The God Who Comes Near Movement Two: When Presence is Broken Week 8: Sacred Labor: Finding Holy Purpose in Everyday Work, Exodus 35-39

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I spend a lot of time working with words. Reading them. Studying them. Trying to find the words that will help US hear what God is saying. And as a musician, I know that words aren’t the only way we express something that matters. There is a lot involved in making music. There is practice. There is attention to how all the parts fit together. And there is something deeply satisfying when those parts come together into something beautiful.

Some of you know that feeling through very different kinds of work. You can look at a piece of wood and see what it could become. You know how to sew something that fits, repair something that’s broken, or take a collection of ingredients and turn it into a meal. Most Christians have no idea the Bible spends so much time celebrating artists, craftsmen, builders, designers, embroiderers, metal workers, and woodworkers.

Today, we’re going to meet people whose abilities receive very specific attention in Scripture. God knows their names. He knows their skills. And he has a place for their work—in what he is doing among his people. Starting in Exodus 35:

Moses assembled the whole Israelite community and said to them, “These are the things the Lord has commanded you to do:” Exodus 35:1 NIV

The assembly is probably not all of the people, but the majority of the heads of the clans, who represent the people as a whole.[1] The last assembly was as the people gathered around Aaron, with a task that was dishonoring to God.  The first time, the people talk.  Now, they listen.[2]  What a difference! 

We’ve been waiting a couple of months for this—the Tabernacle is FINALLY going to be built!  Drum roll, please! …… But first…

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. Exodus 35:1-3 NIV

The whole construction account…begins with Sabbath! The Sabbath was visible, weekly proof that the people were keeping their part of the legal obligation— through which came their protection and blessings.  Keeping the Sabbath showed whether or not they were committed to keeping the covenant.[3] NOT to keep the Sabbath would be to say publicly to the world, “I am not in covenant relationship with the Lord of the Sabbath.”[4]

In the commandments about the Sabbath, it typically describes ordinary domestic labor, but in the broader context, it also refers to making the Tabernacle.[5] The people might assume that building something as holy and beautiful as the Tabernacle would trump breaking the Sabbath law.[6] Not so!

Some of the rules for keeping the Sabbath seem a bit strange to our Western ears.  When I was in Israel years ago, I tried to enter an elevator on a Saturday, and a Jewish man told me no!  It was a Shabbat elevator.  I smiled and stayed on.  It turns out, the Shabbat elevator stopped at every floor, so that no one would have to push the buttons.  That’s taking it to another level!  Observing the Sabbath in the wilderness was a gift—for a people who had been slaves to the Pharaoh in Egypt.  But observing the Sabbath was NOT voluntary![7]

The Sabbath was about celebrating and remembering God’s rest. When God created, he wasn’t just making something out of nothing.  He DID that, but he also took that which WAS—and molded it into something more complex and sophisticated.  He took water and caused species of marine life to arise from it.  The kind of work he did was called ‘melachah.’ When WE are mastering the world around us and molding it to suit our liking, we imitate our Creator.[8]

Well, what is the deal with the not lighting a fire?  What does that have to do with working?   That was the question that got brought up in one of our Bible studies this Fall.  I didn’t know the answer.  I’ve got a better idea after some more research.  Here goes: First of all, this is not for all fires, but only those in private homes.  The altar fires were entirely appropriate for the Sabbath offerings.[9] There were burnt offerings and drink offerings prescribed FOR the Sabbath![10] But there, it may be a matter of keeping the fire going, not lighting a new fire.[11] (If you’re wondering, they would definitely feed their animals, and milk their goats and cows twice a day, even on the Sabbath.  Not to do so would have caused great pain to the animals.[12]) The simplest work that someone might be tempted to do on the Sabbath—was cooking meals.  God was already providing double manna on Fridays, so that they didn’t have to gather any of that.  Lighting a fire to cook—would make work for the women and/or servants of the family.  This law means the women and servants could have their day of rest too, and not just the householding men.[13]

But there’s also another dimension to this, especially regarding the ‘kind’ of work. You can drag a table across the floor, but that is not the same kind of work as lighting a fire.  It might be tiring, but it’s not the same word in Hebrew, either.  Making light—is the first and quintessential act of Creation.  With the Creation of light, time began.  On the Sabbath, time stops.[14] Making a fire mimics the kind of creativity that God did when He created the world.[15]

