Building Something Gods Way (Exodus 35:1-36:1)

 
It will come as no surprise to you if I say, and it will be no surprise to you if I tell you, that when churches build buildings, they have to raise funds. Having been involved in and with local churches all my life including paid ministry, I have been a part of some fundraising activities. I've been involved as a pastor of a church and as a member of a board of trustees and as a deacon.  Having gone through some of that, I can't help but ask, 'How would the Lord do this? If the Lord were going to build a building, how would He go about raising the funds to build it?' 

One answer to that I believe is found in the book of Exodus in chapter 35, where God wants to build a place of worship and He had to raise money to do it. Maybe it would be good to know the way God raised money to build a building? Now, that might not sound to you like it's real interesting. However, what happens here has an application for us, and that, of course, is what I'm after.

If you have been with me as we've been going through this book, passage after passage, you will remember that back in chapter 25, the book introduces the Tabernacle, and that idea and not only the blueprint of how it should be built is revealed, but also how it will be run, day to day, and goes all the way through chapter to 40. In other words, the whole last part of this book deals with the Tabernacle. In those early chapters, chapter 25 through to about chapter 31 or so, God gives Moses the instructions for building the Tabernacle. That's like giving an architect a blueprint, saying, 'Here's the design of what I want , something that hasn't been built yet.' Those chapters are just dealing with the blueprint for building. After some serious hiccups along the way, where God has to adjust things in response to the people sin and rebellion, revolving around a certain Golden calf we then get back to chapter 35, and the plans for the Tabernacle. That's the building (so to speak) that God wants built. There's a lot of similarity between those early chapters that deal with the technical and these later chapters that deal with the construction itself. There's a lot of repetition. However, this is not needless repetition because these latter chapters, 35 to 40, that's the end of the book, stress two new great truths.

Number one, the faithfulness of God to dwell among His people in spite of their failures and disobedience.

Number two, these importance of the obedience of Moses in carrying out God's instructions. So, it seems like there's a lot of repetition in these chapters, but at the same time, there are some different emphases, especially in light of their failure and disobedience that's sandwiched between the two sections. All of which highlights the faithfulness of the Lord.

So, with that as a bit of background, let's start in chapter 35.

This passage will open with God giving Moses some instructions on what He wants done, and this initial part of the chapter focuses on fundraising. Then the second part of this passage is the collection of the money. In church parlance, they receive an offering. And then the third part of the passage is they go to work and build the Tabernacle itself. Some of this stuff is incredibly simple, and folks who know a bit about the Bible, this is probably pretty elementary. But let's review what God does to get His Tabernacle built. 

Then Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said to them, “These are the words which the Lord has commanded you to do:'

  (Exodus 35: 1)

When He says, 'These are the “words which the Lord has commanded you to do:.” The book of Exodus is full of commands, starting in chapter 20 with the Ten Commandments, but when He says, 'These are the words which the Lord has commanded you to do,' it's obvious from what follows are commands that refer to the construction of the Tabernacle. These are commands for how I want it built.

Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”

(Exodus 35: 2-3)

In this opening salvo, this opening section of the book, which actually goes to verse 19, He gives some instructions. And the first instruction is, 'Do not work on Saturday. You can work for six days, but you can't work on Saturday.' But keep in mind that what they're building is His house. So, He wouldn't even let them work on His house on the Sabbath. He wanted them to rest and observe the Sabbath.The other interesting thing in verse three is He says, 'You shall not kindle a fire. You shouldn't even light a fire.' Now, what's that about? Well, look carefully at the verse. 'You shall not kindle a fire throughout your dwellings.' That is, don't put fire in your house. Why would they do that? Answer: to cook. So, what He's saying is, you can't even cook food on the Sabbath. You can prepare meals on Friday night before the Sabbath begins, but the point is, you shall not work on the Sabbath in any way

There are two sections: 25 to 31, an interval, and then 35 to 40. And what he's saying is that in the first section, 25 to 31, the Sabbath thing was given at the end. This time, a lot of repetition, but this time, it's at the beginning and this is because Israel had demonstrated a tendency to disobey. If the covenant were to be maintained, instructions about the sign of the covenant had to be obeyed. Also, because of the people's excitement in the construction of the Tabernacle, it was important that worship should not be neglected even when doing work.' He wants to make them remind them that you set aside a day to worship, even if you're working on the place of worship. He's now going to raise the money it takes to build the Tabernacle. Pick up the story in verse four. 

