Exodus 35:4-29
~14 min read
TRANSCRIPT
Our text for tonight's message is a long passage, and it is taken from Exodus 35:4–29.
A building is not built overnight. First and foremost, someone has to initiate or decide to have a building in the first place. Then he has to choose the location, and there has to be an architectural plan of how the building would look like. This is followed by a detailed outline of the exterior and interior designs, with all the measurements. Obviously, there ought to be sufficient funds to finance the building project, to buy all the materials. Finally, there would be the actual construction, and it could take several months or even years.
Likewise, the building of the tabernacle began with God initiating it, when He told Moses that He wanted to dwell in the tabernacle which would be situated at the centre of the Israelites’ camp. In Exodus chapters 25–31, God described in detail how the tabernacle ought to be built. And here in chapters 35–39, it seems as if God was repeating what He had said before.
But there is a difference though. The previous chapters described how the tabernacle ought to be built. And here in chapter 35 onwards, the children of Israel actually built it. Whenever there is a repetition in the Bible, people tend to skip over it, thinking that it is unnecessary or redundant.
However, there are good reasons why God would repeat certain things. The first time God gave His plans to the children of Israel, they were too busy doing their own things to pay attention to it. But this time they actually obeyed His instructions. This repetition also shows how faithful God is. Remember, they had just committed the great sin of worshipping the golden calf. Therefore, surely they will be questioning: Will God still love us? Will He forsake us? So, for God to repeat the building of the tabernacle, it serves as a reminder that He would keep His promises to dwell amongst them and be their God.
This biblical principle can also be applied into our lives. Like the children of Israel, oftentimes we are careless and forgetful. We need to be reminded more than once. That is why we need to read the Bible every day, to be reminded of God's goodness and grace. Sometimes we fall into sin, and we need to be reminded that God has not given up on us, and He will keep His promises when we repent and turn to Him. He will forgive us and empower us and use us for His glory.
So instead of skipping through this entire passage, it is wise for us to consider it and draw spiritual lessons from it. The title of our message is: “Offering to God Our Best”.
I. Offering Our Resources
Our first point is “Offering our resources”.
Beginning with verse 4, Exodus chapter 35: “And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying, Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord” (Exodus 35:4–5).
These offerings were supposed to be used to build the tabernacle. And Moses went on to describe the different things from verse 5 to 9. The gold, silver, and brass were used to make the altar, the ark of the covenant, pillars, furniture, and utensils. The cloth and linen were used for the coverings, curtains, and veils. The animal skins covered the tabernacle itself, while the shittim wood was used to build the structure. The oil, spice, and incense were used by the priests who served in the tabernacle, while the precious stones would decorate the sacred garments of the high priest.
All these materials came from the children of Israel to begin with. Everything they had cometh from God. If God wanted to, He could have created the tabernacle out of nothing. But that was not how He worked. He invites His people to get involved in His plans. God made the plans, and the people did the work.
In the church, you and I have similar opportunities to give something to God. Everything we have comes from Him in the first place. And when we give, we are acknowledging that God is our provider, and we want to use the resources entrusted to us to serve His glory and purposes.
I use the phrase entrusted to us to remind every one of us that if we truly believe that naked we come into this world, naked we will leave this world, then everything we have accumulated in between does not really belong to us. We are entrusted with the resources, or caretakers of the resources. We can either be faithful or unfaithful. The only way we can be faithful caretakers of the resources is through our giving. Our giving, as in our tithes and offerings, can be used to support the gospel work both local and foreign. Some of the money is used to maintain the church building. Some of it is used to support the full-time workers so they can devote all their time to the ministry. Some of it is used to buy teaching materials for Sunday school and fellowship groups. Some of it is used to help the needy local community and missions around the world.
Not everyone is called to be a missionary. We know that. But through our giving, we can be involved in the missionary work. Not every one of us is called to preach. But through our giving, we can be involved in the work of preaching. Not every one of us is called to write theological articles and gospel tracts. But through our giving, we can be involved in the work of Christian literature. We may not have the opportunity to visit our mission fields, but through our giving we are involved in it.
Can you see how the giving of our resources is one way to get involved in the Lord's work, and God invites us to do so?
II. Offering Our Services
Our second point is “Offering our services”.
Building the tabernacle required more than just the materials. It took people who were gifted with the necessary skills to build it. So Moses said in verse 10: “And every wise hearted among you shall come,”—Wise-hearted means skilful—“and make all that the Lord hath commanded” (Exodus 35:10).
