Sharing The Vision

Exodus 35:1-20

“And Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said unto them, These are the words which Jehovah hath commanded, that ye should do them.” (Exodus 35:1) 

When Moses came down off the mountain the first time and found the people worshipping the golden calf, he hadn’t taken the time to tell them what God had shown him on the mountain.  This time, he doesn’t have to deal with their sin and can focus on what God had shown him.

“Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day there shall be to you a holy day, a sabbath of solemn rest to Jehovah: whosoever doeth any work therein shall be put to death.  Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.” (Exodus 35:2-3) 

The things God had clarified are only briefly summarized here, as they have been detailed before.  The key point that is noted is that since meals could be prepared in advance, they were not even to build a fire to cook with on the Sabbath, under penalty of death.

“And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which Jehovah commanded, saying, Take ye from among you an offering unto Jehovah; whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, Jehovah`s offering: gold, and silver, and brass, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats` [hair], and rams` skins dyed red, and sealskins, and acacia wood, and oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, and onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate.” (Exodus 35:4-9) 

Moses then asked the people to give freely of the specific items God had said they would need for the Tabernacle.  They were only to give what was needed as they were willing to give.  When one preacher was confronted about stating that the people even gave the shoes off their feet, he said it was such a wonderful picture, apparently not understanding that doing so would be somewhat like Cain’s offering fruits when God asked for an animal sacrifice.

"And let every wise-hearted man among you come, and make all that Jehovah hath commanded: the tabernacle, its tent, and its covering, its clasps, and its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; the ark, and the staves thereof, the mercy-seat, and the veil of the screen; the table, and its staves, and all its vessels, and the showbread; the candlestick also for the light, and its vessels, and its lamps, and the oil for the light; and the altar of incense, and its staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle; the altar of burnt-offering, with its grating of brass, it staves, and all its vessels, the laver and its base; the hangings of the court, the pillars thereof, and their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court; the pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords; the finely wrought garments, for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest`s office.” (Exodus 35:10-19)

He also asked for skilled workers in different crafts to volunteer to build each of the different parts of the Tabernacle.  They would need lumbermen, carpenters and foundry and gold silver smiths to build the furniture and frame work and skilled spinners and weavers, cloth designers, tent makers, tailors and leather workers to make the various coverings and hangings and the priest’s garments.

“And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.” (Exodus 35:20)