4 And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying: 5 ‘Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze; 6 blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair; 7 ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; 8 oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; 9 onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.

(Exodus 35: 4-9)

So, he's going to receive money and materials to build the Tabernacle, but they are to do it with a willing heart. By the way, tithing has not been introduced yet., but this is way beyond that. He's saying, 'We're in a special building program.' Today, they would call that a capital investment program. And He says, 'But I want you to do it with a willing heart.'" But these materials were to be given voluntarily. This is not law; this is a willing heart; this is voluntary giving.

So, the first command is no work on Saturday. The second command is to give with a willing heart. The third command is to build the Tabernacle. So, he says in verse 10, 

10 ‘All who are gifted artisans among you shall come and make all that the Lord has commanded: 11 the tabernacle, its tent, its covering, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; 12 the ark and its poles, with the mercy seat, and the veil of the covering; 13 the table and its poles, all its utensils, and the showbread; 14 also the lampstand for the light, its utensils, its lamps, and the oil for the light; 15 the incense altar, its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, and the screen for the door at the entrance of the tabernacle; 16 the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles, all its utensils, and the laver and its base; 17 the hangings of the court, its pillars, their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court; 18 the pegs of the tabernacle, the pegs of the court, and their cords; 19 the garments of ministry, for ministering in the holy place—the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests.’ ”

(Exodus 35: 10-19)

Remember, we went through all the Tabernacle from chapters 25 to 31. We summarized it all again here in verses 10 to 19. I told you there was some repetition in this message, but the point is this: using free-will offerings, and the people labour, the skill of gifted artisans, were to make the Tabernacle, including all the parts of the Tabernacle proper and the garments for the priest and the high priest. Moses called for workers, all the skilled workers among you, to make the various furnishings, utensils, and the priestly garments. In order, these items are listed the same in which they were discussed in chapters 36 through 39. But again, I think the significant thing here is that you are to bring it willingly, voluntarily, so that they can build the Tabernacle together. All were invited to contribute material to the Tabernacle, but only with a willing heart.

2 Corinthians Chapter 9 verse 7.

So, let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Now, that is a very fascinating verse for several reasons. What is the standard by which you give, right? I think that tithing is conspicuous by its absence in the epistles of the New Testament. You will look long and hard for it. In fact, the only time tithing is mentioned in all of the New Testament is when it's talking about the tithing of the Pharisees. Tithing was a Mosaic law; it is not repeated in the New Testament. As a matter of fact, here's the New Testament standard: he says in verse 7, 'as you purpose in your heart.' That's the standard for giving in the New Testament, not tithing. As you purpose in your heart.  Before you make that purpose or decision, let me remind you of something. Okay, looking at verse 6, he says, 'But I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.'

Paul says, just do whatever you believe God is calling you to do but let me just remind you of something. If you sow sparingly, you're going to reap sparingly. And if you sow bountifully, you're going to reap bountifully. That's it, that both the New Testament rule and the New Testament warning if you are frugal in your approach to supporting the work of the Lord . This I am certain: whatever you give must be done willingly. So, verse 7 says, 'purpose in your heart' and don't do it grudgingly or out of compulsion, do it willing generously and happily. I really don’t like pressure being put on people to give. I think that is so contrary to everything the Scripture teaches. I think what the Lord really likes is when somebody gives cheerfully, from a willing heart. 

Moses insists here that if they are going to build God's house successfully and according to His plans it must be done with a willing heart. And the New Testament echoes that. He does not want you to give because you've feel under pressure or someone has made you feel obligated, but happily, and generously. Got it? Turning back to Exodus 35. We're going to pick up the story in verse 20.

And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments”.

(Exodus 35: 20-21)

The use of the phrase, “Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing” emphasises again that what God wanted was a free-will offering for the Tabernacle, they did it.

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That I think is the emphasis of this passage? They brought the Lord's a free will offering for the work of the Tabernacle.

They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewellery of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the Lord.

