Giving to Building the Tabernacle
“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 another type of durable leather; 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: 4b-9 NIV
Money is a sensitive subject no one likes to approach. Moses had this task as he addressed the Israelite community regarding building the Tabernacle. The Lord commanded them to bring an offering of what they had, and to bring it willingly. And it was not just monetary as verse 10 reveals. “All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded.”
This chapter reveals more in verses 21 and22: Everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting for all its service and for the sacred garments. All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds.Verses 25 and 26 speak about the skill of women willing to spin yarns and goat hair.
Moses also shared how the Lord had chosen the son of Uri and the son of Hur, filled them with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills for making artistic designs in metals, woods, and stones (verses 30-33). The sons of the tribe of Dan were given the ability to teach others in all kinds of skilled works and designs (verses 34and 35).
I hope you noted that when the Lord commands He also provides. The Lord fills His people with His Spirit, enabling them to give willingly and from the heart. The Lord gifts His people with skills to use in His service and in worship. It does not stop there either. As the Israelites begin construction the people continue to bring freewill offerings, “They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning” (Exodus 36:3).
Another amazing event happens in verses 4-7: “So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on sanctuary left what they ere doing and said to Moses, ‘The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.’ Then Moses gave an order, and they sent this word throughout the camp: ‘No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.’ And so, the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.”
The Lord similarly commands LWMLC, Inc., through the mission grants selected at conventions. He provides skilled, willing people to fulfil those tasks. The freewill offerings pour in to provide those grants and more. The only difference from the Israelite community is the commands and tasks do not end, the Lord continues to provide tasks and people to fulfill those tasks. All glory and thanks to our Lord and Saviour.
Annette Borchardt, Finance Committee and
Vice-President District Administration, Central District
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™. Used by permission of Zondervan.
“Serving in His Strength” is a blog
published by the Member Development Committee of
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League–Canada, Inc.
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2025