2BC BIBLE STUDY NOTES
Wednesday in the Word
Second Baptist Church
July 11, 2018
Exodus 35:1-35 and 36:1-7
In order to understand the next few chapters we have to realize that what we will encounter is the fulfilment of the commands that God gave Moses while Moses was on the mountain. Moses first spent 40 days on the mountain getting the commands from God. Upon his return, he found the people had rebelled against God and created an idol to worship. We know there was a severe consequence and Moses had to return to get the commands again. We also know that Moses would then speak with God in the tent and his face would glow from speaking with God. Now the people are really following the instructions from Moses. We will see a bit of repetition, in that, we will see the acting out of those commands that we read about in the previous chapters. In the previous chapters, God spoke these words to Moses, now Moses says these words to the people. This is the mission of the man or woman of God, to repeat what the Lord has told you back to the people of God. What is required from the people is the same or more passion about making God's stuff as they were with making the golden calf. Righteous requires the same enthusiasm that we have for sin.
Verses 1-3. Since Moses is about to give the commands for the work to be done on the portable worship facility, the priestly clothes, and the items for the tabernacle, he must first remind the people of God's command about work and rest. Work was only to be done for six days, and the seventh day was to be a day of rest. This rest day was the Sabbath, a day to worship God. This rule is so important, that the consequence for breaking it was death. God basically demanded rest and worship. All work that needed to be done must be done on the days leading up to the Sabbath. Even if you wanted a fire in your dwelling, the fire must be started the day before and one had to trust that it would last throughout the Sabbath day. Even the sacred work of building God's worship items did not override God's requirement to rest. Resting is about trusting God. This command is really about giving God your time. Resting was a way to give God your time without any distractions. God can speak to you best when you are just resting in him and not doing other activities. Resting allows you to see God and hear God.
Verses 4-9. These verses highlight giving. Moses asked the people for gifts to be used for the sacred services. The offering was to be a free willed offering of precious metals, stones, skins, oils, woods, and incense. The routine of free willed offerings is common in scripture. David would do the same thing when he needed resources to construct the temple. God knows everybody is blessed materially in different ways, so he expects those with more to give a lot more than those who don't have a lot.
Verses 10-19. Moses then asked for people who had special skills that could be used to build the tabernacle, construct the worship items and create the priestly clothes. This was an example of the giving of ones’ talent and skill for the work of God. The issue for us today is whether we are really using our gifts and talents for God's work. Moses clearly states that these abilities are from God. God gave them the talent. This is important for us to realize that God gave us talent that we are to offer back for God’s pleasure.
Verses 20-29. We see that the reaction to Moses request was received with joy. We see that all who were willing and whose heart was moved by God gave willingly. The people who gave Gold presented it as a wave offering before the Lord. Meaning they waved it as they gave it. People brought fine linen, blue, purple and red cloth as well as animal skins. People brought silver and bronze. Those who could sew brought yarn in the colors Moses requested. They also brought precious stones, oils, incense, and spices. All that was needed was brought freely.
Verses 30-35. Moses then tells the people that God has chosen two men Bezalel and Oholiab as the ones who will oversee the construction. Moses also tells the people that they are able to teach others how to do the work as well. These men were not only anointed to do the work, but also anointed to teach others how to do the work as well. Teaching others how to do the sacred work is extremely important. Who are you teaching?
Chapter 36:1-2. The work was not for everyone, but those that were skilled in this kind of work were encouraged to volunteer for the work. God was looking for willing and skilled workers. A willing worker was a worker who did the work because they wanted to do the work, not because they had to do the work. The quality of work is different when someone wants to do the work and is skilled in doing the work.
Verses 3-7. The people continued to bring offerings day after day. The people brought so much that the workers were overwhelmed with offerings that they had to go to Moses to tell the people to stop. The workers told Moses that they had more than enough for the work. There was no need to collect more than what is needed. Moses then commands the people to stop bringing offerings because they already had enough. Wouldn't it be great to say we don't need an offering because we already have enough? The building of the tabernacle required two essential elements: goods and services. That is, there must be the raw materials from which the tabernacle and its furnishings were to be constructed. This included gold, silver, precious stones, animal skins, spices and ointments, and fine cloth. Then there must be skilled workers, both men and women, who would fashion these raw materials into objects of beauty. Some of those who gave to the tabernacle gave of their goods, while many others gave of their skilled abilities, to create a place of great beauty and worth.
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