$100,000,000.00 💵💵💵💵💵💵💵
That’s my (probably low) ballpark estimate of what it would cost to build the tabernacle of Moses today. It was entirely crowdfunded by a group of people who were only about 4 months out of 400 years of slavery.
Ummm. That’s a miracle.
This is why the Lord told Moses:
“And I will cause the Egyptians to look favorably on you. They will give you gifts when you go so you will not leave empty-handed. Every Israelite woman will ask for articles of silver and gold and fine clothing from her Egyptian neighbors and from the foreign women in their houses. You will dress your sons and daughters with these, stripping the Egyptians of their wealth.”
Exodus 3:21-22 NLT
“Speak now in the hearing of the people, that they ask, every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor, for silver and gold jewelry.” Exodus 11:2 ESV
“The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.”
Exodus 12:35-36 ESV
>>>> just gonna insert something here… Remember Monday’s post about removing the ornaments to deal with their stiff neck? Those ornaments were NEVER about them. They were always meant for the building of the tabernacle. Your ornaments (gifts, talents, wealth, influence) are meant to direct the eyes of others to Yahweh and not yourself. Anyone who has ever served in worship ministry with me could probably quote my frequent speeches about not being a distraction. Hiding behind the cross. And doing our best to not draw attention to ourselves but rather point everyone’s focus to Jesus. The ornaments are for God’s house, not us.
Now back to our regularly scheduled blog…
This door to door collecting of precious metals was kinda like Trick-or-Treating to the power of a million. Can you imagine?! Just go knock on your neighbor’s door and ask them to give you their luxury goods.
🚪✊🏼 Knock knock
🙄 Really, Lacy? A knock knock joke? What are you, 9?
🤓 C’mon! Don’t be a stick in the mud.
🚪✊🏼 Knock knock
🙄 Ok. Whatever. Who’s there?
🤓 A Jew.
😏 Bless you.
🤧😆
🚪✊🏼 Knock knock
😑 Another one? Are you for real?
🤓 Last one. I promise.
🚪✊🏼 Knock knock
🙄 Who’s there?
🤓 Juanita
😑 Juanita who?
🤓 Juanita borrow your jewelry.
🙄 🤣😂🤣
So the Israelites had packed up all this stuff and brought it with. Moses asks for donations to build the tabernacle and they brought so much that he finally had to stop them. Bezalel and Oholiab were deluged with more than enough. And the people would’ve kept bringing gifts if Moses hadn’t told them to stop.
I can’t help but notice that Moses and Aaron didn’t say “Hey this is great. Yeah, we could use some more gold & silver,” (then keep the extra to line their own pockets or buy themselves bigger tents or newer model donkeys.) I have a feeling that most big-time ministries today wouldn’t tell people to stop giving when there was enough to do what God asked. Just sayin’.
Speaking of ministries, I think leaders (at any level) could learn something from this incident.
The people got so excited they had to be restrained from giving. Most pastors would give a right arm or a small vital organ to see the congregation give so much they had to be told to stop. Why were the people so fired up? It might be because they were being included. They felt a sense of ownership. Their skills- the things they were good at and loved to do- were being valued and put to good use for God’s glory.
The elderly widow woman could spin goat’s hair into fine yarn. The young mom could use her weaving skills to help make one of the curtains. The teen guy who has an interest in metal working can cast bronze for the glory of God. The grandfather can use his carpentry knowledge to coach the young men planing the boards so they end up straight.
When we define “ministry” as preaching, Bible exposition, organizing church events, teaching kids, and music, we limit who can participate. Many people fear public speaking more than death or a trip to the dentist. Some folks can’t organize a sock drawer let alone a church event. And there are plenty of fantastic saints who couldn’t sing their way out of a wet paper sack if their lives depended on it.
Why couldn’t a man who loves fishing use that for God’s glory by leading a group of brothers out for a day on the water combined with some prayer and fellowship? Or a woman who loves to quilt could host a group of ladies to visit over tea while they make lap quilts for the nursing home residents.
The truth is, the Church has been doing this kind of thing for centuries. It’s actually why we have hospitals and orphanages. Christians invented those.
If the Israelites could tan hides and carve wood and make clothing and create perfume for the glory of God, I’m pretty sure your skills and passion projects can glorify Him too. You may need to work it out on your own though. And it doesn’t have to be an official church program (listed in the bulletin and everything) to be a legit ministry. You have a gift. Use it. Don’t wait for a gilded invitation.
Remember this?
“But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied.” Exodus 4:1-2 NLT
If Moses had been a mechanic, his answer might’ve been- “A wrench.”
If Moses had been a logger, he might’ve said, “A chainsaw.”
Moses was a shepherd. So he had a staff.
What do you have in your hand right now that the Lord can use?
Even if it’s only a stick, God can use it.
But there can be no strings attached. Either you offer your skills and talents to the Lord freely or don’t offer them at all. It’s not the stock exchange. If you commit something to the Lord it is now holy. Not for common use.
(It’s my personal conviction to not use my musical gifts for gigging with secular music to entertain and make a buck; though I’ve had a few people suggest to me over the years that I could. Sorry not sorry. My gifts have been holy to the Lord since I was 16 and I’m dancing with the One Who brought me if you know what I mean.)
Notice in the passage above what prompted God to ask Moses what was in his hand. Moses was worried that the people wouldn’t believe that God sent him.
Read this slowly…
Somehow the Lord takes the thing in our hand and uses it in such a way that the people we minister to recognize that God has sent someone to help. They realize that they are seen by the Almighty, that He knows their plight and He is doing something about it. The something is you.
To The Reader 