On the final day, God made the decision to stop tinkering with His world, and to appreciate it for what it was.  As an artist, you could always add one more brushstroke.  A parent might not be able to let go—to try and ‘fix’ their child even after they’ve grown up.  An editor might keep rearranging sentences.  But when you stop, the thing you have made becomes independent.  It will no longer be my puppet.[16] When we’re able to let go, we appreciate the world, or other people, for what they are, and not what it, or they, can do for us.  That’s part of the gift of the Sabbath.[17]

Remember back in our first week, when we looked at some of the other creation stories? In those stories, human beings were made to take over the work of the gods. The humans labored, and the gods enjoyed relief from that labor. Here in Exodus, God’s people are about to build his dwelling place. There is an enormous amount of work ahead of them. And before they begin, God commands them to rest.  Even this work will have a stopping point each week. And that rest needs to reach the WHOLE household—including the women and servants whose work could otherwise keep going.

In Genesis, God creates, and God rests. Here, God commands rest for the humans—even while they are building his sanctuary.  They will make beautiful things, and they will rest, too. Their hands reflect their Creator when they work, and their stopping follows his example as well. The Sabbath—was a lasting covenant between God and His people.  And God gives work its boundaries as well as its purpose.

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… ¹⁰ All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded: [for the tabernacle] Exodus 35:4-5a, 10 NIV

The verses that follow list the things that need to be made. We’ve already spent time looking at many of them—the ark of the covenant, the table, the lampstand, the curtains, the garments. But now, the instructions are becoming an invitation to participate.

Notice the two things Moses asks the people to bring: what they have, and what they know how to do. The work will require materials. It will also require people who understand how to work with those materials. Gold needs someone who knows how to shape it. Yarn needs someone who knows how to spin and weave it. Wood needs someone who knows how to cut it and join it. God’s instructions are about to take shape through the possessions and abilities of his people.

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 35:20-29 NIV

EVERYONE was called upon, and everyone who wanted to, brought something, which most likely meant that every family was involved in some fashion.[18]  Men AND women alike respond with generosity, contributing their precious possessions as well as their skilled services.[19]   This is an unusual Hebrew construction.[20] It’s something to note, because we haven’t heard from any active women since Miriam’s song in Exodus 15.[21]

Notice that both men and women brought all kinds of gold jewelry.  They had taken off their jewelry after the calf incident, and there really wasn’t much use for it, so it could be used now for the gold that was to coat the tabernacle furniture.[22] And they brought those gifts as a ‘wave offering.’  I looked that up, and it means that they waved their offering back and forth to make sure that God saw their offering.  They didn’t think he was distant, or couldn’t see well, but rather, by waving it, they are showing that they believed God was present among them and could see what they were bringing.[23]

Spinning, weaving and textile production were women’s crafts in almost 90% of peoples around the world.[24] This work means that women have a meaningful participation in the building of the Tabernacle, and it gave them opportunities for meaningful social interaction and a sense of personal worth.[25] As the systems are established, the men play the roles of the priests in the tabernacle, and there are women who serve at the entrance to the tent of meeting in chapter 38.[26]

God gives holy purpose to the work of their hands.

Different hands contribute to one shared purpose. Common ordinary things, when brought to God, were transformed by God’s design into something that will be beautifully holy.[27]

³⁰ Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, ³¹ and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— ³² to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, ³³ to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. ³⁴ And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. ³⁵ He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers. ¹ So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded. Exodus 35:30-35; 36:1

God commanded the work, and God chose the people to work on the specifics. No one could just decide that they wanted to help, or demand to work on something just so that they could be involved.  It was not a democratic process.[28] The work called for particular skills, and God had equipped people with those skills. Bezalel and Oholiab oversaw the work overall, but they needed help from experts so that the tabernacle would be the best that they could make it.[29] God’s Spirit equips people to design, build, weave, and make beautiful things. Look at what the Spirit of God equips Bezalel to do. Make artistic designs. Work with metal. Cut and set stones. Work with wood. We might expect a passage about being filled with the Spirit to lead into prophecy, or preaching, or some extraordinary miracle. Here, it leads us into a workshop. There is spiritual significance in the way this man thinks, designs, measures, and makes things. God’s Spirit is at work in his craftsmanship.

