Willing service, Ex. 36:1-7
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Introduction
Introduction
When was the last time you were ‘all in’ on something? Someone gave a presentation and you didn’t have to think twice about it, you jumped in with both feet without some much as a prod from someone else?
we were introduced to Bezalel and Aholiab in the last chapter where their wisdom and skill were emphasized which was imbued to them from the Spirit of God. Here again the same is emphasized.
The work of God necessitates the wisdom of the Spirit of God in order to accomplish the work exactly as God intended. They needed the mind of God to do so.
Hence, our text tells us that Bezalel and Oholiab among others had wisdom and understanding inculcated into them in order to know how to do the work in accord with all the Lord commanded.
Moses gave the people a presentation of the work to do. He had no power point with its visual capabilities or sound bites. He simply gave the people the vision of what had to be made, coupled with the background of their experience with their All-powerful God, YHWH. When he gave the call, these two men answered that call along with many more who were specially equipped by God to do the divine work that needed to be done.
What sold them on this task? They had a word from God clearly communicated by a man of God (Moses) with clear instructions and descriptions for the task at hand. They were told not only what to make, but how to make it and why it needed to be made. They saw/understood the purpose behind the work. They saw the God behind the work. They grasped the exhortation of the Word of God understood the benefit to them and sought to glorify God in the doing of the work.
With that we see
I. How God prepared the people for the work, v.1
I. How God prepared the people for the work, v.1
We are told these men were wise of heart.
wise of heart,
The text tells us that
The Lord gave -
wisdom/hokmah
understanding-tebunah
in order to know/ladaat
to do all the work of the service of the sanctuary according to all the Lord commanded.
So the Lord is the one who gives the wisdom/skill and understanding both of God's plans and how all the components work together and fit together to form the intended sanctuary.
Therein lies the necessity of wisdom and understanding, both of which find their source in God, not experience. Cf. Adam and Eve keeping the garden with the wisdom of God. They were born with it not that they gained it by experience. His wisdom and knowledge was inculcated into these men and their practice and experience bore it out by the product they made. So that when it was finished God saw it and by His indwelling it gave His confirmation that it was made exactly as He intended and was thus pleased with it. Hence, skill/wisdom and understanding go hand in hand. It is possible for one to merely regurgitate knowledge and be thought wise because of his knowledge. But understanding is the practice of that wisdom/knowledge. To understand how it all works together.
Nevertheless, skill/wisdom and understanding go hand in hand. It is possible for one to merely regurgitate knowledge and be thought wise because of his knowledge. But understanding is the practice of that wisdom/knowledge. To understand how it all works together.
a few illustrations: knowing horse training principles and knowing the nature of the horse. The practice of the principles/methods without understanding the nature of the horse and why the principle or method works can lead to disaster, but the practice of both leads to safety, calmness, ease of movement.
me with the rebuild of the engine in my old truck. I had a concept of how an engine worked, but not really. And even though I rebuilt the engine, it does not mean I can now call myself a mechanic.
a craftsman working with wood or metal is the same way.
Now in this context they are going to be building the tabernacle, the sanctuary of God. The bible tells us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and that the church is also this temple. So then, we are working with flesh and bone, with the souls of people. We are to be building the church, building lives to honor and glorify God. It is as Paul said that he would present you holy and blameless before him,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
We are working with flesh and bone, with the souls of people. We are to be building the church, building lives to honor and glorify God. It is as Paul said that he would present you holy and blameless before him, or . The whole point is that we are building up one another for a temple of God, we could look at , ;
The whole point is that we are building up one another for a temple of God, we could look at
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
,
;
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
But it takes the indwelling of the Spirit of God and the wisdom and understanding that He gives us to know how to do that.
But it takes the indwelling of the Spirit of God and the wisdom and understanding that He gives us to know how to put all the components of the church, the giftedness of the believer, the teaching, the material to teach, evangelism, missions, worship service, place of worship together in order to build the church. Scripture calls the church a body, a vine, a temple in order to help us understand what is being built or nurtured. It takes the Spirit of God using the Word of God to inform the heart of the believer not only what the church/temple of God is supposed to look like, but also how to produce that look.
I think that once the work of God is made clear by those and to those who are filled with the Spirit of God to do the work then it is natural for them to jump in and get involved. That is what we see here.
II. A Willingness to work, v.2
II. A Willingness to work, v.2
Moses made the call to Bezalel, Aholiab and all the wise of heart craftsmen, Note the emphasis on two things: the wise of heart, which God put in them and secondly, their willingness to come.
lit. Hebrew all who lifted up his heart to draw near to the work, to do it.
all who lifted up his heart to draw near to the work, to do it.
Esv. everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work.
everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work.
