EXODUS
CHAPTER
35
1. Moses assembled all the congregation of the Israelites and said to them: These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do:
(Exodus chapter 35 verse 1)
When Moses was speaking to the Israelites he was doing so in the name of God. Moses was the medium or tool or voice, by which God wanted to pass on His message to His people. In the New Testament that same authority and teaching role was given to Peter and eventually the Roman Catholic Church. When the Roman Catholic Church or the pope makes a declaration with reference to our spiritual life it is the voice of God that is proclaiming that message and not simply the person himself. This is the case when we go to mass, to listen to the Word of God and receive the body and blood of God, although the oral transmission is that of the priest, it is the Holy Spirit of God that inspired them to proclaim God's Word.
2. Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy sabbath of solemn rest to the LORD; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.
(Exodus chapter 35 verse 2)
(Exodus chapter 35 verse 2)
According to verse two of the thirty-fifth chapter of the book of Exodus when God referred to the term rest, He did not mean a day lying in bed in the sun. God meant rest in Him which means a day or time of praise and worship to Him. A day where God is the only focus.
3. You shall kindle no fire in all your dwellings on the sabbath day.
(Exodus chapter 35 verse 3)
God's reason for having given His people such a commandment may have been that He is the only light in our lives, therefore there was to be no separate flames, in the sense that Israel's source of light was common that had its roots in God's presence in the Holy Place at the area of the Tabernacle where God's presence would rest on the mercy seat.
4. Moses said to all the congregation of the Israelites: This is the thing that the LORD has commanded: 5. Take from among you an offering to the LORD; let whoever is of a generous heart bring the LORD's offering: gold silver, and bronze; 6 blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and fine linen; goats' hair, 7. tanned ram's skins, and fine leather; acacia wood, 8. oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 9. and onyx stones and gems to be set in the ephod and the breastpiece .
(Exodus chapter 35 verses 4 to 9)
At times God asks us to make use of our resources for either His service or in either to be of service to others. He does not ask of us anything that is beyond our capacity. Along with the given task God also gives us the necessary skills in order to help carry out that particular task. God never expects any task of us, that is beyond our resources. On coming out of Egypt, His people had acquired such resources from the Egyptians, therefore He knew that He had not set for them an impossible task to fulfil while in the wilderness of Sinai.
10. All who are skillful among you shall come and make all that the LORD has commanded: the tabernacle, 11. its tent and its covering, its clasps and its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases; 12. the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the curtains for the screen; 13. the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence; 14. the lampstand also for the light, with its utensils and its lamps, and the oil for the light; 15 and the altar of incense with its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the entrance, the entrance of the tabernacle; 16. the altar of burnt offerings, with its grating of bronze, its poles and all its utensils, the basin with its stand; 17. the hangings of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court; 18. the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court and their cords; 19. the finely worked vestments for ministering in the holy place, the holy vestments for the priest Aaron, and the vestments of his sons, for their service as priests.
(Exodus chapter 35 verses 10 to 19)
God gave his people a big assignment to fulfil that required both strength and fine skills in order to build and furnish the utensils and tent of the meeting. During our times God does not give us such outstanding tasks to accomplish, however on reflecting He does give us tasks. The undertaking of the commitment of marriage, becoming a priest, being part of a charity organisation, evangelising among minority groups or even during public sessions are all assignments given to us by God. In the New Testament God told us to venture beyond our securities and throw our nets, because if we stay in the limits of our harbours which are protected zones our catch would not be that successful. We are to venture into circles or groups of people among whom we usually think twice of going to. God will surely be with us, because such groups of people are also His sons and daughters, however the greatest assignment that God has given us is with ourselves. If we let Him into ourselves, God is able to change us. On the other hand others will witness the change in us, and we become witnesses of God's intervention for others to follow leading to the silent salvation of many souls. Without our being aware there may be others who admire the presence of God in us and are trying to follow the same path by imitating us. Therefore we are to always set a good example in all we do, so that we will not be of a scandal or negative experience for others.
