Parasha Vayakhel 5782

Me

(Talk about renting here then moving to building on 98 then feeling led to make an offer on this property without any necessary resources and God miraculously providing them.)

When I sat down with the denomination leaders to pitch our offer we didn’t have the ability on paper to do anything we were suggesting, but we 100% felt that what we were offering was what the Lord directed us to offer. They also knew that on paper our three year old congregation wasn’t the right financial gamble to make… And they had cash offers on the table… But we felt this was a God thing, and if it was a God thing then God would provide miraculously for it.

We

One of the key spiritual realities we see throughout the Scriptures is that when God leads us to do something we can follow His leading with perfect faith because He has already prepared the way for us to be successful. All we have to do is follow Him faithfully and with all our heart and watch Him take care of the rest.

What’s funny is that even though we know this, even though we can see the evidence of this reality throughout Scripture, often we get in our own way because we have a hard time wrapping our heads around the fact that God isn’t limited by what we deem logical or illogical.

When we feel the lead to do something we almost always will begin the pros and cons list trying to determine how we can make this work, or how this is going to make sense, or how it could even be possible, or whatever else… But what none of that takes into consideration is that if God is leading us He has already made it all possible, we just have to move in confidence in Him with a willing and humble heart.

God

This week we read Parasha Vayakhel, Exodus 35:1-38:20, which opens with Moses reminding Israel of the six day work week and the seventh day being a Shabbat of complete rest before Adonai. This is then followed by Moses relaying Adonai’s command that everyone of Israel who’s heart is willing should bring offerings of materials needed to build the Mishkan and Israel quickly and joyously participating in the provision of these materials. He then informs Israel that Adonai has chosen Bezalel and Oholiab and has filled them with His Ruach to head up the project of building the Mishkan, all its furnishings and the priestly garments.

In Exodus 36 we see the beginning of the construction of the Mishkan. But, specifically chapter 36 opens with Israel responding in such great force with giving from their hearts for the building of the Mishkan that Bezalel, Oholiab, and those working with them approach Moses saying the people have brought well more than enough and asked for them to stop bringing materials.

The rest of Exodus 36 through 38 detail the process of the building of the Mishkan and its furnishings, which was already specified by Adonai when Moses was on Mount Sinai and is now being executed by Bezalel and Oholiab.

As we consider Parasha Vayakhel there is one particular idea I’d like to hone in on today that I believe is important for our calibrating our spiritual walks with the Lord. And as we do, there’s a principle I’d like us to keep in mind…

We must decide if we want to use our time, resources, and energy to prepare our lives as a habitation for the Presence of Lord, or for the desires of the world.

(Repeat)

So let’s dive into the text together today…

Exodus 35:4–5 (TLV)

Moses also said to all the congregation of Bnei-Yisrael, “This is the word which Adonai commanded saying:

Take from among you an offering for Adonai. Whoever has a willing heart, let him bring Adonai’s offering…

And skipping to Exodus 35:10

Exodus 35:10 (TLV)

“Let every wise-hearted man among you come and make everything that Adonai has commanded…

So, just to keep things in context, where we find ourselves at here in the history of Israel’s journey is with Israel still at Mount Sinai and Moses has come back down from the Mountain the second time. He has interceded on behalf of Israel because of their sin with the Golden Calf and God has been merciful with B’nei Yisrael in spite of their obvious rejection of Him with the Egel HaZahav. The Lord has told Moses that He will still bring Israel into the Promised Land and that He will still lead them with His Shechinah, and Adonai has given Moses the Tablets of the Testimony again.

Jewish traditions says that from Moses ascending Mount Sinai after the first Shavuot to Moses returning after the second 40 days was 120 days. It is believed that Moses ascended the day after Shavuot, when Israel heard the Bat Kol from the Mountain. Then he was on the mountain for 40 days, coming down on the 17th of Tamuz to find Israel worship the Egel HaZahav and he breaks the first set of Tablets. Then on the 1 of Elul Moses ascended Sinai again for another 40 days and then on the 10th of Tishrei, which is Yom Kippur, Moses came back down again, and immediately following they began building the Tabernacle.

