Everyone Contributed to the Building of the Tabernacle.

Footnotes

[1] 35:7 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain; also verse 23; compare 25:5
[2] 35:19 Or garments for worship; see 31:10

Hugh Stephenson

GM Mandy!Love your focus on Bezalel and Oholiab. Amazing characters with amazing gifts. https://www.gotquestions.org/free-will-offering.html Q1 So many of these questions come down to my knowing Him. I especially like the bridge diagram http://www.discipleshiplibrary.com/Bridgehome.htm. The most important element of this for me is it reinforces the “God Big, Hugh Small” reality. Q2 Like so many other hard learned lessons, trying to do something I like but am not gifted to do has never ended well. Q3 I love the analogies to bodily limbs. We would not be able to “walk” with Him. Like the boy with the loaves and fishes its seems to be dependent on availability, not ability alone. —————————— About the renewal of the Covenant, the building of the Tabernacle and the way forward…I think about how I’m taught about the recovery cycle- Sin, Confession, Repentance, Amends, Reconciliation, Restoration. Then 2 Corinthians 5:17 How many times have I had deep remorse after a major mistake, rash act, stupid decision, impulsive words or other “crash-and-burn moment? All of them. How many times did I crave a “redo” to recover the consequences and the lost relationship? All of them. God teaches me that His desire for me to live in unity with Him and all others. In John 17 Jesus conveys this powerfully after a detailed discourse with His disciples. Moses’s intercession initiates and then the deep desire of the people to be reconciled and even restored is granted. There will still be consequences for the bad decisions but the people will still have God come dwell with them. Isn’t that what we all want? To be one with God?

Hugh Stephenson

So…what does this chapter teach me? The difference between being sorry and being truly penitent. Between worldly sorrow that leads to death and the Godly sorrow that leads to repentance, (2 Corinthiuans 7:10) In Prodigal we focus on this a great deal. While all the leaders have prodigals in our life there are many of us who were prodigals as well. We know what a drive-by-apology looks like. And we know what a changed heart looks like, (Psalm 51:10). I have seen this first hand in recovery ministries when, quite literally, the person’s face changes. It’s so obvious that you can’t miss it. I knew my own conversion was real due to the supernatural experience that healed my addiction to alcohol. Subject to temptation- yes. Slavery to sin- no. Verses 20-29 convey this truth writ large. Just count the number of times the words “every”, “everyone” or “all” is used. We find out in Exodus 36 that the gratefulness and abundance of the people were such that Moses told them to stop giving.

Hugh Stephenson

Constable’s notes edify in comparing the Giving of the Covenant to its restoration. The Giving of the Covenant  (Exod. 20—31) The Restoring of the Covenant (Exod. 33—34) All the people were to be priests (19:5-6). Only the Levites would be priests (32:29). Moses ascended Mt. Sinai and God spoke with him there while the people waited below (19:20). Moses ascended Mt. Sinai and God spoke with him there while the people waited below (32:31). God sent His angel to destroy Israel's enemies (23:23). God sent His angel lest He destroy Israel (33:2-5). The tabernacle in the center of the camp was to be the "tent of meeting" where God would meet with the people (25:8; 27:21; 28:43; 29:42-43). Another "tent of meeting" outside the camp was where God met with Moses and Joshua only (33:7). God displayed His glory for all the people to see on Mt. Sinai (24:16-17). Only Moses could see God's glory partially (33:18-23), and the people only saw God's glory reflected on Moses' face (34:29). God covered Moses' face lest he see too much of God's glory (33:18-23). Moses covered his face lest the people see too much of God's glory (34:34-35). God revealed His glory to test the people and to keep them from sinning (20:20). God revealed His glory to show His grace and compassion (33:19; 34:6-7). God wrote the Ten Commandments on stone tablets (Deut. 10:1-4). God wrote the Ten Commandments on stone tablets (34:28). God gave the Ten Commandments (20:2-17). God gave the Ten Commandments (34:27-28). The structure of the narrative begins and ends with warnings against idolatry (20:22-23; 23:13) and instructions for proper worship (20:24-26; 23:14-19). The structure of the narrative begins and ends with warnings against idolatry (34:11-17) and instructions for proper worship (34:11-26). Moses expressed amazement when he saw the people (32:19). The people expressed amazement when they saw Moses (34:30) "The similarities of Exod 25—31 and 35—40 may all be accounted for on the basis of their rootage in this all-encompassing theme: both sections, each in its own way, are preoccupied with Israel's need to experience the reality of Yahweh's Presence."