There are two words being used here point to eager willingness.
The first is nasa which means to lift up, to carry, The object of that verb is heart. The point being that their heart is carried away or lifted up. thus, nothing externally compelling or forcing, but rather the desire rises from within. I think it here expresses passion, thus inciting to action from within. So there is a stirring or racing of the heart. It is a picturesque word visually lifting the heart. We speak of down-hearted, ie. one who is sad, lethargic. But this is one who is lifted up in heart, excited, energetic, the exact opposite of down-hearted.
It is kind of a feeling of elation, being pumped up to be doing something significant. It drives your thoughts and conduct, your actions.
the second verb is to draw near/qarab- it basically means to come near or approach, but I think it means more than just draw near, It often was used for drawing near to offer sacrifice at the altar ;
Thus the thought is an eagerness to offer oneself, skills, materials etc. to the work of the sanctuary.
So there is clearly an inner desire to serve on the part of the craftsmen to do the work of the sanctuary that God has specifically gifted them to do.
Is that not what we see with the disciples in the book of Acts, a willingness to face the dangers of preaching the gospel despite threat. They do not preach at the point of bayonet or sword. Rather, nothing compels them but the grace of God.
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Romans
Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
The bottom line is those who are filled with the Spirit of God are eagerly willing to get involved in the service doing whatever they are gifted to do in order to contribute to the work of the ministry.
That is what we see here with these men whose hearts are filled with wisdom for the work. They immediately step forward to answer the call of God.
How about yourself?
So not only does God prepare His people for the work He calls them to, they as a result of that preparedness are willing to get involved in the work. But there are those who for whatever reason cannot get involved in the actual work, hands on style. They can’t become a preacher, pastor, teacher, missionary. They don’t have such giftedness, but they do have a place in the work of God that they are specifically fitted for. That is seen in our next verses
III. A willingness to give to the work, v. 3
III. A willingness to give to the work, v. 3
Here we get to the part where the eager willingness to give offerings to the work are received by Moses and given to the workers to do the work. IN vact the people kept bringing the offerings in every morning until the workers were swamped with materials for their job. They ran out of room to put everything.
Notice that they brought
freewill offerings nedabah- these were voluntary offerings, no forced compulsion going on here. They brought every morning.
The call to stop bringing offerings, v.4
Now we have the approach of the craftsmen who were doing their work, the came from their work to tell Moses in v.5
"the people bring more than enough for the work which the Lord commanded us to do." In other words, they brought more than necessary. Their willingness to give to the work was so abundant they had a surplus of what was needed. an inventory of that offering is found in .
You talk about generosity and giving back what God had given to them, possibly when they spoiled the Egyptians. It is phenomenal.
Gold
29 talents =1930 pounds/30983 ounces
730 shekels= 18.5 lbs/296.1 oz.
thus, 31279oz. of gold
an oz of gold on todays market 10/12/17 is 1294.80. = $40.5 million dollars.
Silver
100 talents =6,658 lbs/106,527.5 oz.
1775 shekels=45lbs/720 oz.
silver today is 17.28 oz.
thus, 107,247.5 oz. of silver = $1,853,236.80, almost 2 million in silver.
So then, each male over 20 years old gave a value of $650 dollars in the offering just in gold and silver.
Brass/iron
brass 70 talents =4660 lbs
2400 shekels=61lbs
thus, 4700 lbs/ 2 1/4 tons.
The generosity, willingness of the people to brings such valuables, not to mention the dyed materials for the curtains and coverings, the linens, wools, hides etc. It reminds me of what Paul said about the Macedonian believers in regarding abundant giving by the people of God.
You may not have the wisdom and skills needed to do a particular work, but you probably have resources or materials that you can willingly give for the work.
cf. 2 cor. 8 regarding abundant giving by the people of God.
What about that?
It is just amazing what happens when the people of God get hold of what God is doing and buy into it, how generous they are. I must also point out that nothing they or we have to give is of our own. The reality is that God is the One who gives us what we have, either through gifts from others, or work, in either case, it is God who gives us the strength, skill and ability to work, as well as the work. It is not a stretch then to believe that we give out of the abundance that God has given us first. The believers in Macedonia were giving out of their poverty because they understood the deep grace of God toward them. Their offering flowed out of their joy in God's grace and He turned their poverty into rich offerings to help their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem.
So it is here in our text. God so moved in the hearts of the individual people of Israel that they couldn't help their hearts, but to give to such a great work.
When you have people who are led by the Spirit of God, filled with the Spirit, thus full of wisdom and understanding; who have a clear understanding of the work to be done; who have an energy of excitement, a passion, and eagerness for the work, then there is enough able workers and enough resources to accomplish the work God calls us too.