Exodus Chapters 35-40 – “No Spectators”
Outline:
- Intro
- Chp. 35-39: Time to Build
- Chp. 40: Filled with God’s Glory
I.) Intro
How do you all feel about your family history? It seems to me that the older I get, the more interest I have in my ancestors. My grandmother did quite a bit of research into her family’s history, and I like to read about what they were like. Looking at one’s family history is like looking at life’s journey. How families traveled from one part of the country to another, and what led them to make such decisions? I wonder if the Lord tarries for a few hundred years, what will my relatives have to say about my decisions? I wonder if they will look over the years of my life and see in my direction the move of the Holy Spirit and a changed and broken heart?
Throughout this book, we have been privileged to see Israel’s spiritual journey. In the first 18 chapters, we saw their bondage and deliverance from Egypt, the call of Moses, and their escape to Mt. Sinai. Then, in chapters 19-24, we saw the initiation of God’s covenant with His people and their growing understanding of who God is. In chapters 25-31, God gave Moses the specific design for the construction of the tabernacle where He would dwell in their midst. In chapters 32-34, we are told what the people did while Moses was up on the mountain with the Lord—they rebelled, and we saw how the Lord received them after their failure. We are now at the end of their spiritual journey as recorded in the book of Exodus.
II.) Chp. 35-39: Time to Build
Chapter 35:
Surveying the last 5 chapters, much of it repeats the specific plans for the tabernacle. The difference is that, in these chapters, they actually build it. The key to understanding this section is found in two simple words:
- All: repeated 71 times in five chapters.
- Every: repeated 6 times in five chapters.
When you see these two words, they refer to the action of a nation of around 2 million people, and the fact that they were united in their decision to follow the Lord. In light of their recent rebellion, what caused such a sweeping change of heart? Just a little over 40 days earlier, the nation was unrestrained in their worship of the golden calf, and now they are equally passionate in their decision to follow the Lord. What brought about such a change?
- Was it the power of God? No, they had already seen that in their deliverance.
- Was it the knowledge of God? No, they had already experienced this along the way.
Remember, they had failed before the Lord despite God’s demonstration of power and guidance. Clearly, these did not keep them from following after worthless idols. So, what happened that changed their hearts as seen in their actions? The only thing that happened is that God personally revealed His love and grace toward them.
They had come to understand their own sin nature and God’s love for them because of His character (34:6). Paul says in his letter to Titus, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” It is the grace of God that leads us to say no to ungodliness! It was the revelation of God’s grace that changed their lives from idol worshipers to God worshipers.
To further illustrate this point, look at the first three verses of chapter 35. Here, God reestablishes the Sabbath day prior to calling them to the work of the Lord. Clearly, God wants them to rest in Him before they are to work for Him! Before God outlines the work to be done for the Lord, He wants them to understand the rest that is found only in Him. It is as if the Lord is saying, “You are so loved, so work,” and not, “You work so you will be loved!”
The grace of God did something in the people. According to verse 21, it produced two things in the Israelites:
- Stirred hearts
- Willing spirits
Both words, “hearts” and “spirits,” refer to inward things. So, the outward change of action was from an inward change of heart. Simply put, this is not something they did, but it was the work of the Word of God that changed their hearts. And the change of heart moved them to action!
Moses, in verse 5, makes a suggestion: “Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD.” The grace of God motivated the people to have willing hearts. There was no high-pressure sales system or public contest to raise money. Instead, Moses trusted that God would do the work in the hearts of His people. The most important thing in the giving was a willing heart, and they realized that they were giving unto the Lord.
Look at verses 22-29 and see the response to the grace of God. It’s amazing! Moses appoints two general contractors to oversee the work, and these men were gifted and empowered by God for the task. No amount of money could make someone do this work—it was done out of a calling, not as a career choice. Their main job was to teach others how to do what God had called them to do.
This heart change was seen in three ways:
- 35:22-29: They gave of their resources for the construction.
- 35:10, 36:1-4, 8: They served together in building the tabernacle.
- 39:1: They obeyed—15 times we read that the Israelites did “as the LORD had commanded Moses.”
The stirred hearts and willing spirits produced a lifestyle seen in their giving, serving, and obedience. When the church responds to His grace with stirred hearts and willing spirits, it will be seen in how we give, serve, and obey.
Chapter 36:
Vs. 4-7: The people brought so much that they had to be restrained. Wow! Willing hearts transformed by the grace of God will always give more than enough for the work. Moses even had to tell them to stop when they had enough! The difference between their response and ours may be in how much we have grown in the grace of God.
Vs. 8-38: They start building the curtains, boards, pillars, and veils. It’s interesting that God gave Moses the design of the tabernacle from the inside out, and they built it from the outside in! We are always concerned with the “how,” while God is concerned with the heart!
Chapter 37:
They start building the furniture inside the tabernacle, starting with the Most Holy Place. When we come into the presence of the Lord, we start with His mercy!
Chapter 38:
Again, they work on the outer court. Look at verse 8, “He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.” The women gave up their vanity—their mirrors—symbolizing a shift from focusing on their own reflection to God’s reflection. It’s a powerful illustration of sacrifice and transformation.
Chapter 39:
Finally, the priestly garments are made, and the work of the tabernacle is completed. Moses inspects everything, ensuring it was all done according to God’s word, and blesses the people for their work. Simple obedience to the Lord, motivated by grace, built the tabernacle—and it is what builds His church today!
III.) Chp. 40: Filled with God’s Glory
Vs. 1: “On the first day of the month,” we are told that it had been about a year since they had been delivered from Egypt. What a year it had been!
Vs. 2-33: The tabernacle is assembled, Aaron and his sons are anointed as priests, and they are ready for the dedication service. Notice in verse 33 that “Moses finished the work.” Our job today is to build the Church of Jesus Christ, and one day, we will hear the Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Until then, we are not finished with the work.
We are to do this together with willing hearts that have responded to the grace of God in our lives. A stirred heart and willing spirit will cause us to give, serve, and obey. When we do, God will fill His church with His glory and guide us through life’s journey. Let’s allow the grace of God to transform our lives! Amen!