Michael Sisson

Re: Ex 35:2-3 As in Ex 31, G-d reiterates the perpetual sanctity of the 7th day Sabbath. That profaning the Sabbath is punishable by death speaks to the importance G-d places on its observance, and speaks to the futility of relying on our own works for salvation, instead of solely depending upon Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ; see Heb 4:9-11). Those who fail to enter into HIS rest will surely die. Today, both Traditional and even Messianic Jews continue to observe the biblical Sabbath, per their covenantal obligation. As gentile Christians, we’re not called to full Torah observance. (Acts 15:19-21) Consequently, the majority of Yeshua’s gentile followers sanctify the “L-rd’s Day” as the “gentile Sabbath.” (Col 2:16-17) However, we want to avoid arrogantly (Rom 11:18) suggesting G-d has >>>moved the Sabbath to Sunday,<<< lest we besmirch G-d’s character and lay a stumbling block between our Jewish brethren and their entering into the Sabbath rest Who is Yeshua ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ; Heb 4:9-11). Personally, I would LOVE to see churches holding Friday evening Sabbath services. I can personally attest to the fruit of biblical Sabbath observance, to the witness it would be to those whom we’re called to make jealous (Rom 11:11), and to the practical benefits of front loading one’s weekend with laying aside the cares of the world and entering into worship. I guarantee it will make your weekend seem longer. Re: Ex 35:4-29 The freewill offerings of the people in this passage call to mind passages in the New Testament which employ the Tabernacle/Temple as a metaphor for how the Body of Messiah is being built as a spiritual dwelling for G-d. (See 1Cor 3:10-17; Eph 2:19-22; 1Pet 2:4-5) Re: Ex 35:30-35 “Betzalel was the grandson of Hur (of the tribe of Judah and ancestor of King David) who, according to Josephus (Antiquities 3:2) was the husband of Moses' sister Miriam. This was the same Hur chosen to go with Moses and Aaron to the top of a mountain to prop up Moses' arms during Israel's first war against the Amalekites (Ex 17:8-13). “Betzalel is clearly a type (or picture) of the Messiah Yeshua. For consider, he was a man ‘called by name’ from the tribe of Judah who was ‘filled with the Spirit of God’ (ruach Elohim) to build the dwelling place of the LORD - an apt enough description of the Lord Yeshua Himself. Moses was said to be so astonished at Betzalel's abilities that he said Betzalel must have been ‘in the shadow’ while he received his visions at Sinai (Betzel El Hayita - ‘you were indeed in the shadow, for you have the ability to create what the Holy One, blessed Be He, had commanded me’). Indeed, the name Betzalel (בְּצַלְאֵל) means ‘in the shadow of God’ (from בְּ [in] + tzel [צֵל], ‘shadow’ + El [אֵל], ‘God’). Moreover, Betzalel's chief assistant was Oholiav (אָהֳלִיאָב), a name that means ‘my Father's tent’ (from oheli [אָהֳלִי], ‘my tent’ and av [אָב], ‘father’). Betzalel was like Yeshua in that 1) he was from the kingly tribe of Judah, 2) he was a young carpenter, 3) he was unusually ‘filled with the Spirit of God,’ 4) his father's name (Uri) means ‘my light’ (James 1:17), 4) his assistant (Oholiav) was from the tribe of Dan (i.e., דָּן, ‘judge,’ symbolizing the legal aspects of the Torah), and 5) it was he (rather than Moses) who actually built the Mishkan, which was the archetypal pattern for the spiritual Temple - see 1 Pet 2:5).” [See Heb 3:1-6] “The Torah states that God endowed Betzalel with the Spirit of God (רוּחַ אֱלהִים), and with wisdom (חָכְמָה), understanding (תְּבוּנָה), and knowledge (דַּעַת) - the same attributes used to describe God as the Creator of the Universe (Ex 35:31; Pr 3:19-20).” — Hebrew For Christians https://hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Parashah/Summaries/Ki_Tisa/Betzalel/betzalel.html