In Genesis 1, humanity represents God within his creation. Here, that calling takes tangible form through designing, shaping, weaving, and building. Bezalel’s artistry gives us a concrete example of what image-bearing can look like. Human creativity has dignity because it reflects something of the Creator. God equips people to make beautiful things.

And then there’s this detail: God gives Bezalel and Oholiab the ability to teach others. Knowing how to do something—and knowing how to help someone else learn it—are different abilities. Teaching takes patience. You have to explain what has become second nature to you. You have to give someone time to practice. Sometimes you have to let them work more slowly than you could do it yourself. Their calling includes developing the abilities of other people. The work grows as their knowledge is shared.

² Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. ³ They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. ⁴ So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing ⁵ and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.” ⁶ Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, ⁷ because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work. Exodus 36:2-7 NIV

It’s not often that church leaders have to tell their congregations to STOP giving, because the treasury is overloaded and bursting![30] This group of people who a few weeks earlier had asked Aaron to make a golden calf, now joined together to make sure that they get done what God has asked them to do. And they are doing it cheerfully, enthusiastically![31] God’s gifts become shared, practical work.

The next chapters go into detail about the actual building of the tabernacle.  It’s some of the material we covered in chapters 25-31.  In those chapters, the articles were listed in order of their importance and holiness, moving from the most sacred items in the Holy of holies to the outer court.[32] In Genesis 1, God created the world as a place for humankind to dwell in God’s world, and now the Tabernacle is built as a place for God to dwell in the human world.[33] The Hebrew word for Tabernacle, mishkan, means ‘dwelling’—God’s dwelling place in the midst of the people.[34] According to rabbinic tradition, the work took about two and a half months.[35]

When we get to the end of chapter 39: ⁴² The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ⁴³ Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them. Exodus 39:42-43 NIV

In the end, the tabernacle was ‘just right’.[36] Notice, Moses builds nothing!  He oversees, inspects, and sets it up, but he makes nothing.[37] But…Moses would have held the right to reject anything that did not meet the standards that God had given him.[38] He checked it all, he confirmed it, and in the end, he blessed them.[39]

This is the only time in Exodus where Moses blesses anybody.[40] In chapter 32, he blasts them, here he blesses them.[41] It was probably a type of prayer, with the desire that God would bring benefit to his people.[42] Some scholars also connect this blessing with the blessing of God on creation in Genesis 2.[43] In the language of the priestly account of creation—God finished his work—like building a house—and now the people finish THIS work.  Appropriate language as Exodus is wrapping up.[44]

Remember that the tabernacle was seen as the microcosm of the universe.[45] There are parallels here with the narrative in the Book of Genesis and the creation of the world.[46]

⁴³ Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded.  Exodus 39:43 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.   Genesis 1:31

So Moses blessed them.  Exodus 39:43 ²² God blessed them…  Genesis 1:22, 28 ³ Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Genesis 2:3

In Exodus 35-39, everyone had the opportunity to contribute in some way[47] in the preparation for and construction of the Tabernacle and all the pieces.  Men.  Women.  Artists.   Craftsmen.  They brought willing offerings to the Lord.  In the New Testament, the apostle Paul tells the people that they should contribute to the needs of the church in the same way:  Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful (or hilarious)[48] giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

The Israelites gave what they had.  We too, give back what God has given us…money, materials, and time, and talent.[49]

God gives holy purpose to the work of our hands.

Our making—reflects the God who creates.  We have some things at the back that some of you may have brought in today—things you’ve made, crafted, created.  I can’t wait to take a look after the service!  Some of you might think, “Well, I’m not an artist. I don’t build things. I don’t have anything like that to offer.”  But think about what you do know how to do. What have years of work and experience taught you? What do other people ask you to help with?  What do you notice that someone else might overlook?

These chapters are specifically about building the tabernacle. But they invite us to reconsider the value we place on human work. God pays attention to craftsmanship. He gives people understanding. He values the careful work of their hands. That gives us reason to bring our own work before him. The work we’re paid for. The work of maintaining a home. The work of caring for someone who needs us.  We can ask God how to do THAT work—with care, honesty, generosity, and love.

