Exodus 35:4-36:7, Materials for the Tabernacle

The timing couldn't have been better. Within the recent past the people had been severely chastised for worshiping the golden calf, they had despaired of the Lord not being with them, Moses had returned up the mountain and when he had come back down his appearance was very changed. The people were in awe, to say the least.

And then the Lord has Moses inform the people regarding the materials and workmanship needed for the Tabernacle. After Moses tells them what is needed, we read,
Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses/ presnece, and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering ot the Lord for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds, brooches, earrings, rings, and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord...

Every offering was from the heart.

How different we see things today, where people have to be cajoled into giving!

It is something to think about since the Lord judges the heart.

Two men are mentioned specifically by the Lord as having the skill that is required in the building and crafting of the materials: Bezalel and Oholiab. We read that these two men were not only skillful, but that they had the ability to teach others. Their skill could be passed on.

And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, "The people are brining more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done."


Moses had to tell the people to stop bringing things. They had enough. They had more than enough.

How many ministers today would love to have this 'problem'?

There is a picture here for us, actually. Even as Christians we know we fall into sin. But every time, as John reminds us, we are able to go to the Lord in repentence and confess and we are forgiven!

And after the restoration of our relationship with the Lord, how eager we are to do anything for Him! How eager we are to give. The gratefulness a Christian feels for that forgiveness and love from God is mirrored here in the people's willingness to give far more than was needed for the Tabernacle.

As a side note, there is a lovely book by Phillip Keller called "Lessons from a Sheepdog" in which he talks about this type of thing. There were times when his faithful sheep dog would disobey or just get sidetracked and then have to be disciplined, which was unpleasant for both of them. But when the discipline was finished, Keller would reassure the dog "It's all right girl. It's finished." And she would jump into his arms and then out again and race around him in total happiness.

It's a good lesson to think about, and a good picture of the reaction of the Israelites at this time and of the Christian after restoration when sin has marred the relationship with God.