Everyone Has A Part (Exodus 35)

Was the old covenant law like a schoolmaster bringing us to faith? How did the Sabbath, the tabernacle and gifts from the Holy Spirit to certain individuals bring us to faith? Let’s look at Exodus 35.

What was the purpose of the old covenant law? Does it lead us to faith?

Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian [schoolmaster] until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. (Galatians 3:24 NLT)

What day was central to the old covenant and what was to be done on it?

Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said to them, “These are the words which Yahweh has commanded, that you should do them. ‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of solemn rest to Yahweh: whoever does any work in it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.’” (Exodus 35:1-3 WEB)

What was the freewill offering for and of what did it consist?

Moses said to the whole Israelite community, This is what the Lord has commanded: Collect gift offerings for the Lord from all of you. Whoever freely wants to give should bring the Lord’s gift offerings: gold, silver, and copper; blue, purple, and deep red yarns; fine linen; goats’ hair; rams’ skins dyed red; beaded leather; acacia wood; the oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense; gemstones; and gems for setting in the priest’s vest and in the priest’s chest pendant. (Exodus 35:4-9 CEB)

What were they to use their God-given skills to build?

If you have any skills, you should use them to help make what I have commanded: the sacred tent with its covering and hooks, its framework and crossbars, and its post and stands; the sacred chest with its carrying poles, its place of mercy, and the curtain in front of it; the table with its carrying poles and all that goes on it, including the sacred bread; the lamp with its equipment and oil; (Exodus 35:10-14 CEV)

What other parts of the tabernacle were people’s skills to be used for? Is there a part for everyone to contribute?

and the altar of incense, with its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle; the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils, the basin and its stand; the hangings of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court; the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court, and their cords; the finely worked garments for ministering in the Holy Place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests. (Exodus 35:15-19 ESV)

What kinds of things did the people offer willingly? Do we offer willingly? Is this a picture of the many and varied ministries within a local church?

Then the entire Israelite community left Moses’ presence. Everyone whose heart was moved and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments. Both men and women came; all who had willing hearts brought brooches, earrings, rings, necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry—everyone who waved a presentation offering of gold to the Lord. Everyone who had in his possession blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, fine linen or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or manatee skins, brought them. (Exodus 35:20-23 HCSB)

What other valuable things did the offering consist of? Are physical things more important to us than serving God?

Everyone who could give an offering of silver and bronze brought it as a contribution for the Lord. Also all who had acacia wood for any use in the work brought it. Every skilled woman spun with her hands, and brought what she had spun: blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine linen. All the women who were skilled artisans spun the goat hair. The leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set in the ephod and the breast piece, spices and oil for the light and for the anointing oil and the aromatic incense. Each Israeli man and woman whose heart was prompted brought something as a freewill offering to the Lord for all the work that the Lord had commanded them to do through Moses. (Exodus 35:24-29 ISV)

What kinds of skills had God specifically gifted to different men and women for the work of the tabernacle? Does God still give gifts, filling men with the Spirit?