And we can ask another question: Who could I teach?  Or share my skills with? Maybe you know how to repair something, manage a budget, play an instrument, prepare a meal, or care for a garden. Something that feels ordinary to you—might open a whole new possibility for someone else. That might mean inviting someone to sit beside you and learn. Explaining how something works. Giving them an opportunity to try. Staying close enough to encourage them as they grow.  That takes time and energy.  Bezalel and Oholiab had something to make, AND they had something to teach. Behind that finished tabernacle were so many willing hearts and working hands. People whose names we know, and many more whose names we don’t.

And think for a moment about the hours of spinning that had to happen before anyone could weave a single curtain for the tabernacle!  There are hours of work that happen behind the scenes at The Journey, too.  Things that might be unnoticed but are very much appreciated. Each week the singers and musicians practice their music.  Then there is the setup and rehearsal time that the musicians, the sound and the tech team do each week.  That all happens before you walk in the door on Sunday morning. Then there are the people who schedule the volunteers, who make arrangements for the food pickup, and who pick it up.  There are those who buy fruit, make cookies, and put everything together before the doors open.  And the coffee that gets made!  There are those who visit people, those who help lead Bible studies.  We have teachers and helpers and nursery attendants who share their time and talent behind the scenes each week!  

All of it—is part of us—being God’s Tabernacle—his Temple—and Christ’s Body—as we together are following Jesus and making disciples—right here at The Journey, and in our homes, our families, our neighborhoods, and our communities. We bring what God has given us. We offer it willingly and cheerfully. And we help one another grow. 

Take a moment and look at your hands. Hold them out in front of you.  Think about the work these hands have done this week. What have they made?  Who have they cared for? What have they cleaned, repaired, prepared, or carried? Some of that work was probably noticed. Some of it may have gone unseen. 

Now think about one thing these hands will do in the week ahead. I’m going to ask you to bring that work before God. Ask him to help you recognize—and serve—his purposes in it. God gives holy purpose to the work of our hands.  May He bless our work in His kingdom.  Keeping your hands held out in front of you, let’s pray:

Prayer: Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness, thank you for the gifts you have placed among us—for creativity and skill, for experience and understanding, and for willing hearts. We offer you the work of our hands today. In the ordinary tasks of this coming week, help us recognize opportunities to love someone, to make something beautiful, to care for what you have entrusted to us, and serve your purposes.  Fill us with your Spirit. Give us patience to teach, humility to learn, and generosity to share what we know.  Open our eyes to the quiet work of others, and help us encourage and appreciate one another. For those who are weary, give rest. Teach us to trust you enough to stop, and to receive the gifts of your presence and care. As we follow Jesus together, bless the work of our hands. May your love be made visible through our life together and wherever you send us this week. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bibliography

Books

• Alter, Robert; The Five Books of Moses, New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2004.
• Bruckner, James K.; Exodus, Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2008.
• Cassuto, Umberto; A Commentary on the Book of Exodus, Skokie: Varda Books, 2005.
• Childs, Brevard; The Book of Exodus, Louisville: The Westminster Press, 1974.
• Durham, John I.;, Word Biblical Commentary: Exodus, Waco: Word Books, 1987.
• Enns, Peter;, Exodus: The NIV Application Commentary, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000.
• Fohrman, Rabbi David; Exodus: A Parsha Companion, New Milford: Aleph Beta Press, 2020.
• Fretheim, Terence E.;, Exodus, Interpretation Bible Commentary, Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1991.
• Goldingay, John; Exodus & Leviticus for everyone, Louisville: John Knox Press, 2010.
• Hamilton, Victor; Exodus, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2011.
• Merida, Tony; Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2014.
• Meyers, Carol; Exodus, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
• Propp, William H.C.; Exodus 19-40; New York: Doubleday, 2006.
• Sarna, Nahum M.; Exodus, Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 1991.
• Stuart, Douglas K.; Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006.

