Trace any civilization and geography provides the stage; place plays a role in shaping life while at the same time giving us a glimpse into why God places us where we live today. The Bible contains so many stories of God placing his people in places and situations they'd never choose, and yet it is especially there and in those circumstances that he seeks to be known, trusted, and glorified. In a word: loved. This series explores God's intentionality by focusing on specific people in surprising and fascinating places where he pursues his loving purpose and conveys his great love. Join our teacher George DeJong as he explores various Biblical places and the stories that happened there to discover God's provision, protection, and providence in the lives of our faith ancestors. When we better understand their stories we will better appreciate God's provision, protection, and providence in ours.

In this second installment of a two part series beginning with Wild Places, you are invited to join teacher, pastor, and historian George DeJong on location in the Wilderness of Paran to explore the Tabernacle. Interestingly, God requires that the Tabernacle be located at the center of the camp and in Exodus 25:8 we learn why when he instructs: "Have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell...." not "in it" but "among them." God's passion and goal from the beginning was and is: to dwell in/among us - especially in the Wild Places! Approach the Tabernacle as those who experienced God there in the wilderness. In this series, George engages the elements of the Tabernacle using his knowledge of Egyptology as well as Rabbinic insights; asking such questions as: "Why are there horns on the altars, why must the priest wash off the blood at the bronze laver when it is the blood that "covers" our sin, given how heavy that Ark is, how many Levites did it take to carry it?" In this series we learn that God's favorite place to be was not in the tent, but among his people- especially in their wild places. What was true for them is especially true for us.