An Abundance of Offerings

As we move through the rest of the Exodus narrative, we are going to find that chapters 35–40 repeat much of chapters 25–31. The earlier section gives the blueprint for the tabernacle and associated items, and the latter section explains that the people of Israel followed the plans to the letter, creating things according to every detail God revealed. At times, the repetition of details may seem tedious, but we have to take into account the broader point that Moses makes: God’s prescriptions for worship must be followed, and when they are followed, the Lord will dwell with His people. After all, at the end of the book of Exodus, after the people have constructed the tabernacle just as God had demanded, the Lord takes up residence in the sanctuary (Ex. 40:34). As we have seen, this is the purpose of the sanctuary building project.

Today’s passage describes the building of the tabernacle curtains, the curtain loops, the tent clasps, and the outer tent of animal hair and skins. Thus, Exodus 36:8–19 effectively repeats Exodus 26:1–14, adding only that the craftsmen followed the tabernacle plans. The first seven verses of Exodus 36, however, tell us something new by reporting how abundantly the Israelites gave to the building project. We have seen that God commanded them to bring all the materials to the craftsmen to construct the tabernacle, and we have even been told that they obeyed the Lord and brought the necessary items (Ex. 35:4–29). Exodus 36:1–7 informs us that they brought more than enough. They were so generous that the craftsmen seem to ask for the giving to stop, perhaps because it was getting in the way of the ability of the builders to work. The people were so willing to give that Moses had to tell them to stop giving, “for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more” (Ex. 35:7).

We can marvel at the generosity of the Israelites and yet understand that their abundant giving should move us to ask ourselves this question: “Have we ever given so much that we have had to be told to stop giving?” In reality, we are often reluctant givers. Churches and Christian organizations that support the church often find themselves just barely meeting their budgets and even having to plead for help. This should not be. Scripture wants us to follow the example of the Israelites and the Macedonian Christians in practicing lavish generosity (see 2 Cor. 8–9). May the abundance of our giving increase.