What does the tabernacle represent to God?

The Israelites had to build a portable tabernacle while they were journeying from Egypt. They weren't going to stay in the wilderness forever so they had to build a tabernacle. The meaning of tabernacle is "to dwell". God did not dwell in the hearts of humans until after Jesus died on the cross. God would dwell in the tabernacle, and after Solomon built the temple, God would dwell in the Holy of Holies.