20. Then all the congregation of the Israelites withdrew from the presence of Moses. 21. An they came, everyone whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and brought the LORD'S offering to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the sacred vestments. So they came, both men and women: all who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and pendants, all sorts of gold objects, everyone bringing an offering of gold to the LORD. 23. And everyone who possessed blue or purple or crimson yarn or fine linen or goat's hair or tanned rams skins or fine leather brought them. 24. Everyone who could make an offering of silver or bronze brought it as the LORD's offering; and everyone who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work, brought it.
(Exodus chapter 35 verses 20 to 24)
When God makes a call on all believers we are expected to respond to His call by, offering all our skills and or resources. At times we receive calls for prayer by the pope and even simple please such as people needed to wash the church or participate in fund raising activities among others. God shows us that there is some need lacking by means of different people and or situations. It is our duty to respond with the best of our selves and our resources.
25. All the skillful women spun with their hands, and brought what they had spun in blue and purple and crimson yarns and fine linen: 26. all the women whose hearts moved them to use their skill spun the goats hair. 27. And the leaders brought onyx stones and gems to be set in the ephod and the breastpiece, 28. and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.
(Exodus chapter 35 verses 25 to 28)
In the world every body has a role to play. God gives us skills to share with others even for the good of the Church and other organizations. This is a good time to reflect on the skills that God has given us and thank Him for each and every one of them.
29. All the Israelite men and women whose hearts made them willing 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.
(Exodus chapter 35 verse 29)
God makes his call to all people, however only those who are free in their hearts and spirits are able to respond to God's will. At times we are bound by many blockages that hinder us from being ourselves and instruments in the hands of God.
30. Then Moses said to the Israelites: See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur of the tribe of Judah:
(Exodus chapter 35 verse 30)
God called Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur. He may also be calling you and your children or other members of you family in order to be of service to Him. God has a variety of calls, that differ according to other people's needs. The world may be in need of doctors, or psychologists, or even priests, or maybe even people to be married or maybe people called to be missionaries or instruments for evangelizing. It is our duty to respond by saying yes to God's call.
31. He has filled him with divine spirit, with skill, Intelligence, and knowledge in every kind of craft, 32. to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 33 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, in every kind of craft. 34. And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. 35. He has filled them with the skill to do every kind of work done by an artisan or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue purple, and crimson yarns, and in fine linen, or by a weaver-by any sort of artisan or skilled designer.
(Exodus chapter 35 verses 31 to 35)
On reflecting on verses 31 to 35 God shows us that all of our skills and knowledge is not according to our own doing, but are gifts given to us by God for a particular purpose mainly that of being of help and or service to others.
Now is the time to thank God for all the skills that He has given us. It would be fruitful for us to stop and reflect on all the skills that God has given us, and thank Him for each and every one of them.
I would like to end this chapter by thanking God for all the love, care, friends, knowledge, skills that He has given us. They are all his blessings and without them I cannot imagine how our lives would be. I invite you to click on the following link and thank God with me by means of this song.
Thank You God
4. Moses said to all the congregation of the Israelites: This is the thing that the LORD has commanded: 5. Take from among you an offering to the LORD; let whoever is of a generous heart bring the LORD's offering: gold silver, and bronze; 6 blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and fine linen; goats' hair, 7. tanned ram's skins, and fine leather; acacia wood, 8. oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 9. and onyx stones and gems to be set in the ephod and the breastpiece .
(Exodus chapter 35 verses 4 to 9)
At times God asks us to make use of our resources for either His service or in either to be of service to others. He does not ask of us anything that is beyond our capacity. Along with the given task God also gives us the necessary skills in order to help carry out that particular task. God never expects any task of us, that is beyond our resources. On coming out of Egypt, His people had acquired such resources from the Egyptians, therefore He knew that He had not set for them an impossible task to fulfil while in the wilderness of Sinai.
10. All who are skillful among you shall come and make all that the LORD has commanded: the tabernacle, 11. its tent and its covering, its clasps and its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases; 12. the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the curtains for the screen; 13. the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence; 14. the lampstand also for the light, with its utensils and its lamps, and the oil for the light; 15 and the altar of incense with its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the entrance, the entrance of the tabernacle; 16. the altar of burnt offerings, with its grating of bronze, its poles and all its utensils, the basin with its stand; 17. the hangings of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court; 18. the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court and their cords; 19. the finely worked vestments for ministering in the holy place, the holy vestments for the priest Aaron, and the vestments of his sons, for their service as priests.
