Exodus 35:20 - Meaning and Application

After Moses made God’s will known to them, the people went home and put what they had heard into practice, Exodus 35:20. How good it would be if every congregation left the hearing of God’s word with a firm resolve to do it.

Here we should notice the offerings that were brought for the work of the tabernacle, Exodus 35:21 and following. They brought them right away. They did not wait around to think it over, because delay can cool zeal. Any duty God shows us and calls us to should be done quickly. There is no better time than the present.

It is also said that their spirits made them willing, Exodus 35:21, and their hearts, Exodus 35:29. They gave freely and gladly, from a right heart. No outside pressure made them willing. Love for God, love for his worship, thankfulness for what he had already done, and trust in what he had promised, all moved them to give. What we do for God is acceptable when it comes from a good heart and spirit.

When it says that all who were willing-hearted brought their offerings, Exodus 35:22, it suggests that some were not willing. They loved their money more than their God, and would not part with it, even for the tabernacle. There are always such people. They will support true religion, if it costs them little or nothing.

The gifts also differed according to what people had. Those with gold and precious stones brought them, and did not think anything too rich for God’s honor. Those without such things brought goats’ hair and rams’ skins. If we cannot do as much as others for God, we should not do nothing. Smaller gifts, if given within our ability, are still pleasing to God, who asks for what a person has, not for what he does not have (2 Corinthians 8:12; 2 Kings 5:23). Two mites from a poor woman were more pleasing than many talents from a rich man. God looks more at the giver’s heart than at the gift’s value.

Many of the things they gave were their ornaments, bracelets, rings, and pendants, Exodus 35:22. Even the women gave up these things. Can a young woman forget her ornaments? They forgot them far enough to prefer the beauty of the sanctuary to their own adornment. This teaches us to give up, when God asks, what is very dear to us and what we take pride in. It also teaches us to set aside ornaments and deny ourselves in them when they cause offense or feed our pride. If we think the Bible’s teaching about dress is too strict (1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:3-4), we should remember how freely these Israelites gave. If they thought their ornaments were well spent on the tabernacle, should we not count the lack of ornaments well made up by the grace of the Spirit? (Proverbs 1:9)

We may also suppose that most of these rich gifts came from the spoil taken from the Egyptians. The Israelites had been kept poor in Egypt until they borrowed goods as they left. The leaders likely had better gifts, Exodus 35:27, because they had more influence among the Egyptians and could borrow more. Who would have thought the wealth of Egypt would be used so well? Yet God often makes the earth help his people (Revelation 12:16). By God’s special providence and promise, Israel received that spoil, and it was right that they should devote part of it to the service of the God to whom they owed it all. Let each person give as God has prospered him (1 Corinthians 16:2). Special blessings should be met with special offerings.

We can apply the same thought to human learning, arts, and sciences, which are, as it were, borrowed from Egypt. Those enriched with these gifts should devote them to God’s service and to his tabernacle. They may help us understand Scripture, and serve as useful helpers to divinity, that is, the study of God and his truth. But great care must be taken that Egypt’s gods do not come along with Egypt’s gold. Moses, though learned in all the learning of the Egyptians, did not try, in the least way, to change the pattern shown to him on the mountain. The tabernacle being furnished with Egypt’s riches may also have pointed ahead to the Gentiles, who in time would be brought into the gospel tabernacle and bring their silver and gold with them (Isaiah 60:9). Then it would be said, “Blessed be Egypt my people” (Isaiah 19:25).

We may also think the memory of their gifts for the golden calf made them more eager now. Those who had once given up their earrings would now show their repentance by giving the rest of their jewels to God’s service. Godly sorrow produces this kind of revenge, a true turning against the former sin (2 Corinthians 7:11). And those who had kept themselves from that idolatry may have reasoned like this, “Were they so eager to give to an idol, and shall we be slow or timid in giving to the Lord?” Even that evil was turned to some good.

The work for the tabernacle was also done with care, Exodus 35:25. The women spun with their hands. Some made fine work with blue and purple thread, and others coarse work with goats’ hair, yet even that is said to have been done wisely, Exodus 35:26. God accepts not only rich gifts, but also careful work. He notices the faithful labor of good women as well as the work of Bezaleel and Aholiab. The humblest hand used for God’s honor will receive an honorable reward.

Mary’s anointing of Christ’s head would be remembered wherever the gospel is preached (Matthew 26:13). And Scripture keeps a record of the women who labored in the gospel tabernacle (Philippians 4:3), and who were helpers to Paul in Christ Jesus (Romans 16:3). The virtuous woman is praised because she lays her hands to the spindle (Proverbs 31:19). Here that same work was used for holy purposes. Though we now have no tabernacle hangings to make, we can still follow the charity of Dorcas, who made coats and garments for poor widows (Acts 9:39). Even those who cannot give money may still work in love. In this way, the poor may help the poor, and those with only their hands and senses can still be very generous through labor done in love.