By:
Edited By W. J. Hocking.
Giving.
THE cost of the materials used in the construction of the tabernacle and its furniture was immense. It is roughly estimated at £290,000, or more than a quarter of a million of money. And it is a matter of interest to note how this vast accumulation of treasure was procured; for not only were certain prescribed things to be used, as ordered of God, but everything was to be obtained in God’s way.
His mind then was most fully revealed as to this, through human means; for He chose to make known all things by the voice of His servant Moses, as is shown us in Exodus 25. There Moses is seen to have been instructed of God to make known His requirements as to what articles were needed for His sanctuary, viz., gold, silver, brass, blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, badgers’ skins, shittim wood, oil, spices, onyx, and precious stones to be set in the ephod and the breastplate.
It is well to observe to whom the call for these things was made — “Speak unto the children of Israel.” It was by no means a general appeal, but limited to the chosen people of God — those who had personally experienced God’s salvation, and knew themselves to be a “purchased people” (see Exodus 15:1-171Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name. 4Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. 5The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. 6Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. 7And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. 8And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. 9The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. 10Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. 11Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 12Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. 13Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 14The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. 15Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. 16Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O Lord, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. 17Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. (Exodus 15:1‑17)). In fact, even these were not told to give as a matter of course, or necessity. There was to be the fullest freedom of will — real heart work. The words are, “Of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart, ye shall take my offering.” God had done great things for them, whereof they were glad; now He gave them an opportunity of doing something for Him, as an indication, of a practical kind, of their gratitude for His goodness, as well as their lively interest in that which concerned His glory. They were not to give with any idea of procuring God’s blessing, but because such had already been granted to them gratuitously.
How literally Moses carried out the word of the Lord may be seen in Exodus 35 He neither omitted a single article from, nor did he add one to, the divinely-furnished list. To have done so would have implied that he was wiser than God. He would not go beyond, nor would he fall short of, the word of the Lord; for his part was only to obey.
The unadulterated message of God to His people proved a power to faithful souls; hence, here we read, “And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments” (Ex. 35:2121And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. (Exodus 35:21)).
Where it was a matter of giving for God’s work, it is instructive to consider how those things to which the Israelites were doubtless closely attached and which they highly valued, such as “bracelets, earrings, rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold,” were readily brought by those who had “stirred-up hearts” and “willing spirits,” and placed at Moses’ disposal in the building of God’s house.
The same exemplary spirit may be discovered in Jonathan’s action towards David, as he “delighted much in David” (1 Sam. 19:22But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: (1 Samuel 19:2)), and “loved him” (1 Sam. 18:11And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. (1 Samuel 18:1)), as Israel’s deliverer from death and destruction; hence, who can wonder that he “stripped himself” of his princely outfit and gave all to David!
The outcome of Moses’ appeal was eminently satisfactory. The varied offerings were brought by different ones according to what they had. The poorest could probably bring goats’ hair, whilst the rulers might give onyx stones.
What a striking counterpart to this is to be found in the New Testament, as God’s mind for the saints today! (2 Cor. 8, 9) Here the apostle makes an appeal to the saints to prove the sincerity of their love, by giving where there was a need; and he uses, as an incentive, their knowledge of Christ. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” Here, again, the all-important requirement is “a willing mind”; then the offering will be “accepted according to that a man hath” (2 Cor. 8:1212For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. (2 Corinthians 8:12)).
See how grace begets grace; for in verse 19 we read of the united offerings as “this grace,” and here, as in Exodus, we find there was “abundance” (vs. 20), “bounty” (9:5), and “liberal distribution” (9:13). God’s love was proved by the giving up of the dearest object of His heart (His only-begotten Son), and those who have received Him should delight to give! “Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:88Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:8)).
If we can say “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift,” let us also remember that “God loveth a cheerful giver.”
A.R.C.