LIFE SCRIPTS

1 Moses assembled the whole Israelite community and said to them, “These are the things the Lord has commanded you to do: 2 For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of sabbath rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it is to be put to death. 3 Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.” 4 Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded: 5 From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze; 6 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 7 ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; 8 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 9 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. 10 “All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded: 11 the tabernacle with its tent and its covering, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases; 12 the ark with its poles and the atonement cover and the curtain that shields it; 13 the table with its poles and all its articles and the bread of the Presence; 14 the lampstand that is for light with its accessories, lamps and oil for the light; 15 the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle; 16 the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the bronze basin with its stand; 17 the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard; 18 the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, and their ropes; 19 the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary—both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests.” 20 Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, 21 and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. 22 All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord. 23 Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or the other durable leather brought them. 24 Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the Lord, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it. 25 Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun—blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen. 26 And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair. 27 The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. 28 They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. 29 All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do.
Exodus 35:1‭-‬29 NIV

https://bible.com/bible/111/exo.35.1-29.NIV.

Picture a God Who reminds His people over and over again about setting aside time to worship Him. The Sabbath wasn’t just a time to rest but a time to set aside work and all the worries that life carries in order to worship and acknowledge God. Probably we might not all celebrate the Sabbath the way the Israelites did. But all of us have an opportunity to allow Christ, our true Rest into our lives. Whichever day we observe the Sabbath, we not only rest in His presence but also exalt Him in a way that we couldn’t before. The Israelites were asked to cast their burdens before the Lord on this one day (the Sabbath) in order to worship Him. Today, we can cast our cares, our worries, our sins upon Him for us to gain the Sabbath rest. God also instructed His people to consider the things they have in order to offer gifts for the construction of the tabernacle and it’s accompanying instruments. But they weren’t coerced. Instead, they were told to retreat back to their houses to consider in their hearts what they would give to God’s work. Giving shouldn’t be out of coercion or cajoling but out of a willing heart. It’s astonishing how much we lose by giving out of being compelled. But giving wasn’t just about material possessions. Skilled people were called upon to use their trade to God’s glory. Infact in verse 10, ‘whoever’ was skilled was called upon just as whoever was able to give of his or her possessions. Giving is part of God’s nature. If we feel a need in our heart to give (whether it’s our possessions, skills or time), we are already blessed because God sees and honors our desire to give more than the gift itself. Remember the widow who brought a coin yet gave more than those who brought the ‘big money’? It is in this scripture that a new term is given…’free will giving’ (verse 29)…giving above and beyond what’s basic because we desire to serve God. But the best thing about it is giving out of a willing heart.