Articles

• Everhart, Janet S. 2004. “Serving Women and Their Mirrors: A Feminist Reading of Exodus 38:8b.” The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 66 (1): 44–54.
• Meyers, Carol L. 1978. “The Roots of Restriction: Women in Early Israel.” The Biblical Archaeologist 41 (3): 91–103.
• Quick, Laura Elizabeth. 2019. “Through a Glass, Darkly: Reflections on the Translation and Interpretation of Exodus 38:8.” The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 81 (4): 595–612.

*Leader’s Guide available on request

Going Deeper Questions

Small Group Questions

The God Who Comes Near. 

Week Eight: Sacred Labor—

Finding Holy Purpose in Everyday Work

Exodus 35-39

Icebreaker — Hidden Talents

• What is something you know how to make, repair, create, or do that people in this group might not know about? How did you learn?

Before the Work Begins

Read Exodus 35:1–3 NIV

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.”

Discussion

• The people are about to begin building the tabernacle. Why do you think Moses begins with instructions about Sabbath? What does this establish about the work ahead?

• How might the command against lighting household fires help extend rest to people whose responsibilities could otherwise continue throughout the day? Whose work makes it possible for others to rest today?

• Imagine someone saying, “But we’re building something for God! Surely, we should keep working!” How would you respond? When have you found yourself making a similar argument?

• What makes stopping difficult for you—unfinished tasks, other people’s expectations, enjoyment of the work, fear of falling behind, or something else? What might trusting God look like in that situation?

What They Had, What They Could Do

Read Exodus 35:4–5a, 10, 20–29 NIV

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.

¹⁰ All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded…

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.

Discussion

• What different kinds of contributions appear in this passage? What do you notice about who participates and how they respond?

• Pay particular attention to verses 25–26. Why does it matter that the text specifically recognizes the women’s skill and labor? What kinds of skilled work tend to go unnoticed in our community?

• Earlier, the people contributed gold to make the golden calf. Now they bring gold for the tabernacle. What has changed about the purpose and direction of their giving? What questions does that raise about how we use our own resources and abilities?

• Try this together: Imagine your group has been asked to prepare a community meal. Each person names one resource or ability they could contribute. Beyond cooking, what would be needed? What does this reveal about the variety of contributions behind a shared task?

The Spirit at Work in the Workshop

Read Exodus 35:30–36:1 NIV

³⁰ Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, ³¹ and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— ³² to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, ³³ to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. ³⁴ And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. ³⁵ He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers. ¹ So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.

Discussion

• What does God give Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other workers? How are those gifts expressed in their work?

• What activities do you usually associate with being filled with God’s Spirit? How does this passage expand your understanding?

• God’s instructions include artistic designs, embroidery, and carefully worked materials. What does the attention given to these details suggest about beauty and craftsmanship? When has something beautifully made helped you become more attentive to God?

• Verse 34 specifically mentions the ability to teach others. Think of someone who patiently helped you learn. What did they give you beyond information or instructions?

• What skill or experience could you share with someone else? What might you need to make room for—questions, mistakes, a slower pace, or a different approach?

More Than Enough

Read Exodus 36:2–7 NIV

² Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. ³ They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. ⁴ So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing ⁵ and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.”

⁶ Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, ⁷ because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

Discussion

• Verse 2 brings together God-given ability and willingness to work. Why are both important? What can happen when one is present without the other?

• Picture the workers interrupting their tasks to tell Moses that the people have brought too much. What surprises or amuses you about this scene?

• Why is Moses’ decision to stop the offerings significant? What does it show about the relationship between generosity and the actual purpose of the collection?

• These chapters include both a command to stop working and a command to stop bringing offerings. What might recognizing “enough” require of us—as individuals and as a church?

Finished Work and a Blessing

Read Exodus 39:42–43 NIV

⁴² The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ⁴³ Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.

Discussion

• What does Moses look for when he inspects the work? How does this connect with the instructions in Exodus 36:1? How have creativity and obedience worked together throughout the account?

• Compare this ending with Genesis 1:31–2:3 (below). What similarities do you notice in the language of seeing, completing work, and blessing? How do those echoes help you understand the significance of the tabernacle’s construction?

Genesis 1:31-2:3 NIV

³¹ God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. ¹ Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. ² By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. ³ Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

God gives holy purpose to the work of our hands.