He went on to describe the tabernacle proper, the tent, the covering, frames, boards, crossbars, pillars, and sockets; the furniture that went inside the holy of holies, the ark of the covenant, the altar of incense, the table of shewbread, and the golden lampstand. Outside, in the courtyard, there were the altars of burnt offerings and the bronze basin for washing. Then there were the garments for the high priest and the priests who served in the tabernacle. All these things needed people who were skilful in arts, making furniture, metal work, sewing work, and so forth. Only those people who were gifted in these areas were called to help.
This is another important principle we can apply into our church. The Bible teaches that God has given every Christian spiritual gifts, at least one. The phrase spiritual gifts means gifts that were given to us for a spiritual purpose, that we may serve and glorify God. So teachers should teach, leaders should lead, helpers should help. If you are gifted to encourage, you should encourage. Hospitality, be hospitable. Showing mercy, be merciful, etc.
We should serve God according to the spiritual gifts He has given to us, which means we should not try to do what God has not called us to do as well. Obviously, not everyone is called to preach, teach, and lead, just like not everyone in Israel was gifted in making furniture, metal work, and sewing.
Some years ago, a Christian shared with me that there was someone who could not sing, but he insisted on joining the choir. Every time he sang together with the choir, he would go off key and spoil the entire presentation. This brother in Christ had other spiritual gifts, but instead of serving God with those spiritual gifts, he wanted to serve God with something he was not blessed with. That should not be the case.
As a pastor, I know I'm not gifted to conduct the music or to do design work. I recognise that those are not my gifts. It is good to serve God, but it is just as important to understand the spiritual gifts He has given to us to serve Him.
Dear friend, what spiritual gifts have you been given, and how have you been using those gifts? Are you doing the work that God has called you to do? We can never know what our spiritual gifts are until we willingly avail ourselves to serve. That is when God will reveal to us our gifts through the leaders and through the people around us.
III. Offering Straight From Our Hearts
Our third point is “Offering straight from our hearts”.
After Moses told the people what God had commanded them to do, they all departed. And verse 21 said: “And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments” (Exodus 35:21).
Notice Moses repeatedly used the word “heart’:
- Verse 5: “of a willing heart.”
- Verse 21: “whose heart stirred him up.”
- Verse 22: “as many as were willing hearted.”
- Verse 26: “whose heart stirred them up.”
- Verse 29: “whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work.”
In other words, again, our services have to be connected to our hearts that are willing. Not only did the children of Israel do the right thing, but they also did it for the right reason, because their obedience came from the heart.
The heart is the centre of a person, the true inner self. It is who we really are. More than anything else, what God wants from us is the heart. No matter what we give or what we do, it is not really for God unless it comes from a willing heart. God wants something more than just what we have or what we do. He wants us to give Him our very hearts.
Do you realise that we can be giving and serving without the heart? By that I mean when we give of our tithes and offerings, we do it grudgingly. We are not giving with a willing heart. When we serve murmuring and complaining, we are not serving with a willing heart. Our giving and services will be rejected.
Allow me to give you an example. If your children were to celebrate your birthday and they bought you a lovely present with their own money, however, deep down in their hearts, they were most unwilling and unhappy. They did not want to buy that present, but they forced themselves just to go through the routine anyway. ‘What to do? It is Dad's birthday’, or ‘It is Mum's birthday, and I have no choice but to do it.’ When you knew how they actually felt, what would you be thinking? That present would mean absolutely nothing to you, right? Because it did not come from their hearts.
How much more our almighty God, who knows the deepest recesses of our hearts. When He sees the attitude of our heart full of grudge, murmuring, and complaining, will He not reject our giving and services? Most certainly He will. God wants us to give and serve, not grudgingly, murmuring, and complaining, but out of a willing heart. A heart that has experienced His grace and understands what He has done for us by sending His only begotten Son Jesus Christ into this world to save us. Through His death and His resurrection, Jesus has saved us from our sins and eternal death. A heart that has been transformed by His grace and through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We love God because He first loved us. And out of this heart will flow willingness, generosity, gratitude, and thankfulness.
That was exactly what the children of Israel did. They gave and they served with willing hearts, both men and women. Those people who had bracelets, earrings, rings, and jewels of gold, they brought them before the Lord. Those people who had cloth and animal skins, they brought them before the Lord. Those people who had silver, bronze, and wood, they brought them before the Lord.
Interestingly, out of all the people who gave and served, Moses cited two groups of people. Firstly, the women. Look at verse 25: “And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair” (Exodus 35:25–26).
