Exodus 35 Bring It Here

It’s time to begin construction on God’s holy habitation. “Anyone who wants to contribute to the work, bring it here; gold, silver, bronze, …”

Moses has just come down from the mountain where he stayed in the Lord’s presence for 40 days. During that time, the Lord gave him His statures again. Moses inscribed these on the tablets of stone. The tablets that God had written on were broken in a rage by Moses. During the previous visit, God had also given Moses plans for the Tabernacle they were to build. Now it is time to begin the process.

I don’t know for certain, but I imagine that Joshua did not share these plans with anyone while Moses was away. But I bet he either looked over them, or thought about them in Moses’ absence. Let’s join God’s people as they get ready for the work that is to come.

♥ ♦ ♥

Moses is standing at the base of the mountain. All the people are gathered to hear what the Lord has shared with Moses. They are still in awe of his glowing face, but they don’t fear him any longer. Moses looks out over the congregation. “It’s time” he hears in his spirit.

“We are going to be doing a marvelous work for the Lord. We will be building a habitation for Him. It will be built to HIS exacting standards and design. But, before we begin, there is one major stipulation He has for us. ‘These are the things that the Lord has commanded you to do. ² Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. ³ You shall kindle no fire in all your dwelling places on the Sabbath day.’ (Exodus 35:1-3) We will ALL observe this day together.”

The people look around at each other. They have already been observing the Sabbath in relation to gathering the mana the Lord sends. They have been ‘resting’, but maybe not to the extent that the Lord is calling them to. All heads turn back to Moses and they, in unison, agree to this stipulation.

Moses waited patiently for their response. If they would not agree to this, then they would not be taking part in the Lord’s work. His work would be HOLY. It would NOT be tainted by working on the Sabbath. Moses rubs his hands together in excitement and begins laying out the first phase of the building project.

“The Lord is calling for ANY who have a heart to give, to give generously and with joy. If you cannot give with joy, don’t give at all! For those who desire to give, here is what the Lord says. ‘This is the thing that the Lord has commanded. Take from among you a contribution to the Lord. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze; blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; goats’ hair, tanned rams’ skins, and goatskins; acacia wood, oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, and onyx stones and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece.’” (Exodus 35:4-9)

The people are curious to hear what the Lord is planning on doing with all these items. They KNOW it won’t be used in constructing another god, like their last gold was surrendered for.

Moses doesn’t keep them waiting long. He adds something else into this request that really sparks their interest. He is asking for THEIR HELP in making whatever it is that the Lord has in mind.

“Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the Lord has commanded: the tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its hooks and its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases; the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the veil of the screen; the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence; the lampstand also for the light, with its utensils and its lamps, and the oil for the light; and the altar of incense, with its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle; the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils, the basin and its stand; the hangings of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court; the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court, and their cords; the finely worked garments for ministering in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests.” (Exodus 35:10-19)

The people were so excited that they rushed back to their tents and began gathering the items the Lord had asked for. Once their arms were loaded, they hurried back to where Moses waited. They brought before him all that they had gathered. They also began offering their talents.

“I can weave!” “I can make rope. Good strong rope.” “I can make tent pegs.” “I can spin.”

Moses watches and listens. The offerings to the Lord continue to grow. “Everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the Lord. And every one who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats’ hair or tanned rams’ skins or goatskins brought them. Everyone who could make a contribution of silver or bronze brought it as the Lord’s contribution. And every one who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work brought it.  And the leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set, for the ephod and for the breastpiece, and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense. All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord.” (Exodus 35:21-24, 27-29)

Moses is overjoyed with all that has been brought. It was time to hand it over to those who would perform the tasks. There were two men in particular whom the Lord had called to perform His work and to teach others the skills that would be needed.

(to be continued)

Father God, YOU planned for this moment BEFORE the people left Egypt. YOU provided the means by which Your Tabernacle would be built. The Israelites wouldn’t have had these materials, if not for You giving them favor to receive from their Egyptian captives. Did the yarn come from Egypt too, or did they create that on their own? Good thing they brought it with them. You planned that TOO!

You have ordered my life just as fully. You have brought me to places that have provided opportunities for growth and training that was not immediately used. But they were there when needed, much later. Thank You for EACH step along the way!