When I was ten years old, my mom and dad decided I was old enough to receive a small allowance each week.  But the allowance came with a lesson.  All I heard at first that I would be allowed to carry money in my own pocket!  In the sixties, dad who was a blue-collar worker and mom a secretary, worked hard to make ends meet, so 50 cents was a big deal and a bonus to me on top of my parents’ provision of food to eat and clothes to wear.   Did I mention the lesson?  The lesson was of the stewardship of my allotment.  Ten percent would go to the church.  I could choose Sunday School offering or the whole church offering.  Another ten percent would be saved in a jar.  The rest was mine to manage in whatever way I chose. 

I was taught consistently by example that giving back to God in this way was a form of the many ways to worship Him.  I understood this concept as my parents and my grandparents were great examples with a strong faith in God who cares for us and loved us so much He sent His Son to save us.  So, 5 cents into the offering plate for me was a small jester of loving God back for all He has done.

I wonder how many parents today have “sit-downs” to teach this valuable lesson of giving back to God a portion of all He has given to us to manage; knowing that God owns it all anyway?  How many church goers today understanding that worship is indeed so much more than singing a song and listening to a sermon each week? Worship is a tangible way for humans, made in the image of God, to give back to God a portion of what God has provided for us to hold, build upon, and manage.  Why? God wants us to learn to give like He gives so that we can become more and more Him; The Giver of Life!          

Giving promotes gratitude and praise for God.  For it is in the giving that we realize just how much God has provided.  Giving is a matter of the heart.  Our hearts decide the measure of our treasures that we hold and place the most importance upon.  The opening phrase of God’s message to Moses tells it all; “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering…from everyone whose heart prompts them to give.”

Exodus 25

Offerings for the Tabernacle

The Lord said to Moses, ² “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. ³ These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; ⁴ blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ⁵ ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; ⁶ olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; ⁷ and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

⁸ “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. ⁹ Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.

The Ark

¹⁰ “Have them make an ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. ¹¹ Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. ¹² Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. ¹³ Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. ¹⁴ Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. ¹⁵ The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed. ¹⁶ Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law, which I will give you.

¹⁷ “Make an atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. ¹⁸ And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. ¹⁹ Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. ²⁰ The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. ²¹ Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you. ²² There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.

The Table

²³ “Make a table of acacia wood—two cubits long, a cubit wide and a cubit and a half high. ²⁴ Overlay it with pure gold and make a gold molding around it. ²⁵ Also make around it a rim a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim. ²⁶ Make four gold rings for the table and fasten them to the four corners, where the four legs are. ²⁷ The rings are to be close to the rim to hold the poles used in carrying the table. ²⁸ Make the poles of acacia wood, overlay them with gold and carry the table with them. ²⁹ And make its plates and dishes of pure gold, as well as its pitchers and bowls for the pouring out of offerings. ³⁰ Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times.

The Lampstand

³¹ “Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. ³² Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. ³³ Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. ³⁴ And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. ³⁵ One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. ³⁶ The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.

³⁷ “Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. ³⁸ Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold. ³⁹ A talent of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. ⁴⁰ See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

If you have ever been involved in the building a new structure to worship and meet with God as a growing congregation, these specific instructions from God to Moses makes sense!  The offerings, collected from a grateful, sincere heart, will be collected for a purpose—to build a “meeting place” to worship God with honor and thanksgiving for all He has done.  God lets the people know that He wants a “place” to meet with them!  God wants to be with His people.  Don’t miss this truth—Almighty God who created all and owns all—desires to meet with us! 

Today, WE are His Sanctuary as believers and followers of Jesus! Our bodies are His Temple.  When God looks inside the Temple of a sincere believer of faith; He sees our hearts, minds, and souls and considers these parts of the “sanctuary” as pure gold to Him.  Hearts of golden, unwavering faith, are hearts that last for eternity! 

Our Father comes to dwell in our being with a love that is so profound, unconditional, and so deep embedded into our being that it is hard for us to fully realize at times. Pause to listen to Him, love Him back, thank Him and then let us make ourselves an offering to Him this morning.  (Romans 12:1-2)

We will read later how these offerings to God will be parceled out to the artisans and gifted craftsmen and women from among God’s People so they can construct the “tent of meeting” that can be taken down and set back up on their journey throughout the wilderness to the promised land.  God’s directions are specific and purposeful.  Their work is be obedient even if they do not fully understand the directions. 

Mm, how obedient are we to God’s directions, without asking why? 

Notice that the Great Designer includes crafted details that will reflect His Creation of heaven and earth.  Remember, all the gold, silver, and other precious stones needed for this structure was given to them by the Egyptians who gave willingly to them as God’s People left town!  Mm.  Food for thought.  God uses the resources of the enemy for His glory and for our good. 

Lord,

I am so grateful for all the God-led lessons handed down to me by generations of faith filled people.  I am grateful for the continued lessons You teach me today.  May we learn and grow in our understanding of who You are, while realizing the depth of love and care you have for us. To you be the glory!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, with a grateful heart, Amen!