Why did Moses cite the women? Most likely the reason why he cited them was to show that their gifts were essential to God’s work. You see, the vast majority of the work in building the tabernacle was primarily done by the men, and the women were not called to be elders, priests, and prophets. But rather than sulking in what they could not do, these women were different. They were eagerly seeking to do what God had called them to do, what God had gifted them to do. The church needs this same kind of women today—women who are willing to avail themselves and serve God from the heart.
Imagine what the church would be like without these gifted women. It would not be the church at all—not the way God has intended it to be. Take a moment and consider: the majority of the Sunday school teachers are women. The refreshment team is mostly made up of women, with a few men. Older women are able to teach and counsel younger women.
They serve in the choir ministry, elder ministry, fellowship groups, and because of their gender nature, many of them are generous, kind, loving, hospitable, and encouraging. Therefore, women should use whatever gifts they have been given for the glory of God. And they should use them like the way those women did in the days of Moses, with willing hearts.
The second group of people Moses cited was the leaders. Verse 27: “And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate; and spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense” (Exodus 35:27–28). The word rulers can mean the elders, and in a general sense it can also mean the leaders in the community who were blessed with greater resources to contribute to the tabernacle.
Money in itself is neutral. It is the love of money that is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Again, it has to do with the heart—our attitude toward money. Our hearts can be tempted so much so that large amounts of money can make us selfish and proud. But if our hearts are right, financial prosperity combined with personal godliness, our money can become a powerful instrument for spiritual good.
It took a lot of money to build the tabernacle, and by God’s providence, the leaders had a lot of money—and most importantly, the heart to give. This is a wonderful example for all the wealthy Christians to follow. Money can be a powerful instrument for advancing the gospel work. It can be used to support missionaries, plant churches, bring Christian literature, broadcast the gospel, and provide for the needs of the church. Christians with substantial financial resources have a unique calling and responsibility to accomplish great things for the kingdom of God.
Of course, there is a sense in which God does not need any money at all, any more than He needs any one of us. God can get His work done without our help. Yet He gives us the opportunity to participate in His saving work by using our time, our spiritual gifts, including our money. Those of us who have the most should give the most. That is the reason why God has made us rich—so we can give more. As we are promoted, as our income increases, as our bank account multiplies, so should our giving grow.
Finally, verse 29 is an amazing testimony of the children of Israel: “The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses” (Exodus 35:29). “To be made by the hand of Moses” does not mean he alone did all the work in building the tabernacle. What it means is that they obeyed whatever the Lord had commanded them to do through Moses.
In the days of Moses, the people were involved in the project of building the tabernacle by their giving and their services. Today, God’s greater project is the church. The church is more than just this building. It is the body of believers, for whom Jesus died and shed His precious blood to save them from their sins and eternal death. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Dear friend, it is not by chance or coincidence that God has placed us in a local church like this. It is by His providence. God not only placed you and me in this church, but He has also invited us to be involved in His plans for this church. So as we offer our resources, as we offer our services, we must understand this great invitation to participate in the Lord’s work. The work of the ministry does not belong to the pastor, elders, preachers, or deacons. It is the Lord’s work. And with this understanding, and with willing hearts, we want to offer to God our best. As we offer our resources, as we offer our services, we want to make sure that they all flow out from a willing heart to the glory of God. This is how you and I should live our lives.
May the Lord’s name be praised.
Let us pray.
Our Father in heaven, indeed even through this passage, we have learned from the people of old, the children of Israel, how they had heeded Thy call to serve and to give. They have come before Thee to offer their best to Thee in building the tabernacle. They come with willing hearts for our services and our giving. Without this, a willing heart will mean nothing to Thee.
And Thou who hast saved us hast also transformed our hearts. Our hearts have experienced Thy grace. Our hearts have been transformed by Thy grace. And out of this heart must flow this willingness, generosity, gratitude, and thankfulness.
So as we offer our resources, as we offer our services, we want to serve and give out of this willing heart — a heart that loves Thee, because Thou first loved us (1 John 4:19). We want to offer today our best for the glory of Thy precious name.
We pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
THE BOOK OF EXODUSGod’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To PassGod’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To PassExodus 1:1-7
From Prosperity to PersecutionFrom Prosperity to PersecutionExodus 1:8-14
God’s Protection in the Midst of AdversitiesGod’s Protection in the Midst of AdversitiesExodus 1:15-21
The Faith of JochebedThe Faith of JochebedExodus 1:22-2:10
The Faith Of A Beloved MotherThe Faith Of A Beloved MotherExodus 1:22-2:10; Hebrews 11:23
Moses in EgyptMoses in EgyptExodus 2:11-15
Moses in the Desert of MidianMoses in the Desert of MidianExodus 2:16-25
Moses and the Burning BushMoses and the Burning BushExodus 3:1-9
Who Are You?Who Are You?Exodus 3:10-15
Who Am I?Who Am I?Exodus 3:10-15
God’s Message to Israel and EgyptGod’s Message to Israel and EgyptExodus 3:16-22
What If They Still Don’t Believe?What If They Still Don’t Believe?Exodus 4:1-9
Send Someone ElseSend Someone ElseExodus 4:10-17
Moses’ Return to EgyptMoses’ Return to EgyptExodus 4:18-20
When Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got WorseWhen Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got WorseExodus 5:10-21
When We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble ComesWhen We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble ComesExodus 5:22-6:5
Having to Learn the Same Lesson TwiceHaving to Learn the Same Lesson TwiceExodus 6:6-12
Faithful or UnfaithfulFaithful or UnfaithfulExodus 6:13-27
Biblical Lessons About FastingBiblical Lessons About FastingMatthew 6:16-18
What God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and ObedienceWhat God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and ObedienceExodus 6:28-7:7
The First Plague - The River of BloodThe First Plague - The River of BloodExodus 7:14-25
The Second Plague - The FrogsThe Second Plague - The FrogsExodus 8:1-15
The Third PlagueThe Third PlagueExodus 8:16-19
The Fourth PlagueThe Fourth PlagueExodus 8:20-32
The Fifth PlagueThe Fifth PlagueExodus 9:1-7
The Sixth PlagueThe Sixth PlagueExodus 9:8-12
The Seventh PlagueThe Seventh PlagueExodus 9:13-35
The Eighth PlagueThe Eighth PlagueExodus 10:1-20
The Tenth PlagueThe Tenth PlagueExodus 11:1-10
The First PassoverThe First PassoverExodus 12:1-13
The Feast of the Unleavened BreadThe Feast of the Unleavened BreadExodus 12:14-28
Departure From EgyptDeparture From EgyptExodus 12:29-42
This Do In Remembrance of MeThis Do In Remembrance of MeExodus 12:43-51; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!Exodus 12:48-49, Colossians 2:11-12
Redemption and ConsecrationRedemption and ConsecrationExodus 13:1-2, 11-16
Precious Lord, Take My HandPrecious Lord, Take My HandExodus 13:17-22
Between the Desert and the Red SeaBetween the Desert and the Red SeaExodus 14:1-14
Crossing the Red SeaCrossing the Red SeaExodus 14:15-31
The Song of PraiseThe Song of PraiseExodus 15:1-21
Will You Obey Or Not?Will You Obey Or Not?Exodus 15:22-27
The Danger of a Complaining SpiritThe Danger of a Complaining SpiritExodus 16:1-3
God’s Response to Israel’s ComplaintsGod’s Response to Israel’s ComplaintsExodus 16:1-10
The Test of FaithThe Test of FaithExodus 16:11-20
Lessons About the SabbathLessons About the SabbathExodus 16:21-36
Do Not Test GodDo Not Test GodExodus 17:1-17
Lift Up Your HandsLift Up Your HandsExodus 17:8-16
The Blessedness of ReunionThe Blessedness of ReunionExodus 18:1-12
Why Do We Have Leaders?Why Do We Have Leaders?Exodus 18:13-27
I Will Carry You On Eagles’ WingsI Will Carry You On Eagles’ WingsExodus 19:1-6
Approach God Fearlessly or FearfullyApproach God Fearlessly or FearfullyExodus 19:7-15
God Reached Out And SpokeGod Reached Out And SpokeExodus 19:16-25
Thou Shalt Have No Other GodsThou Shalt Have No Other GodsExodus 20:1-3
Thou Shalt Not Make Graven ImagesThou Shalt Not Make Graven ImagesExodus 20:4-6
Thou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s NameThou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s NameExodus 20:7
Thou Shalt Keep The Sabbath DayThou Shalt Keep The Sabbath DayExodus 20:8-11
Honour Thy Father And Thy MotherHonour Thy Father And Thy MotherExodus 20:12
Thou Shalt Not KillThou Shalt Not KillExodus 20:13
Thou Shalt Not Commit AdulteryThou Shalt Not Commit AdulteryExodus 20:14
