Stirring of the Heart

Soakpak Mountain, Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska. Fuji X-T1 w/ Jupiter 11a 135mm.

Exodus 35-36: Materials for the Tabernacle

God commanded a lot of things to be made with exquisite detail. He blessed Bezalel and Oholiab and others with the skills required to make them. But where did Israel get all the materials?

It'd seem fair to request contributions somewhat proportionally from each family, but this isn't how the Lord operates. He doesn't even command the wealthy to give. He desires the generous. The willing. To give on their own accord. This is true worship.

"Take from among you a contribution to the Lord. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the LORD's contribution..." 

Exodus 35:5

"And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him..." 

Exodus 35:21

"... both men and women. All who were of a willing heart..." 

Exodus 35:22

Verse 29 declares these gifts as a "freewill offering" to the LORD. You would think this might not be enough, right? We don't often see too many people with a nature of giving like this. It might make a good start, but surely it couldn't provide everything that was needed.

Well, the people kept bringing gifts every morning (36:3). It reached the point where the craftsmen (who were God-enabled and whose hearts were stirred to do the work - Exodus 36:2) told Moses that they had MORE than enough! Moses had to command people to stop giving!

"So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more."

Exodus 36:6b-7

The whole nation had a part to play, but the LORD desired those whose hearts were stirred. They were willing and generous to give and to work. God doesn't desire worship from unwilling hearts.

This truth is echoed in John 4:23 when Jesus declared to the Samaritan woman, "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him." To worship in spirit means to worship from the heart. The Father doesn't look for outward actions, but inner zeal.

Is your heart stirred when you give/work unto the LORD?