Exodus 35

CHAPTER 35THEME: The Sabbath reemphasized; free gifts for the tabernacle; Bezaleel and Aholiab called to the work

Exodus 35:1

THE SABBATH REEMPHASIZEDIn this chapter the Lord returns to talk to Israel about the Sabbath Day. This is the third time. The Lord insists that the first reason for the Sabbath is that it belongs to the first creation. God rested on the Sabbath Day. As mankind left the creative hand of God, he began to wander away from God. There came the day when mankind as a whole no longer recognized God but began to worship the creature. And man gave up keeping the Sabbath Day. Now God said that the Sabbath was a peculiar sign between Himself and the children of Israel.

God began to lay down rules that actually apply more to Israel in the Promised Land than to any other place. If anyone did work on the Sabbath Day, he was stoned to death. It would be very hard to carry on our society without someone working on the Sabbath Day, which is Saturday. Suppose no fire was kindled on the Sabbath. This would cause great problems in the frozen North. God’s laws were made to suit the land in which Israel lived.

Exodus 35:4

FREE GIFTS FOR THE TABERNACLEThese gifts for the making of the tabernacle were to be voluntary. The people were not required to bring anything. There was no demand put upon them at all. This is not the tithe. This is a voluntary gift. They were to bring other things besides the gold, silver, and brass, as we shall see.

Exodus 35:6

These are the different things that the children of Israel could give to the building of the tabernacle. In that day there was no such thing as legal tender. The method of barter was the exchange of goods; so the Israelites were giving things rather than money to the Lord’s work. This is still a way people can serve the Lord. Several years ago in San Diego a man donated two ampex recorders to our radio ministry. These recorders were very valuable and came to us at the time when we were really in need of them. Many people think that you have to always write out a checkdo not misunderstand, we need money toobut the Lord can also be served when you donate things to His service. The question is repeatedly asked, “Where did the children of Israel get the different articles they gave to the tabernacle when they had been slaves in Egypt?” Remember that God said that they would come out of Egypt with great wealth (Gen_15:14). He made sure they collected their back wages. The Egyptians were so glad to rid the land of the Israelites that they gave them whatever they asked. So Israel left with a great deal of the wealth of Egypt.

Exodus 35:30

BEZALEEL AND AHOLIAB CALLED TO THE WORKBezaleel is the man God equipped to make the articles of furniture that are so important in the tabernacle.

Exodus 35:34

God gave Bezaleel the ability to pass on his gift to others.

Exodus 35:35

The tabernacle was a beautiful object. It was a jewel in the desert. It was not large, not a great warehouse, only a small building. It has been estimated that about five million dollars went into the construction of the tabernacle according to the value of the metals of a few years ago. The value in inflationary times would even be greater. The tabernacle was God’s precious jewel; a picture of His Son, Jesus Christ.