So Israel encounters the Presence of God at Mount Sinai, then a not even a month and a half later they are building and worshipping the Golden Calf. Then Moses comes down and destroys the Tablets because of his anger at Israel’s failure. Then on the 1st of Elul Moses goes back and pleads for Adonai’s Presence to continue with Israel. Then when Moses comes back down on Yom Kippur he leads Israel in building the Mishkan, the very habitation for the Shechinah of HaShem in the midst of Israel. And all of this transpires over the course of about 120 days.

The Lord commands Moses to tell Israel that those with a willing heart, those who want to participate in preparing a place for His Presence to reside should bring their offerings for this purpose. But Adonai is very specific in saying only those with a willing heart, this is to be a freewill offering of the people not something dictated as a demand by the Lord. His heart is for His people to want His Presence in their midst, He isn’t trying to force Himself on anyone. And if you don’t believe this to be true, then just take a hearty look at the world around us today… If God was willing to force us to have relationship with Him then the world would look a heck of a lot different than it does right now…

Then we skip again to verse 20 and we see Israel’s response and reaction to this call.

Exodus 35:20–21 TLV

Then all the congregation of Bnei-Yisrael departed from before Moses. Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit was willing came and brought Adonai’s offering for the work of the Tent of Meeting and for all its service as well as for the holy garments.

And skipping again to verse 29

Exodus 35:29 TLV

Every man and woman whose heart made them willing gave toward all the work that Adonai had commanded to be done by Moses’ hand. So Bnei-Yisrael brought it as a freewill offering to Adonai.

Moses relays to Israel what the Lord has said and they all depart from Moses and head back to their tents and those who felt their hearts stir to be an active participant in preparing a place for the Presence of God to reside among Israel immediately began to gather from their resources everything needed for the project. But notice a couple of things about what happens here…

First, notice that verse 20 specifically says that all the congregation departed from before Moses, but it doesn’t then continue with ALL of Israel came back with their freewill offering. No, only those whose heart stirred and whose spirit was willing came back with an offering for the construction of the Mishkan. Not everyone chose to humble themselves before the Lord. Not everyone chose to have the Lord reside in their midst. Not everyone wanted to participate in what was happening. And God didn’t want those who didn’t want to participate to do so anyways reluctantly or begrudgingly.

Second, let’s notice what verse 22 says they brought as freewill offerings…

Exodus 35:22 TLV

So they came, both men and women, everyone whose heart compelled him, and brought nose rings, earrings, signet rings, bracelets, and all kinds of golden jewels—everyone who brought a wave offering of gold to Adonai.

The passage continues on and tells us they also brought various textiles needed, along with the necessary wood and such as well. But, I want us to pay close attention here to the first items mentioned having been brought by Israel: THEIR JEWELRY… Why is this so important? Why am I bringing this up?

Well, as I said a few moments ago, this is shortly after Israel’s sin with the Egel HaZahav, and what was it that Aaron commanded Israel to bring to him for the building of the idol? Their jewelry… specifically their earrings…

So with the Egel HaZahav all of Israel were active participants (tradition would say except for the Levites) in building the Golden Calf by bringing their jewelry forward to provide the materials needed. But Aaron commands all Israel to bring forth these items for the Egel HaZahav, in juxtaposition to what Adonai says here in Exodus 35 in which He is intentional to only call for those with a willing heart for the Presence of God.

Shekalim 1:1 in the Jerusalem Talmud has this to say with regards to Israel’s giving…

Said Rabbi Aba bar Acha: There’s no understanding the character of this people! They’re solicited for the [Golden] Calf, and they give; they’re solicited for the Mishkan, and they give.

But one of the beautiful things I see about what is happening here in Parasha Vayakhel is that what we see playing out here is an act of redemption of the mistake Israel made with the Egel HaZahav. It is likely that many who gave for the building of the Golden Calf did so out of peer pressure, who wants to be the odd man out right? And the reality is Israel, at this point, weren’t necessarily convinced yet that Adonai is the only true God. They had been very much conditioned for idolatry in Egypt, and we know all too well that breaking off the grip of the world on our lives is a lot easier said than done.

