Ready to Contribute
Opening Prayer
Thank God for allowing you to participate in his plans for the world.
Read Exodus 25:1-22
[1] 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. [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. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What instructions does God give about the tabernacle?By the time Moses went up the mountain (cf. ch. 24), the people of Israel had already seen the Lord at work. They knew from their own experience that God was powerful and holy–and not a little frightening. Now the Lord is preparing to take his relationship with the people to a whole new level (8). He plans to share their daily existence as desert wanderers. He will dwell among them in a special tentlike sanctuary called the tabernacle. The ark of the covenant will be a sort of throne for him, a symbol of his presence in the tabernacle. Remarkably, God chooses to involve his people in the construction and outfitting of the tabernacle. And not just by telling them what to do and how to do it. Rather, he invites them to be part of his astonishing plan: they are to be free to choose whether or not to contribute offerings to the building of the tabernacle (2). So often we feel duty-bound to do things for God–to give to the work of our local church, or to tithe, or to support Christian causes. But in these verses God is waiting for his people to want to give freely to him.
Apply
Does your heart prompt you to give any offerings to God today?
Closing prayer
Lord, I love the way You want to dwell with me. Help me to hold nothing back from You.
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