Lesson #18 - Sabbath Observance & Tabernacle Offerings - Ex. 35

Terry Siverd
11/06/16 - Sun AM

Series: God's Man Moses - Israel's Exodus From Egypt

THE SABBATH IS RE-EMPHAZIED / Ex.35a

1. Skilled craftsman have been appointed to oversee the construction of the tabernacle (cf. Ex.31:1-11).

2. As construction time draws near, they are reminded of God’s command to “honor the Sabbath”.  cf. Ex.20:8-11

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days your shall labor and do all your work,

But THE SEVENTH DAY is a SABBATH of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son

or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourners who stays with you.

For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the Sabbath;

Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it HOLY.

  Vs.2 emphasizes that the seventh day is to be “a Sabbath of complete rest to the Lord”.

  Even a fire was not to be kindled. – VS.3

THE TABERNACLE IS UNDERWRITTEN / Ex.35b & 36a

1. An offering is commanded by God:  Take from among you a contribution to the Lord. – Ex.35:5f

  Such offerings were to come from “whoever is of a willing heart”.

  Offerings were to include:  precious metals of gold, sliver & bronze … fine clothes …

acacia wood and oils … onyx & setting stones.  cf. Ex.25:3-7 

2. How did the congregation respond? – Ex.35:20f

  Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the Lord’s contribution…

  The Israelites, all the men and women, whose heart moved them to bring material for all the work, which

the Lord had commanded through Moses to be done, brought a FREEWILL OFFERING to the Lord. – vs.29

  Who were the two primary craftsmen mentioned by name to oversee the implementation of these gifts?

Bezalel and Oholiab – vss.30 & 34  cf. Ex.31:1-6

3. How generous were the people?

  The gifts kept on coming – Ex.36:3b

  Bezalel and Oholiab spoke to Moses saying (vs.5):  The people are bringing MUCH MORE THAN ENOUGH…

  Moses issued a proclamation to stop giving! – vs.6

The people were RESTRAINED FROM BRINGING ANY MORE.

For the material they had was sufficient, and more than enough for all the work, to perform it.

4. How does one explain such remarkable generosity?

  Why were they so eager to give?

  Wasn’t this just a temporary  (stop-gag) structure?

  What made this tabernacle so very special?

cf. Ex.25:8 / a sanctuary for ME, that I may dwell among them.

~ As to how these “nomads” and former slaves accrued such wealth, see Ex. 3:31-22 and Ex.12:35-36.  

? Your assignment for next week:  read Exodus 36b-40 4 regarding The Construction & Completion Of The Tabernacle