Sermon Tone Analysis

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.

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…

We

One of the key spiritual realities we see in 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 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 whatever… But what none of that takes into consideration is that if God is leading us He has already prepared the way…

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 in context where we find ourselves out here in the history of Israel’s journey, Israel is 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.

So now Moses will lead Israel as they begin to construct the Mishkan, a place of habitation for the Shechinah of HaShem in the midst of the nation of Israel.

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 free will 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.

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

And skipping again to verse 29

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 humbled 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 and reluctantly or begrudgingly.

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

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, 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 all 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, 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 deductions available… There’s no clout to be claimed… Just the blessing of participating.

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.

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...

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 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 a let 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?

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 through a willing heart, 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 be willing to 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.