What does "heart stirred" in Exodus 35:29 teach about our attitude in giving? The Setting of Exodus 35 Exodus 35 finds Israel at the foot of Sinai. God has given detailed blueprints for the tabernacle, but He never forces the people to finance it. Instead He invites voluntary participation. Four times in the chapter (vv. 21, 22, 26, 29) we read that the people gave because their “heart stirred” or “heart moved” them. What “Heart Stirred” Means • Hebrew picture: literally “lifted up,” conveying inner excitement that propels action. • Not external coercion but internal compulsion—desire awakened by God’s own Spirit (cf. 1 Chron 29:14). • Joyful willingness rather than grudging obligation. Attitudes Revealed by a Stirred Heart 1. Readiness – They gathered resources immediately (Exodus 35:21). A stirred heart doesn’t procrastinate. 2. Joyful Freedom – “Freewill offering” (Exodus 35:29) points to giving as delight, not duty (2 Corinthians 9:7). 3. Whole-Person Engagement – Both “men and women” participated (v. 29), showing that generosity spans genders, ages, and roles. 4. Proportional Sacrifice – Each brought “anything” he or she had (v. 29). The question was not how much, but how available. 5. Alignment with God’s Mission – Gifts matched “the work that the LORD had commanded” (v. 29). A stirred heart funds what God prioritizes. 6. Worshipful Focus – Offerings were “to the LORD,” not to Moses or the craftsmen (Proverbs 3:9; Philippians 4:18). New-Testament Echoes of a Stirred Heart • 2 Corinthians 9:7 – “God loves a cheerful giver.” • Mark 12:41-44 – The widow’s mites flowed from a heart moved to honor God. • Acts 4:32-35 – Early believers, “one in heart,” shared possessions so that needs were met. • Hebrews 13:16 – “With such sacrifices God is pleased.” Practical Takeaways for Today • Invite God to ignite desire, not merely discipline. • Give promptly when the Spirit nudges; delayed obedience cools zeal. • Measure generosity by willingness, not by comparison. • Direct resources toward ministries clearly aligned with God’s revealed purposes. • View giving as worship—an act that rises from the heart and returns to the Lord. |
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