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Exodus 35:4–29
“All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD” (v. 29).
Building the tabernacle, its furniture, and the priestly garments according to the directions of Exodus 25–31 would require both the construction materials and the effort of skilled workers. Having pardoned the Israelites for their sin with the golden calf (Ex. 32:1–35:3), the Lord gave them the opportunity to provide the materials and the laborers for the job. As we see in today’s passage, Moses told the people that God had commanded Israelites who were willing to help to give to the project (Ex. 35:4–19).
When Moses delivered this command, the people of Israel responded, giving abundantly to the work. They brought gold jewelry, precious stones, spun colored yarns, fine linen, and everything else that was needed (Ex. 35:20–29). As we have noted in the past, much of this material came from what the Israelites had taken from the Egyptians (see Exodus 12:35–36). God’s people at this point realized that their possessions did not finally belong to them but that they were to be wise and willing stewards of them for the glory of the Lord and the work of the old covenant church. So they gave, and they gave generously and willingly. In this they serve as a model for us who are members of the new covenant church. When the church has a need, God wants us to give cheerfully, not reluctantly or under compulsion (2 Cor. 9:7). Yes, we have a duty to give that we should not ignore when our heart is not fully in it (Rom. 15:26–27), but the Lord can make us delight to do our duty. Let us ask our Father to more and more make us cheerful, willing, and generous givers.
John Calvin, in his commentary on this passage, highlights what the Israelites’ being willing to give says about human free will. Calvin and the Reformed tradition in general are often misunderstood as saying that God forces people to believe against their wills, but that is not correct. Instead, the Lord makes us willing to believe. He operates in our hearts “to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). We believe because we want to believe, and we want to believe because God gives us that desire. In our fallen state, we do not want to trust in Christ, but through the work of regeneration, the Holy Spirit renews our hearts and we come to want to believe (John 3:1–8). Calvin writes, “Those, therefore, whom the Spirit rules, He does not drag unwillingly by a violent and extrinsic impulse, as it is called, but He so works within them upon their will, that believers stir up themselves, and they voluntarily follow His leadings.”
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
John Calvin also says, “The commencement of well-doing is not ascribed to men, nor is even their concurrence praised, as if they co-operated apart from God, but only the internal impulse of their minds, and the sincerity of their desires.” God gives us a desire for Him in regeneration and He sustains that desire in us. We can take no credit for our salvation, not even for our believing. Nevertheless, we ourselves must believe.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
- Psalm 73:25–26
- Isaiah 26:8
- Ephesians 2:1–10
- Philippians 1:6