Topical Bible: Israel: Gifts Consecrated for the Creation of the Tabernacle

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The construction of the Tabernacle, as described in the Book of Exodus, represents a significant moment in the history of Israel, where the people were called to contribute gifts for the creation of a dwelling place for God among them. This event is a profound demonstration of communal worship, obedience, and the willingness of the Israelites to dedicate their resources for a divine purpose.

Divine Command and Willing Hearts

The command to build the Tabernacle was given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. In Exodus 25:1-2 , the LORD instructs Moses: "Tell the Israelites to bring Me an offering. You are to receive My offering from every man whose heart compels him." This directive emphasizes the voluntary nature of the contributions, highlighting that the offerings were to come from those whose hearts were stirred to give.

Materials and Contributions

The materials required for the Tabernacle were diverse and included precious metals, fabrics, and other valuable items. Exodus 25:3-7 lists these materials: "This is the offering you are to accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; ram skins dyed red and fine leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and gemstones to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece."

The Israelites responded with overwhelming generosity. Exodus 35:21 records, "Everyone whose heart stirred him and whose spirit prompted him 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." This outpouring of gifts was so abundant that Moses eventually had to restrain the people from bringing more, as noted in Exodus 36:6-7 : "So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was sent throughout the camp: 'No man or woman should make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.' So the people were restrained from bringing more, since what they already had was more than enough to perform all the work."

Craftsmanship and Divine Inspiration

The construction of the Tabernacle required skilled craftsmanship, which was divinely inspired. Bezalel and Oholiab were appointed as chief artisans, filled with the Spirit of God to carry out the work. Exodus 31:2-5 states, "See, I have appointed by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in all kinds of craftsmanship, to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft."

Spiritual Significance

The Tabernacle served as a tangible representation of God's presence among His people. It was a place where the Israelites could come to worship and offer sacrifices, and where the glory of the LORD would dwell. The willingness of the Israelites to give generously and the meticulous care taken in the construction of the Tabernacle reflect their reverence for God and their desire to honor Him with their best.

The consecration of gifts for the Tabernacle underscores the importance of giving with a willing heart and the belief that all offerings, when given in faith and obedience, contribute to the greater purpose of glorifying God. This event in Israel's history serves as a model for stewardship and devotion, illustrating how the collective efforts of a community can create a sacred space for divine encounter.

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Exodus 35:1
And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said to them, These are the words which the LORD has commanded, that you should do them.
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Exodus 36:1-7
Then worked Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.
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Numbers 7:1
And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;
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Library

The Copies of Things in the Heavens
... blessing, and a rendering to Him of His gifts of outward ... our fellowship with God,
as much as Israel did. ... He is consecrated alone, in order that his primacy may ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the copies of things in.htm

Creation's Groans and the Saints' Sighs
... which adorn that life, are the first gifts, the first ... profane intruders who would
defile the consecrated ground. ... We are like Israel in the wilderness, and are ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 14 1868/creations groans and the saints.htm

Whether Sufficient Reason Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies ...
... the tabernacle and its vessels to be consecrated, since they ... by God on the children
of Israel in the ... be made for the offering of sacrifices and gifts, in honor ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sufficient reason can be.htm

The Priest of the World and King of Men
... up on high, that He might give gifts unto men ... In Israel these two offices were jealously
kept apart, and ... submission to the King of kings, consecrated as priests ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the priest of the world.htm

The New Covenant.
... up of the nation into Judah and Israel helped to ... of conscience, and yet that the
gifts and sacrifices ... As sacrificial blood, it consecrated the place, and was ...
/.../chapter viii the new covenant.htm

Effectual Calling
... called are separated from sin, and consecrated to God's ... is, as a learned writer says,
those gifts which flow ... Most men, like the people of Israel, wander up and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/effectual calling.htm

The Catholic Apostolic Church (Called Irvingites. )
... fathers, that the elements, after being consecrated by the ... establishment of the tribes
of Israel in their ... 'The restoration of the primitive gifts and ministries ...
/.../ 113 the catholic apostolic.htm

Christ Glorified as the Builder of his Church
... of the special presence of Jehovah, the God of Israel. ... that is an unbeliever may
have the gifts of oratory ... than cedar, inasmuch as thou hast consecrated us to ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/christ glorified as the builder.htm

The Poetical Books (Including Also Ecclesiastes and Canticles).
... was raised to the throne of Israel, the time ... upon this monarch the needful inward
gifts, and placed ... or sad, didactic or emotional, is ever consecrated to God ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxi the poetical books.htm

The Lively Stones. Rev. W. Morley Punshon.
... From Christ, the great High Priest, "consecrated after no ... the Abrahamic covenant,
the separation of Israel, all the ... a continual adverting to the gifts of the ...
/.../king/the wesleyan methodist pulpit in malvern/the lively stones rev w.htm