Exodus 35:30-35 & 36:1-38
Q.1. How was such a complex structure built? Were sufficient materials supplied? What made Israel’s response heartening? – (Exo.35:30-35 & 36:1-7)
The tabernacle had to withstand all kinds of stormy weather, and yet had to be portable. God provided Bezalel and – 31 … filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship; 32 to make designs for working in gold and in silver and in bronze (Exo.35:31-32). God also taught Oholiab and – filled them with skill to perform every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer, in blue and in purple and in scarlet material, and in fine linen, and of a weaver, as performers of every work and makers of designs (Exo.35:35). However, the plan with the exact measurements came directly from God to Moses. Moses in turn passed this on to Bezalel and told him, you – shall perform in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded (Exo.36:1 c.f. Exo.25:9 & 40). They called every person whose heart was stirred to help, to make and provide the materials to construct the tabernacle (Exo.36:2-3). The people gave generously and enthusiastically – and they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning … much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to perform (Exo.35:3 & 5). So generously did the people give, that Moses had to circulate a proclamation – 6 … “Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary.” Thus, the people were restrained from bringing any more. 7 For the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it (Exo.36:6-7). It is not often that people need to be told to stop giving. Generally, Israel murmured and complained against God (Exo.14:11-12; 16:2-3;17:2-4 c.f. Ps.95:9-11; 1 Cor.10:5-10). This was one of the few times when the Lord was able to commend Israel for the ‘devotion of its youth’ (Jer.2:1-3; Ezk.16:1-14).
Q.2. Who oversaw the work of making the tent and furnishings? How costly was the structure? Was such expense warranted? – (Exo.36:8-38)
Skilful people, both men and women, volunteered for the building of the tabernacle and the making of its furnishings (Exo.35:25-29; 36:4, 8). All worked under the supervision of Bezalel, creating all the materials needed. The tabernacle with all its furnishings was made from fragrant smelling acacia wood, bronze, silver, and gold as well as blending in coloured materials (Exo.36:8-38). The weight of the silver and gold would have run into thousands of kilograms, and the value of the materials would have totalled in the millions of dollars in today’s terms. Though the Tabernacle cannot be compared with the glory of God’s throne room, the Lord wanted Israel to know that He is a glorious God and is to be revered as holy.