Exodus II Notes Week 14
OUTLINE
Intro
The Call
For Materials
For Men and Women
Interlude
The Response
Provision of Materials
From Men and Women
Provision of Men & Women
From The Heart
They Build it (Exod 36:8-39:41)
Thoughts
Recap
More Thoughts
They all had a contribution to make, and from their example we learn what it means to have a heart for giving—offering what we have and what we do for the glorious work of God.
The people also gave willingly. God only wanted their offerings if they were willing to give. As the Scripture says, “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). Thus the collection for the tabernacle was not a tax; it was a freewill offering.
It was an opportunity for the artists and artisans to shine. But it was not a job for everyone. Only the people who were skilled in these areas were called to help.
The Bible teaches that every Christian has spiritual gifts God uses to build his kingdom. We should use the particular gifts that God has given to us: Teachers should teach, leaders should lead, helpers should help, and so on
This means that we should do what God has called us to do. It also means that we shouldn’t try to do what God has not called us to do. Obviously God didn’t want people who didn’t know how to sew making curtains for his tabernacle. The way they contributed to this project was not by doing but by giving. Each of us needs to be content to do what God has called us to do and to let others do what God has called them to do. The service we offer depends on the gifts we have been given, as confirmed by the church.
Idea: Calling
Not only did the people do the right thing, but they also did it for the right reason. Their obedience came from the heart
God wants something more basic than what we have or what we do; he wants us to give him our very hearts.
This was a community effort.
The reason the Bible singles these women out is to show that their gifts were essential to God’s work. Building the tabernacle was a job for both men and women, according to their gifts. The women of Israel were not called to serve as elders or prophets. But rather than getting hung up on what they weren’t called to do, these women were eager to do what God had called them to do. They are a beautiful example of willing service and joyful submission to God.
The word “leaders” may refer to Israel’s elders. However, the term seems to refer more generally to leaders in the community who presumably had the resources to make the most costly contributions to the tabernacle.
He can get his work done without any help. Yet he gives us an opportunity to participate in his saving work by using our time and our talents—including our money—to serve him.
Today God’s great building project is the church.
Once the tabernacle was the place where God lived with his people, but today his dwelling place is the church that he fills with his glorious Spirit.
As we offer our gifts, we need to remember why we give. We do not give ourselves to God to gain anything in return, but because God has given himself to us in Jesus Christ.
This is the first time in the Bible that someone is said to be filled with God’s Spirit.
The outpouring of the Spirit teaches us something about the importance of spiritual gifts in the church. It takes the Holy Spirit to build God’s house.
Bezalel was a teacher as well as an artist. Today many people think of the artist as an isolated genius, but that is not how art works, and it is not the Biblical pattern. Like all of God’s gifts, art is meant to be shared. One of the ways Bezalel shared his gift was by training apprentices to make fine art. This was not for their benefit alone, but for the whole worshiping community.
This was the approach that Aaron took when he made the golden calf. He told the people what to give and then he made them give it, saying, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me” (Exod. 32:2).