But the Mishkan was to be a dwelling, a place of habitation for the Presence of the Lord among His people Israel. And if we are going to prepare a place for the Lord to dwell in our midst than it should probably only be those who actually want His Presence who participate in preparing that dwelling.

We must decide if we want to use our time, resources, and energy to prepare our lives as a habitation for the Presence of Lord or for the desires of the world.

Think about it, there are a lot of people in the world around us today who give to all sorts of purposes, all sorts of charities, all sorts of causes, but how many are actually doing it because they care or because that cause is important to them? Verses how many are giving because they want the tax write off, or they want to be able to boast about how much they’ve given and where, or whatever other selfish reasons…

But the Lord isn’t looking for us to prepare a place for Him just because He says so… He wants us to want Him in our lives. He wants us to desire His Presence. He wants us to desire an encounter with Him. He calls only those of Isreal whose heart is actually willing to give, whose heart has been stirred to give.

God has already called Bezalel and Oholiab to build the Mishkan, He has already given them the skills needed, and He has already empowered them in His Ruach HaKodesh for the task that lays ahead of them. He has also already separated out others with the skills and abilities to help Bezalel and Oholiab with this project. But Adonai wanted a way for all Israel to have the opportunity to participate in preparing a dwelling for His Presence, so we see all Israel given the opportunity to participate by providing the resources needed, but only those who actually desire to do so, only those whose hearts are moved for this purpose. There’s no tax deductible receipts available… There’s no clout to be claimed… Just the blessing of participating. Just the reality of the habitation of the Presence of HaShem.

Ultimately the Torah tells us that Israel was so moved and so involved in the task before them that they brought way more than was actually needed, and they were still bringing more. So he asks Moses tells Israel to stop bringing offerings because there is already more than enough.

Paul hits on a similar reality to what we see in Parasha Vayakhel in 2 Corinthians 9, let’s take a look at this passage together.

2 Corinthians 9:2–8 TLV

for I know your eagerness. I boast about it to the Macedonians, that Achaia has been preparing for a year already; and your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you may not be in vain in this case, so that you may be prepared, just as I kept saying. Otherwise, if any Macedonians were to come and find you unprepared, we—not to mention you—would be put to shame in this undertaking. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on to you and arrange ahead of time your generous gift that had been promised beforehand, so that it would be ready as a gift and not as an extortion. The point is this: whoever sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one give as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion—for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that by always having enough of everything, you may overflow in every good work.

Now, I want to clarify something here just for accuracy to context, in this passage Paul is specifically dealing with a request he is making for the Corinthian congregation to collect a special offering to assist the kedoshim in other places. But, Paul is requesting this offering be taken up before he arrives so that it is from a willing heart instead of feeling like Paul is extorting them standing in front of them asking in person and making people give out of guilt or coercion.

But the premise of what he is saying here ties directly into what we are dealing with in Parashe Vayakhel. Paul intentionally directs, just as Adonai did through Moses...

2 Corinthians 9:7 TLV

Let each one give as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion—for God loves a cheerful giver.

And I want you to understand something, this does directly speak to our financial giving in the Kingdom, but I believe the premise is so much more important. As followers of Messiah we are to prepare ourselves a dwelling for the Presence of the Lord in our hearts and lives. And just like in Vayakhel when those of Israel who’s hearts were moved to participate in preparing the Mishkan through giving of their time, resources, and energy as a freewill offering, you and I are called to do the same.

As followers of Messiah, giving of our resources is a vital part of our walk with the Lord. Tithes and offerings are a tremendous spiritual principal. But, just like with what we read about in Exodus, God doesn’t want us to do so reluctantly, or as Paul words it, we aren’t to feel extorted when we give. But we are called to give of the finances HaShem has blessed us with.

But the idea goes farther than that too… Because for a lot of believers giving financially is all they do… But God has called us to give freely of our financial resources yes, but also of our time, skills, giftings, and talents… When Israel was told to bring their free will offerings they invested time and energy into digging out anything they may have that could be of use. And many others gave of their physical ability in the building of the Tabernacle and assisting Bezalel and Oholiab.