(Exodus 35: 22)

The new English Standard Version says brooches, earrings, signet rings, and armlets. So, here’s my conclusion: bring your whatever you want to bring. But only if you have a willing spirit and you’re doing this from the heart.

. 23 And every man, with whom was found blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair, red skins of rams, and badger skins, brought them. 24 Everyone who offered an offering of silver or bronze brought the Lord’s offering. And everyone with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it. 25 All the women who were gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands, and brought what they had spun, of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. 26 And all the women whose hearts stirred with wisdom spun yarn of goats’ hair. 27 The rulers brought onyx stones, and the stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate, 28 and spices and oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

(Exodus 35: 23-28)

So, they not only brought their jewellery box, but they emptied the wardrobe/closet. They not only brought gold, but they also brought material things, all of which we used in building the Tabernacle. silver or bronze acacia wood all of which was used to build the Tabernacle.

Do you agree with me and think this passage is focusing on the willingness of the offering. This is like us taking ap a free will offering today, but it emphasizes, 'I want you to do it willingly.' This is a free-will offering. I think sometimes we need to be reminded. You know, you can give regularly, which is of course a good thing by regularity can easily become routine. So don’t fall into the trap of taking your giving for granted, you need to keep in mind that it should be joyous and you should give willingly. The rest of this passage has to do with artisans. 

30 And Moses said to the children of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31 and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship, 32 to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, 33 in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship.34 “And He has put in his heart the ability to teach, in him and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen, and of the weaver—those “And Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whom the Lord has put wisdom and understanding, to know how to do all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, shall do according to all that the Lord has commanded who do every work and those who design artistic works. 

(Exodus 35: 30-35 – 36: 1)

Now, what’s going on so far is the women have gone to work, the leaders have begun the work, the people have begun the job, and now the artisans have begun also. But what’s intriguing about this is that it says God filled them with the Spirit and wisdom. I todays church often some people will give their time and other will give their money, but not their time. I think it’s interesting that in this passage, both of these are emphasized. So just because you give money doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give your time or your talent or your ability also in order for God to get His work done. Everybody ought to bring both into the service of God. The women, the rulers, the people, as well as those who had a special talent all get to work. They all give. It wasn’t just the talented and gifted ones, it was the ordinary people, from the top leader to the ordinary people, the women and the artisans, the seamstresses and the craftsmen, all got involved by giving of their time, their talent. The great message is we need to be givers. God is a giver. 'For God so loved the world…etc. If you’re going to be like your Father in heaven, we need to give. Amen?

I want to close by telling you a illustrative story evangelists and preachers have used it for many years, so it’s not mine but I think puts this in perspective. It’s entitled 'Honeycomb Givers.' And I first came across it in Richard Dorf’s book ,  'Flashes of Truth': Dorf said, 'There are three kinds of givers: the flint, the sponge, and the honeycomb. To get anything out of the flint people, you must hammer them, and then you only get chips and sparks. To get anything out of a sponge, you must squeeze it, and the more you squeeze it, the more you get. But neither are what God want or are how God recommends we do things

The honeycomb givers just overflow with sweetness. Some folks are stingy and hard as flint. They give nothing away if they can help it.

Others are good-natured, they yield to pressure, and the more they are pressured, the more they will give, but in reality they are giving grudgingly. But thank God, there are still others who delight in giving without being asked, and it is this kind of giver, the honeycomb giver, the cheerful giver, that the Lord loves.

The author of this piece went on to say, 'What is true in the area of money also applies to the offering of our talents and our time to the Lord. The greatest blessing is one poured out, when a service is performed without coercion poured out willingly for the Lord. Some people cannot seem to do enough for the Lord and His church and their neighbours. When assistance is needed, they are always the first to make themselves available. They are the honeycomb givers. Then there are others who only respond to a call for help when pressured. They are like a sponge. And finally, some won’t budge unless they are forced to submit. They are as hard as flint. Whether we are offering our possessions or our abilities to the Lord, there’s no question about the kind of attitude that is most pleasing to Him. He loves cheerful, honeycomb givers who overflow for His glory and the good of others. I’m not sure I have changed the amount you give in this study of Exodus chapter 35, but what I do hope is that I have changed the Spirit in which you give.