites

The Tabernacle Model

The tabernacle model was a big project that spanned several months in completion. First, all the parts needed painting, which mommy found herself doing mostly, with some help from Salem on the animals and posts. Daddy spray painted the base with texture paint, as well. The painting was actually the most interesting part,

so while I did the actual brushwork, I involved the family in the symbolism of the different metals used in the construction of the real tabernacle. Gold is representative of heaven and holiness. Silver represents purification and bronze represents judgement. The chosen metals and their locations and uses were a great source of interest to us and often warranted further study. Secondly, was the attachment of all the brass hardware for the exterior fence, which Salem did. The fence itself consisted of posts, fabric, and string, and actual construction of the fence was meticulously accomplished by Salem, as well (with some help on the corners). The most difficult part was the structuring of the holy place, as it involved alignment and hammering. Salem began, mommy struggled to complete, and daddy was finally called in for the rescue. A bent brass rod was the culprit and was eventually forced into place, completing the built-in aspect of the model. Lastly, we set up the furniture, animals, and priests, with a complimentary bush to boot. It was just fabulous looking and worth all the effort, (even the two hours painting just Aaron's high priestly garments)!

Egyptian Paddle Dolls

When it was bedtime in ancient Egypt, no soft cuddly cloth dolls would be found tucked tenderly in the arms of sleepy toddlers. Rather, wooden paddles, painted and adorned with beads, jewels, and cloth scraps, closely resembling the stylized people of Egyptian murals, would be the treasured playthings of the little girls growing up beside the Nile. We used square cut cardboard, acrylic paint, and beads strung on hemp to make our own version of this ancient Egyptian doll.

High Priest Breastplate and Turban

God gave Moses special instructions on how everything in the Tabernacle was to be made, even the outfits that were to be worn. this is because each detail has an important symbolical meaning. For instance, the garments that the priests and Levites wore were to be made of linen, and not wool, as wool causes persperation, which would symbolize labour rather than rest in our relationship with God. Of the many details, the design of the breastplate encrusted with twelve jewels, each representing a tribe of Israel, is the most profound. The

gemstones are also the very foundations described in the book of Revelation that the city of the New Jerusalem is built upon. The High Priest, himself a symbol of the Saviour Jesus Christ, was to wear the breastplate over his heart, representing that Israel's redemption is a matter "close to the heart" of God. We made our own breastplates using poster board, gold craft fabric, glue, and glitter. We created the turbans with white grocery bags attached to poster board strips, stapled together to form a band. First, we cut out the shapes necessary, then we glued the fabric to the poster shapes. When these were dry, we squirted glue in the shapes of the stones and finished with a generous sprinkling of glitter from a rainbow assortment. The costumes were so much fun to wear that after they had finished drying, all three of the older children dawned their high priestly garments and took to the streets on their bikes. The neighbor children, home from school, came out to see what the ruckus was all about and were told matter of factly all about the garments of Israel's first High Priest. My two year old daughter was thrilled at her new sparkling accessories and was convinced that a priest must be some sort of a princess. Oh well. At least this craft was a hit with all ages!

Ancient Map of the Sinai Encampment

When the children of Israel camped around the base of Mount Sinai, they were organized into family divisions, with the tribe of Levi surrounding the central Tabernacle. They were so positioned that to look at them from an aerial view point would have revealed that the Israelites camped in the shape of a cross! Salem made an antiquated replica of a Bible chart mapping out the locations of each individual tribe, as they were positioned around the Tabernacle of meeting. We used plain art paper, brown coloured tissue paper, glue, markers, and a lighter.

First, Salem drew the tents and labeled the tribes, referencing two different versions of the same Bible chart. Then he deliberately crunched up the tissue into a ball, creating thousands of wrinkles. With glue, he applied the tissue to the map, pressing it down to give it creases. After it dried, he used a lighter (with Daddy's help) to burn the edges, effectively making it look like an archaeological find. Salem was very pleased with the results!