Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
I have noticed a repeated theme in scripture. God wants to dwell closely with His creation. He looks for ways to bring us close and to partner with us as we travel this life. Also, notice how hard man fights to separate from God, and how sin has made impossible a perfect fellowship with God, who is Holy. Sadly, humanity prefers to disregard His rules and to undermine His authority by refusing to acknowledge the sovereignty, long-suffering, and kindnesses of God. In our lesson, Moses is given instructions to set in order the rules for offerings and the construction of the tabernacle. The tabernacle would serve as a meeting place for God and His people, as well a source of instruction and protection.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.
Imagine the host of recently liberated slaves receiving this request from their rescuer. For four hundred years they were the property of Egypt, and then God demonstrated His power to Egypt, and when they left, they were showered with treasures from their Egyptian neighbors, who begged them to leave. Suddenly, they were made very rich as well as free. Then, God asks them to consider where their blessings came from.
God does not need our money. God uses money as a barometer of our hearts. In Luke 12:32, Jesus says, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom”. God loves to bless us, but cares more about the relationship we have with Him and with each other than He does our material wealth. Notice He doesn’t ask Moses to force them to give, it has to be of their own free will. God gave them the wealth, God gave them their freedom, and God is continuing to bless them into the future. This request asks the people of God if they understand where their blessings come from, it gauges their gratitude.
As New Testament believers, we need to keep in mind that our new birth, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and our eternal destiny, along with innumerable blessings, are gifts given by Christ that we did not deserve. Our attitude about giving should reflect an understanding that we have been inexplicably loved and showered with grace and mercy due to the Son of God alone.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 1: 20-25).
We know that at the time of Cain and Abel there were offerings and sacrifices. We do not know the specifics. Those instructions were not written down. Moses brought detailed instructions from God down the mountain and to the people. They were asked to enter into a covenant with God, and they verbally consented that they would obey the Lord’s commands. In total, there are 613 commandments in the Old Testament that cover their civil, ceremonial, and moral responsibilities. By keeping the commandments of God, they could expect to have His blessing, His protection, and an identity as the distinct nation chosen by God.
These commandments will keep them separate from all other nations, and they will become a testament to the power and authority of the Creator. Sound familiar? They were peculiar. Believers are called to be peculiar; living souls should appear radically different from those dead in trespasses and sin. Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised when we, too, are mocked and ridiculed. We know that God will use us to testify to the world about the grace and greatness of Christ.
God instructed Moses to ask for them to bring a specific offering. He asks for their treasures. Those items given would come to represent the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ. Gold represents His royalty. Silver was the price of His betrayal. Brass testified of His strength and judgment. The jewels and materials given would also be the objects used to build a tabernacle. God required a tabernacle to serve as a meeting place between God and man, we know that it was but a shadow of our mediator, Jesus. What God asked them for, He, Himself, had provided. We didn’t have what it took to reach Heaven, God required the sinless sacrifice of His Son, whom He provided to an undeserving world.
And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.(Chapter Change)Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them. And thou shalt make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side. And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework. And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.
God wanted a place to dwell among His people, but required a “most holy place.” The Tabernacle was a vision of what the ministry of Christ would be. When Jesus rose from the grave, He left behind a picture that was the fulfillment of the clues left in Exodus. If you, like Peter and John, had peered in to see the place where the Lord had been laid, you would have seen angels at the head and foot and an empty bench in between. God instructed Moses to paint a picture of the resurrection of His Son. It was made to be a pattern that those who looked for the messiah could recognize. The colors of the Tabernacle are blue, purple and scarlet - they speak of the one who is sacred, royal, and whose blood would be shed on Calvary. The furniture:
Cherubim: the angels who asked, “why seek ye the living among the dead?”
The Ark of the Testimony: Also known as the ark of the covenant. The offering of Christ’s blood to redeem the people.
Table: Jesus Christ is the bread of life. He said, “this is my body, which is broken for you.”
Candlestick: Jesus is the Light of the World, in Him, there is “no darkness at all.”
Vail: sin separates, but the veil was torn from the top to the bottom when Christ gave us access to the Father, eternally.
Christ is so much better, Hebrews tells us that He replaces all the imagery with reality.
6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (Hebrews 8:5-10).
The Mosaic Covenant was an instruction manual for identifying the “Lamb of God.” Jesus ushered in a New Covenant. Just as before, what God required, He, Himself, provided. We are asked to recognize His authority, His presence, and with Gratitude, surrender back to Him the gifts He has given to us. It’s been said many times, “you can’t out-give God.” What right do you have to withhold anything from the One who has given you everything? It should be our “good pleasure” to obey Him.
Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:20).
Thank you for studying with us! God bless!