• Moses blesses the people after inspecting their work. What might that acknowledgment have meant to someone who had spent hours spinning thread, carving wood, or shaping metal? Whose faithful work could you acknowledge this week?

• Where do you find it easiest—and hardest—to recognize holy purpose in your own work? Consider paid employment, household responsibilities, caregiving, creative work, and service to others.

Personal Application—Looking at Our Hands

Take a quiet moment to look at your hands. Think about something they have made, cleaned, repaired, prepared, carried, or cared for recently.

• What is one task you expect to do this week that you could consciously bring before God? How might you approach it with greater care, honesty, generosity, or love?
• Is there someone you could invite to work or learn alongside you?

Closing Prayer

Leader: Father, thank you for the gifts and abilities you have given each of us. Help us offer them willingly, share them generously, and encourage one another. By your Spirit, guide our work this week and teach us to receive your rest. Give holy purpose to the work of our hands, so that others may experience your love through us.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

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[1] Umberto Cassuto, A Commentary on the Book of Exodus, Skokie: Varda Books, 2005, 454.

[2] Victor Hamilton, Exodus, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2011, 594.

[3] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 747-748.

[4] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 748.

[5] William H.C. Propp, Exodus 19-40; New York: Doubleday, 2006, 659.

[6] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 748. 

[7] Victor Hamilton, Exodus, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2011, 596.

[8] Rabbi David Fohrman, Exodus: A Parsha Companion, New Milford: Aleph Beta Press, 2020, 206-207.

[9] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 749 and Numbers 28:9.

[10] ⁹ “‘On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah^[c] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil. ¹⁰ This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. Numbers 28:9-10.

[11] William H.C. Propp, Exodus 19-40; New York: Doubleday, 2006, 660.

[12] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 749, footnote 258.

[13] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 749. 

[14] William H.C. Propp, Exodus 19-40; New York: Doubleday, 2006, 660.

[15] Rabbi David Fohrman, Exodus: A Parsha Companion, New Milford: Aleph Beta Press, 2020, 207.

[16] Rabbi David Fohrman, Exodus: A Parsha Companion, New Milford: Aleph Beta Press, 2020, 208.

[17] Rabbi David Fohrman, Exodus: A Parsha Companion, New Milford: Aleph Beta Press, 2020, 210.

[18] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 755.

[19] Nahum M. Sarna, Exodus, Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 1991, 223.

[20] Robert Alter, The Five Books of Moses, New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2004, 516.

[21] Victor Hamilton, Exodus, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2011, 599.

[22] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 756.

[23] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 756.

[24] Carol Meyers, 276.  See also Carol L. Costin. “Exploring the Relationship between Gender and Crafts in Complex Societies: Methodological and Theoretical Issue of Gender Attribution,” in Gender and Archaeology, ed. Rita P. Wright (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1996), 121-3, Table 4.1

[25] Carol Meyers, Exodus, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005, 277.

[26] Carol Meyers, Exodus, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005, 278.

[27] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 757.

[28] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 759.

[29] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 759. 

[30] Victor Hamilton, Exodus, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2011, 603.

[31] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 760.

[32] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 745.

[33] https://thelehrhaus.com/tanakh/why-is-tabernacle-construction-the-foundation-of-shabbat/

[34] Robert Alter, The Five Books of Moses, New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2004, 530.

[35] Sarna, 234.  According to a rabbinic tradition, it was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is Kislev.  (Moses is said to have come down the mountain the second time on Yom Kippur, the tenth day of Tishrei)

[36] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 781,

[37] Victor Hamilton, Exodus, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2011, 601.

[38] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 782.

[39] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 783,

[40] Victor Hamilton, Exodus, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2011, 614.

[41] Victor Hamilton, Exodus, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2011, 614.

[42] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 783.

[43] John I Durham, Word Biblical Commentary: Exodus, Waco: Word Books, 1987, 496.

[44] Carol Meyers, Exodus, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005, 282.

[45] Carol Meyers, Exodus, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005, 282.

[46] Umberto Cassuto, A Commentary on the Book of Exodus, Skokie: Varda Books, 2005, 477.

[47] Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2006, 759.

[48] Victor Hamilton, Exodus, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2011, 597.

[49] Tony Merida, Exodus, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2014, 217.