Returning to Pennsylvania Part One Intro and Mennonite Life Museum and Tabernacle

Fifty-one years ago, we honeymooned in the Poconos and other parts of Pennsylvania and since then, it has held a special place in our hearts second only to Cape Cod. For this anniversary we debated where we wanted to celebrate our anniversary. We always travel by car, and we have been to many fun and interesting places within an 800-mile radius, the Ark Encounter being our furthest. 

We are now in our seventies, and each year travelling is a little more challenging. We discussed how difficult it would be to travel the 300 miles to the Lancaster area as we debated where to go. I pessimistically thought we shouldn't, but my wise husband said, "It's not going to get any easier." That settled it. The plans began.

We had to allow one day of travel on each end. We had one pit stop and a stop for lunch on the way there. We ate at the Clinton Station 24-hour Diner in Clinton, New Jersey. At first, we were going to eat in the railroad car for the ambiance, but when we saw the salad bar on the other side of the restaurant, food won over atmosphere. My phone asked me to take a picture of my food to share online, so I did, otherwise, I wouldn't put this here. I had salad bar (not pictured) and chicken stir fry. Salad bar would have been enough, but we were hungry. It worked out well because I took most of my chicken stir fry with us (in cooler--diner gave me some ice) and at the motel, we were able to reheat the leftovers in the microwave for dinner without having to go out. 

We safely navigated the highways (I think the Pennsylvania highways should be called "deer suicide highway". We have never travelled that way without seeing several deers who did not survive the treacherous crossing.) We arrived at the Comfort Inn at Roanoke, Lancaster after seven plus hours. Many of our vacations, we are on the move and have to change motels. This was more relaxing having one motel for our base. The receptionist chose us the best room #228--close to the elevators and not far from the ice machine. We had no complaints during our stay and having the breakfast included was a great time saver (scrambled eggs, sausage, waffles, pastries, fruit, yogurt, etc.)

I will put in a plug here for the website: Wanderlog, which I use to help plan trips. It shows you places nearby to see and the hours places are open and the mileage between places. It's very helpful. George and I spent hours before the trip planning the most logical, physically doable itinerary. Yet, there were snafus and we had to do some re-adjusting, but we got to do all we had planned. 

Our first day we re-visited a place from years ago, the Mennonite Life Visitors Center. We saw a brief film and now I understand the difference between Mennonites and Amish. I remembered years ago we attended a Mennonite church in Pennsylvania and that sermon has always stuck with me. They have a strong focus on community and serving others. 

However, our main reason for returning was for the following exhibits. We heard the presentation, but I also researched a little more on my own and have added more information here for those who might be interested. 

This wall mural depicts the Tabernacle surrounded by the tents of the twelve tribes of Israel. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, moving around 40 times--not yearly, but sometimes only for a few days, sometimes for months. They followed God's guidance. When the cloud lifted, it signaled time to move and to follow it. The priests used silver trumpets to signal the people to break camp. They truly followed in faith step by step.

These silhouettes represent how the courtyard looked. 

Our main reason for returning to the Mennonite Life Museum was to once again view the life size replica of the Tabernacle and the Holy of Holies. 

The first room only priests were allowed to enter this room. It contained the golden lampstand--pure gold made by very specific instructions to be made from a single piece of hammered gold (Exodus 25:31-40). representing God's light and presence. Seven is a number of completeness or perfection. It weighed around 70-100 pounds and was close to 5 feet tall. Keep in mind every time they moved, all of these things had to be taken with them. 

The Table of Showbread held twelve loaves of bread representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The table was made of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold. Showbread meant Bread of the Presence or bread set before the Lord. It symbolized God's covenant with Israel and his care and provision. One commentary suggested it symbolized that although the tribes were camped around the Tabernacle and not allowed inside, they were remembered inside by the bread.

The bread was replaced every Sabbath. The priests replaced them with fresh ones, and the priests could eat the old loaves in the holy place. Also on the table was Frankincense as a memorial offering to the Lord. 

My rabbit trail made me wonder how they made bread when they were living off manna. I guess manna was their main daily sustenance, but they did have a little other food--perhaps quails, or some of their herds. They must have carried the fine flour or obtained it along their travels--the wilderness was not an empty desert, but places where farms could not prosper, no cities but trade routes passed through and there were places along the way where they could buy or barter goods.

The priests were allowed in this first room. It was not occupied all day, but they were in and out to keep the golden lamps burning, replacing oil, burning incense and replacing the showbread. Note: there were no windows in the Tabernacle (like it looks like in the picture). When the priests entered the only light was from the golden lampstand. That must have been an inspiring sight.

The high priest wore a breastplate with twelve stones representing the twelve tribes. The Bible does not tell us which stone represented which tribe. Many scholars believe it could have been by birth order. The top row was ruby, topaz and emerald--possibly Reuben, Simeon, Levi. The next row was turquoise, sapphire and diamond--could be Judah, Dan and Naphtali. Third row was jacinth, agate and amethyst--maybe Gad, Asher, and Issachar. Last row was beryl, onyx and jasper which could have been Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin. 

This was also knowns as the breast piece of judgment because the High Priest wore it over his heart. There were two onyx stones on the shoulders each engraved with six tribal names--called memorial stones. All symbolic to the priest carrying the people of Israel, not only on his heart but carrying the nation of Israel on his shoulders too. 

Then finally we saw a replica of the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant was stored. Only the High Priest could enter once a year on the day of atonement. 

I wondered then, how could they move it. The priests removed the holy objects. Aaron and his priests took down the curtains and used them to cover the Ark of the Covenant. More coverings were placed over it, and Levites were assigned to transport it and carry it. 

The Holy of Holies was separated by the curtain of blue, purple and scarlet threads with embroidered cherubim. Symbolically, the first time cherubim are mentioned in the Bible, they were stationed at the entrance to the garden of Eden after Adam and Eve were expelled. 

The Temple of Jerusalem, where the curtains tore at Jesus's death, was fashioned after the design of this Tabernacle. It had a courtyard, a Holy Place and a Holy of Holies. There was a bronze altar, lampstand, table of showbread and the veil, but this was not a tent but a permanent stone building. The Ark of the Covenant disappeared sometime around 586 BC after Babylonians conquered Jerusalem. A side note: the curtained veil torn from the top down--symbolic that it was a sign from God. 

One final side note: the gold used to make all of these items was brought with the Israelites from Egypt. Some was given to them in exchange for their slave labor and it is said that some gave it to them to help them leave as they began to fear God's judgement as they endured the plagues. Some may have been sympathetic. It could be considered symbolic that those who worshipped a golden calf, ended up donating gold to the Israelites to worship God.