Thou Shalt Not StealThou Shalt Not StealExodus 20:15
Thou Shalt Not LieThou Shalt Not LieExodus 20:16
Thou Shalt Not CovetThou Shalt Not CovetExodus 20:17
The Response To The Ten CommandmentsThe Response To The Ten CommandmentsExodus 20:18-21
How God Wants Us To Worship HimHow God Wants Us To Worship HimExodus 20:22-26
Why Would God Allow Slavery?Why Would God Allow Slavery?Exodus 21:1-11
The Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a lifeThe Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a lifeExodus 21:12-17
The Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eyeThe Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eyeExodus 21:18-36
The Punishment Deters The Crime — property lawsThe Punishment Deters The Crime — property lawsExodus 22:1-15
The Character Of GodThe Character Of GodExodus 22:16-20
Reaching Out To The Down-And-OutReaching Out To The Down-And-OutExodus 22:21-24
The Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of GodThe Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of GodExodus 22:25-31
Truth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But TruthTruth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But TruthExodus 23:1-9
Remember Who God IsRemember Who God IsExodus 23:10-19
What Must We Do To Have VictoryWhat Must We Do To Have VictoryExodus 23:20-33
How We Ought To Worship GodHow We Ought To Worship GodExodus 24:1-4, 7
On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?Exodus 24:4-8
Responding To God’s InvitationResponding To God’s InvitationExodus 24:9-18
The Right Attitude Of GivingThe Right Attitude Of GivingExodus 25:1-8
There I Will Meet YouThere I Will Meet YouExodus 25:9-22
Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?Exodus 25:23-30
Let Your Light So Shine Before MenLet Your Light So Shine Before MenExodus 25:31-40
The Veil That SeparatesThe Veil That SeparatesExodus 26:1-37
A Day In Thy Court Is Better Than A ThousandA Day In Thy Court Is Better Than A ThousandExodus 27:1-19
Who Can Represent Us Before God?Who Can Represent Us Before God?Exodus 27:20-28:14
How Can We Know God’s Will?How Can We Know God’s Will?Exodus 28:15-30
Is Our Worship Attire Really Important?Is Our Worship Attire Really Important?Exodus 28:31-43
The Ordination Of PriestsThe Ordination Of PriestsExodus 29:1-21
The Provision For PriestsThe Provision For PriestsExodus 29:22-29
Remind Us For We Always ForgetRemind Us For We Always ForgetExodus 29:36-46
Sweet Hour Of PrayerSweet Hour Of PrayerExodus 30:1-10
The Danger Of The Number GameThe Danger Of The Number GameExodus 30:11-16
The Importance Of SanctificationThe Importance Of SanctificationExodus 30:17-21
The Anointing Of OilThe Anointing Of OilExodus 30:22-38
No Such Thing As An Unimportant Calling Or GiftNo Such Thing As An Unimportant Calling Or GiftExodus 31:1-11
The Most Ignored CommandmentThe Most Ignored CommandmentExodus 31:12-18
We Forget So QuicklyWe Forget So QuicklyExodus 32:1-6
Guilty As ChargedGuilty As ChargedExodus 32:7-14
Who Is To Be Blamed?Who Is To Be Blamed?Exodus 32:15-24
Who Is On The Lord’s Side?Who Is On The Lord’s Side?Exodus 32:25-29
I Will Die For You If I CanI Will Die For You If I CanExodus 32:30-35
I Will Not Go With YouI Will Not Go With YouExodus 33:1-11
If Thy Presence Go Not With Me, Carry Us Not Up HenceIf Thy Presence Go Not With Me, Carry Us Not Up HenceExodus 33:12-23
If Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up HenceIf Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up HenceExodus 33:12-23
I Will Show You Who I AmI Will Show You Who I AmExodus 34:1-7
What It Means To Be In A Covenant Relationship With GodWhat It Means To Be In A Covenant Relationship With GodExodus 34:8-17
Worship The Right God In The Right WayWorship The Right God In The Right WayExodus 34:18-27
The Glory That Fadeth Not AwayThe Glory That Fadeth Not AwayExodus 34:28-35; 2 Corinthians 3:7-17
The Importance Of Keeping The Christian SabbathThe Importance Of Keeping The Christian SabbathExodus 35:1-3
Offering To God Our BestOffering To God Our BestExodus 35:4-29
Serve God In God's WayServe God In God's WayExodus 35:30-35
Enough. It Is More Than Enough.Enough. It Is More Than Enough.Exodus 36:1-7
I Will Meet, Dwell And Live In YouI Will Meet, Dwell And Live In YouExodus 36:8-38
