2021-10-10 AM,

Exodus 25:1–2 ESV

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me.

The Lord’s command to the congregation of Israel

The people take (get and give) for Me a contribution (offering of religious use)

Every man- The gift is from every person to the Lord

whose heart moves him- One of the requirements for this offering to be acceptable to the Lord is a willing and joyful attitude.

They had plenty of reason to make a heartfelt contribution to the Lord do to the incredible deliverance of Israel in chapters 1-14 and His ongoing provision for them in chapters 15-17.

Exodus 25:3–7 ESV

And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair, tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece.

God commanded the offering to be of specific materials:

Gold, silver, bronze

blue and purple yarns, twisted linen, goats’ hair

tanned rams’ skins, goatskins

acacia wood

oil

onyx stones

other stones

spices

How did the people have these things to give?

God provided the people with these materials as they left Egypt. They took these precious metals and materials from the Egyptians (Genesis 15:14; Ex. 3:21-22, 11:2; 12:35-36).

Exodus 12:35–36 ESV

The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

God gave the resources for His work to His people.

God had a specific purpose for the resources given.

They were for the tabernacle, its funishings, and the priestly garments. mentioned in this passage:

-lamps

-fragrant incense

-ephod

Exodus 25:8–9 ESV

And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

-sanctuary

Through these, the Israelites would worship God according to His instructions and God would dwell with His people.

Remember, the point of the Bible is fellowship between God and humanity (Rev. 22:3)

God’s plan is precise according to His will.

Carry-over Points of this passage:

God instructs that we give.

He gives us the resources (time, energy, and money/possessions) to give.

He provides for His purposes through the resources we give.

He requires gifts to be accompanied with a willing and joyful attitude.