But, whether we’re talking about participating in preparing a dwelling for the Lord through our giving of our finances or through giving of our time and talents or through our energy and service, or whatever else God asks of us, it must be done because of the stirring of the Ruach within us. Not because our rabbi stood on stage and guilt tripped us… Not because our worship leader told us we are gifted and should use it for the Lord… Not because we felt obligated or left out or like we’re letting someone down…

We must decide if we want to use our time, resources, and energy to prepare our lives as a habitation for the Presence of Lord or for the desires of the world.

And what does Paul say next after saying let each give as his heart leads him and with a cheerful heart?

2 Corinthians 9:8 TLV

And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that by always having enough of everything, you may overflow in every good work.

God has blessed each and every one of us with everything we have in life… Whether that’s what’s in our bank accounts, or the gifts and talents He’s blessed us with, or the strength in our backs, or the joy in our hearts… He has blessed us with all of these for His purposes and for His Kingdom and He has called us to give of ourselves sacrificially for His Kingdom, but only if through a willing heart, and only because the Ruach is leading us.

Because what good does it do anyone if we are involving ourselves in preparing a dwelling for the Presence of God but we don’t actually care if He’s in our lives or even really want Him in our lives? What good is it doing if we prepare a dwelling for the Shechinah in our lives if we aren’t willing to have our hearts and lives transformed? What good does it do if we prepare a dwelling for His Presence but we aren’t willing to be used by Him to impact the world around us?

And if you’re thinking your heart is being stirred to give of your resources, time, and energy but you just don’t feel like you have enough of any of them to spare… If you are willing to be faithful to the leading of the Ruach within you He will make all grace overflow to you so that by always having enough yo may overflow in every good work!!!

If God is calling He has already prepared the way… Remember, God brought nation of slaves out of Egypt with a broken heart and and spirit, and He knew He was going to call them to prepare a dwelling for His Presence in their midst before He ever led them through the Yam Suf. And the Torah tells us Adonai commanded Israel to go door to door to their neighbors to ask them for gold and silver and the like, to ask them for various materials before they every left Egypt. When we read this it seems odd or even out of place, it seems like a weird addition to the story… Until we come to the building of the Mishan and realize all of those resources were divinely prepared in the hands of Israel in advance of the work that would begin in the Parasha Vayakhel.

So if we are willing to heed the call of HaShem to prepare a dwelling for His Ruach within us, within our congregation, within our community He is already faithful to provide all of the resources, time, and energy needed to see it to fruition. And when we are ready to heed His Ruach’s leading within our hearts to participate, to become a part of the process, then He will make sure we always have enough of everything needed so that we may overflow in every good work.

We must decide if we want to use our time, resources, and energy to prepare our lives as a habitation for the Presence of Lord or for the desires of the world.

You

So what is the Ruach stirring up within you that you’ve been fighting against out of fear or doubt?

What blessings have you robbed yourself of experiencing because you just couldn’t see how it would be possible?

Are you willing to submit your heart as a holy dwelling for the Presence of the Lord today?

Are you willing to sacrifice of your resources, time, and energy for the Kingdom of Messiah solely because the Ruach is leading you to do so?

Are you ready to stop fighting against what God’s desire for your life is?

Are you ready to freely give your heart to His desires for your life?

We

If our worship team will make their way back up to the stage. (Unmute the worship team)

Just as Adonai called those of a willing heart, stirred by the Ruach to give generously and abundantly of their resources, time, and energy to prepare a dwelling for His Presence, He yearns for us to desire for our hearts and lives to be made a dwelling for His Presence. He has given each and every one of us gifts and talents to use for His Kingdom and His glory. Let us begin today to give wholeheartedly of ourselves, just as B’nei Israel gave of their limited resources for the Mishkan, so that we can experience the might and power of the dynamic Presence of HaShem in our midst today and everyday.

And here’s the difference between B’nei Yisrael in the wilderness and you and I today, we are empowered with the indwelling of the Ruach HaKodesh. And when He stirs up our spirit to do something it is His literal Ruach within us that is stirring… So let’s not hold back, let’s not fight and argue with Him over it. Let’s give Him our all out of worship, out of humility, out of willing submission to the Ruach HaKodesh!!!