Chris Landry

Good morning. Love that we have @regen for students! That was coming in to student ministry as my guys were graduating. Thanks for serving there! Much needed. What stood out to me in this chapter wasn't so much the materials used but the givers of such. Did you notice all the mentions of the givers' "heart". They were stirred or willing or moved to give. It's as if they WANTED to give. They WANTED to serve. They were compelled by Him to use their treasures and talents for the God that rescued their people from slavery. -- And they came, 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. All the women whose HEARTS STIRRED them to use their skill spun the goats’ hair. 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 ‭35‬:‭21‬-‭22‬, ‭26‬, ‭29 -- Because I, too, am rescued from slavery (to my sin), I WANT to bring my time, talent, and treasure to the Church and those around me as a freewill offering to the glory of Him who rescued me.

Michael Scaman

Everyone contributed... even the Egyptians who 'the women' 'plundered' on the way out pf Egypt. But before the started the task of building the tabernacle, Moses reminds them to keep the Sabbath holy. I do see that the 'gospel primary' book of Romans doesn't directly speak to the Lord's day except to cut some slack for people treating all days alike. John calls Sunday the Lord's day. Hebrews says there is a Sabbath rest in the work of Jesus. Colossians says things like the Sabbath are a shadow of things to come, but effectively says the one casting the shadow is Christ Ultimately, the tabernacle, the temple, the church is built by a work of God as Jesus said "I will build My church". The Psalm traditionally about building the temple, Psalm 30 is directly followed by Psalm 31, a passion Psalm where 'into thy hands I commit my spirit' where Jesus makes possible the greater temple, the church and in Psalm 32 blessed is the man who is counted as forgiven, a result of that work. The center psalm of the road songs to the temple (the Psalms of ascent_ is a psalm of Solomon where unless the LoORD build the house. House can refer to the house of God which is the destination of the road song journey. Unless the greater than Solomon, Jesus builds the greater than the temple, the church, it is vain.

Sue Bohlin

Love how you use your gifts to serve the body, Mandy, including your wonderful devo--THANK YOU! I'm especially pumped about re:gen for students. What an amazing opportunity to learn such powerful discipleship principles so early in life! In today's chapter, I am struck by how the Lord provided EVERYTHING for His tabernacle, but invited His people into the process so they had a part to play as well. Everything they gave as freewill offerings came from Him originally. It still cracks me up to think of how He provided so much of the beauty and wealth for the Tabernacle through the Egyptians as the Israelites departed! God always, always gets the last laugh. God called on the people with various skills in making and building stuff to contribute them to the creation of the Tabernacle. Talent and skills were--and still are--the gift of God. He expresses His power and ability THROUGH us, but without eye-hand coordination, and the brain-based abilities, and muscle memory, and all the various parts of executing things well (which are all grace-gifts from God), we can't do anything. Just ask stroke survivors whose bodies no longer do their bidding. Abilities of any kind are God's gifts to us. But I especially loved how Moses explained how God had gifted Bezalel and Oholiab with their crazy-awesome "skill, intelligence and knowledge" in craftsmanship, design, artistry in precious metals, gemstone cutting, and woodworking. On top of that, He gifted them to teach others. Plus engraving, designing, and embroidery?! I've only known a handful of people with a similarly wide range in God's "GIfted and Talented Program," and none of them were so supernaturally gifted as these two guys. (Although Jake Weidmann comes very very close. Google him.) All these good gifts come from God. As do all the gifts and talents we enjoy today. He is a gracious, generous Father!

Amy Lowther

1. It improves the service we offer. We can ensure our service is motivated by this by considering how God would serve in the position, by praying to God when we begin serving, and by praying as needed throughout the serving opportunity. 2. It helps each of us value ourselves and value our opportunities. We can encourage those who use their gifts faithfully by thanking them and by praising or complimenting them. 3. It can show how close or distant we are with God. We can honor God by being courteous, unselfish, and resourceful as we use our gifts.