Exodus 25:1-2 The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give.
My knee-jerk reaction to today’s scripture is rebellious–”You can’t tell me what to do. Why is God being a bully and demanding offerings?” But I have to remind myself that the Israelites have been in Egypt for hundreds of years. They were fully immersed in the religious culture.
Exodus 25:3-5 These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood;
What God is doing here is showing them His way, their way, since they are His chosen people. Commentary says He is trying to develop their giving heart, as He strives to do with and for all of His children.
Exodus 25:6-7 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.
Precious Savior, Thank You for allowing me to go beyond my knee-jerk reactions–with Your word and with life itself. Help me, always, to slow down, to think things through, to read more widely, to sit with You and Your word, to draw closer to You–even when I am confused, even when I am afraid, even when I don’t understand. Help me, Jesus. Amen.
Exodus 25:8-9 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.
Have a blessed day.