Tuesday Thought – August 25, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

God gave instructions to Moses about the building a tent that would be dedicated to worship. The Jews called it the Tabernacle and it would travel with them from place to place. Years later it would be replaced by the Temple in Jerusalem that Solomon would build. Exodus 35 explains how the tabernacle was to be funded. The instructions about giving toward the construction and the way those instructions were implemented provide a powerful lesson about the kind of gifts that please God.

Moses starts the project by saying, “This is what the Lord has commanded: From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.” (Exodus 35:4-9)

The tabernacle would require a great deal of resources and a great many workers to build it. The key word in the instructions about the offering is the word “willing.” Moses said, “Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering.” The rest of the story emphasizes that point.

Exodus 35:21 – “And everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering.”

Exodus 35:26 – “And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair.”

Exodus 35:29 – “All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings.”

Exodus 36:2 – “Every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work.”

Exodus 36:3 – “And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.”

This was no forced offering. There would be no twisting of arms, no compulsion used. It was an offering given willingly. Work done because the people wanted to do it.

That’s the kind of offering and the kind of service that pleases God. Willing offerings and service! Any other kind of offering and service just doesn’t count with the Lord.

His, by Grace, Steve