Exodus 25:1-9, “The LORD said to
Moses, (2) "Speak to the people of Israel, that
they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall
receive the contribution for me. (3) And this is the contribution that you shall
receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze,
(4) blue and purple and scarlet
yarns and fine twined linen, goats' hair,
(5) tanned rams' skins,
goatskins, acacia wood, (6) oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing
oil and for the fragrant incense, (7) onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the
ephod and for the breastpiece. (8) And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may
dwell in their midst. (9) Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern
of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.”
Chapters 25-31 of Exodus record for us the very specific instructions
for how the Ark of the Covenant, lampstands, altars, basins, tables, curtains,
the tabernacle structure, the garments for the priests, and the manner in which
the priests are to be set aside and how the Sabbath is to be observed, are all
given to Moses by God. Moses is commanded to construct them exactly according
to the pattern that God gives to him.
As we read through these chapters we will observe that none of the
building materials used are cheap. Gold, silver, bronze, copper, precious
stones, fine cloths, leathers and materials, and strong, beautiful timber. It
all seems to be quite ornate and very expensive, especially when we consider
that this is a nation of former slaves, who are in the midst of a great
journey. Who then will provide all these building materials, will God
miraculously provide them all? No!
We read that God tells Moses that the people of Israel are to supply
all the materials from their own resources. Why does God want the people to
provide the materials for this ornate tabernacle?
Firstly, the tabernacle is to be constructed out of the finest
materials and is to be constructed in complete obedience to the pattern given
to them by God, as it will serve as a reflection of who God is and how He is to
be worshipped. God is perfect and holy in every way and in all that He does.
The tabernacle needs to reflect the perfection and holiness of God. God is
majestic, clothed in splendour and glory, there is no more beautiful than God.
Again the tabernacle needs to reflect the worth of God, that we need to bring
to God our best, our highest, because He is worthy of it. Furthermore, we
should want to give of that which is of great value to God, because there
should be nothing more valuable to us than God. He should be worth more to us
than our gold or silver. The tabernacle would serve as a daily reminder to the
people of Israel of who God is, how He is to be approached, regarded and
worshipped. They were never to worship the tabernacle itself, even though it
may have been more ornate and beautiful than the pagan shrines around them.
Rather as the other nations observed the beauty and splendour of the
tabernacle, the Israelites could say to these people, our God is even more
glorious than this structure, He is worthy of our best and our greatest, and
then not even that can compare with His beauty and worth.
Secondly, the people are to supply the materials for the tabernacle so
that they might demonstrate their love for God and their faith and trust in God.
To give sacrificially of your personal wealth, whilst on route to a new
country, where you will have to start from scratch is a challenge. Yet as they
shall learn, God will provide for them, for they will live in cities they did
not build and reap crops they did not plant. The giving of their personal
wealth and materials to God is also an act of worship, they are demonstrating
that they want to give to God that which is valuable, beautiful and precious,
because God is even more valuable, beautiful and precious to them. They are to
give of their materials towards the construction of the tabernacle, because the
tabernacle is a place of worship for all the people of Israel. Therefore they
are all to contribute towards it, they are all to help with its construction
and they are all to gather at the tabernacle to worship. It is human nature to
respect and take a vested interest in something that we have personally
invested in. Had God miraculously provide the tabernacle and all the objects in
complete form, the people would have not learnt of the perfection, beauty,
holiness and worth of God. It is also highly likely that the tabernacle would
have become an idol to some and been completely disrespected by others.
The important point expressed by this chapter and the chapters to
come, is that how we worship God is of critical importance. The manner in which
we think of God, regard God, approach God is of great importance. Does our
worship reflect the nature, person and character of God, and does our worship
reflect the value, respect and love that we have for God? Worship is a highly
revealing exercise, as it reveals to all around what we think about God, who we
think He is and how valuable we believe Him to be to us. Therefore the
challenging questions that comes to us today are; what does your worship of
God, say about God, does it reflect who God truly is? What do those around you
learn about God when they see you worship?
Our beautiful and majestic God, we
declare that there is none more worthy of our worship, love and adoration than
You. There is none more valuable, none more desirable than You and none more
worthy of being exalted to the very highest place than You. We pray that You
will help us to examine our hearts and lives today, looking and thinking about
the manner in which we worship You and what that then shows the world around
us. Help us to be able to worship You better, in a manner that truly reflects
who You are, and therefore truly glorifies You. Amen.
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