Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Prayer Meeting Lesson Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/pm/pm20070228.htm

EXODUS: FUNCTIONING WELL IN A HOPELESS GROUP ASSIGNMENT
Part II: God's Sustainment Of Israel In The Wilderness Amid Humanly Helpless Trials
M. God's Establishment Of The Tabernacle Of Meeting
1. Following God's Guidelines In Directing Contributions To His Work
(Exodus 25:1-9)
  1. Introduction
    1. God's ministries on earth uses His people, and His people need material goods to function in ministry, goods and finances that arise from the contributions of believers to such ministries, 1 Corinthians 9:7, 14.
    2. However, various ministries often suffer shortages or abuses in the matter of contributions, and these arise from failing to heed the pattern God established for the smooth, upright flow of contributions to His work.
    3. Exodus 25:1-9 provides a study in expediting the flow of material goods from supporters to those who headed up the construction of God's tabernacle, so we view that passage for God's guidelines on arriving at an edifying flow of contributions to His ministries (as follows):
  2. Following God's Guidelines In Directing Contributions To His Work, Exodus 25:1-9.
    1. God directed Moses to inform the people of Israel that they bring an offering to the Lord under the oversight of Moses, which offering was to be used for the construction of the tabernacle, Ex. 25:1-2a, 8a.
    2. However, in giving this command, God provided guidelines for the smooth and edifying flow of material goods from His people to the tabernacle constructors (as follows), Exodus 25:2b-9:
      1. The contributors were not to be billed for a certain amount of certain items, but to be motivated to give out of their own free will, Exodus 25:2b. This is to be practiced in our era, cf. 2 Corinthians 9:7.
      2. The contributors were to be informed as to what specific goods were needed, Exodus 25:3-7: (a) God had Moses tell the people He needed the metals of gold, silver and brass (Exodus 25:3), (b) that He needed the colored yarns of blue, purple and scarlet with fine linen, goats'hair, rams skins dyed red and skins of sea cows (Exodus 25:4-5b; Bible Knowledge Commentary, Old Testament, p. 148), (c) that He needed acacia (KJV "shittim") wood (Exodus 25:5c), (d) that He needed olive oil and spices for anointing oil and for the sweet incense to be used in worship (Exodus 25:6) and (e) that He needed onyx stones and stones for setting for the high priest's ephod and breastplate (Exodus 25:7).
      3. These widely differing items had already been supplied to the people by a variety of God's provisions to them in the past, meaning God was fully aware that the people had these items to give (as follows):
        1. "The gold, silver and linen probably came from the Egyptians (cf. 12:35-36)" when the Lord moved the hearts of the Egyptians to give the people of Israel their goods as they left Egypt, Ibid.
        2. Exodus 12:35-36 also shows some of the onyx stones and other gems probably came from Egypt.
        3. "Some of the other materials could have been from spoil in Israel's defeat of the Amalekites (17:8-16) or through trade with bedouins," Ibid.
        4. Then, the acacia wood was "common in the Sinai Peninsula" and was "good for construction purposes," so all of the materials were obtained and available as God Himself knew very well, Ibid.
      4. God next revealed to the people through Moses that the purpose of the contributions was the construction of a tabernacle that He might dwell in their midst and fellowship with them, Exodus 25:8.
      5. God also revealed the specific pattern to be used in the construction of the tabernacle so that there would be a proper use of the contributions, and that down to the last piece of material that was used in the last piece tabernacle construction, Exodus 25:9.
    3. Following these guidelines, the people not only gave, but gave so much that Moses had to tell them to cease their giving since they had brought too much for the workers to use in following God's blueprint for the tabernacle construction, Exodus 35:4-9, 20-22; 36:2-7!
Lesson: The smooth and edifying flow of contributions to God's tabernacle construction occurred as (1) the givers were allowed to give as they were motivated (2) from the bounty they possessed, (3) and as they were INFORMED (a) on WHAT was NEEDED (b) and WHY, and (3) as GUIDELINES were set for HOW what had been GIVEN would ACTUALLY be USED for the CONSTRUCTION!

Application: May we follow these guidelines in providing for edifying contributions to God's work!