(Exodus chapter 35 verses 10 to 19)
God gave his people a big assignment to fulfil that required both strength and fine skills in order to build and furnish the utensils and tent of the meeting. During our times God does not give us such outstanding tasks to accomplish, however on reflecting He does give us tasks. The undertaking of the commitment of marriage, becoming a priest, being part of a charity organisation, evangelising among minority groups or even during public sessions are all assignments given to us by God. In the New Testament God told us to venture beyond our securities and throw our nets, because if we stay in the limits of our harbours which are protected zones our catch would not be that successful. We are to venture into circles or groups of people among whom we usually think twice of going to. God will surely be with us, because such groups of people are also His sons and daughters, however the greatest assignment that God has given us is with ourselves. If we let Him into ourselves, God is able to change us. On the other hand others will witness the change in us, and we become witnesses of God's intervention for others to follow leading to the silent salvation of many souls. Without our being aware there may be others who admire the presence of God in us and are trying to follow the same path by imitating us. Therefore we are to always set a good example in all we do, so that we will not be of a scandal or negative experience for others.
20. Then all the congregation of the Israelites withdrew from the presence of Moses. 21. An they came, everyone whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and brought the LORD'S offering to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the sacred vestments. So they came, both men and women: all who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and pendants, all sorts of gold objects, everyone bringing an offering of gold to the LORD. 23. And everyone who possessed blue or purple or crimson yarn or fine linen or goat's hair or tanned rams skins or fine leather brought them. 24. Everyone who could make an offering of silver or bronze brought it as the LORD's offering; and everyone who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work, brought it.
(Exodus chapter 35 verses 20 to 24)
When God makes a call on all believers we are expected to respond to His call by, offering all our skills and or resources. At times we receive calls for prayer by the pope and even simple please such as people needed to wash the church or participate in fund raising activities among others. God shows us that there is some need lacking by means of different people and or situations. It is our duty to respond with the best of our selves and our resources.
25. All the skillful women spun with their hands, and brought what they had spun in blue and purple and crimson yarns and fine linen: 26. all the women whose hearts moved them to use their skill spun the goats hair. 27. And the leaders brought onyx stones and gems to be set in the ephod and the breastpiece, 28. and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.
(Exodus chapter 35 verses 25 to 28)
In the world every body has a role to play. God gives us skills to share with others even for the good of the Church and other organizations. This is a good time to reflect on the skills that God has given us and thank Him for each and every one of them.
29. All the Israelite men and women whose hearts made them willing 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.
(Exodus chapter 35 verse 29)
God makes his call to all people, however only those who are free in their hearts and spirits are able to respond to God's will. At times we are bound by many blockages that hinder us from being ourselves and instruments in the hands of God.
30. Then Moses said to the Israelites: See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur of the tribe of Judah:
(Exodus chapter 35 verse 30)
God called Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur. He may also be calling you and your children or other members of you family in order to be of service to Him. God has a variety of calls, that differ according to other people's needs. The world may be in need of doctors, or psychologists, or even priests, or maybe even people to be married or maybe people called to be missionaries or instruments for evangelizing. It is our duty to respond by saying yes to God's call.
31. He has filled him with divine spirit, with skill, Intelligence, and knowledge in every kind of craft, 32. to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 33 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, in every kind of craft. 34. And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. 35. He has filled them with the skill to do every kind of work done by an artisan or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue purple, and crimson yarns, and in fine linen, or by a weaver-by any sort of artisan or skilled designer.
(Exodus chapter 35 verses 31 to 35)
On reflecting on verses 31 to 35 God shows us that all of our skills and knowledge is not according to our own doing, but are gifts given to us by God for a particular purpose mainly that of being of help and or service to others.
Now is the time to thank God for all the skills that He has given us. It would be fruitful for us to stop and reflect on all the skills that God has given us, and thank Him for each and every one of them.
I would like to end this chapter by thanking God for all the love, care, friends, knowledge, skills that He has given us. They are all his blessings and without them I cannot imagine how our lives would be. I invite you to click on the following link and thank God with me by means of this song.
Thank You God
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