May 19, 2018: Day 35 – Exodus 35

We find that after the Lord commands Moses to get things done in a certain way, that he actually finds the people to do it in that way.  The details that we have had in the past chapters of what the tabernacle and what the vestments and what the decorations and accouterments ought to be is only matched by the people being willing to produce them in this chapter.  There is an underlying theme in this chapter where we read repeatedly: “all who were of a willing heart”.  These things took place not because the Lord demanded it, but because the people were willing to bring them to him.  

If you look at vs.29 you will see the following quote: “All the Israelite men and women whose hearts made them willing to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done, brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord.”  This sense of a freewill offering is emphasized because it is supposed to show a willingness, maybe a change of heart, in the people as they carry out His wishes.  

We see Bezalel mentioned again as the superstar craftsman.  Nothing more than his name and the attributes which he had is mentioned.  Often we think that if we aren’t like the Bezalels of the world then we really don’t have much to offer.  But you see so many unnamed people in this chapter just bringing what they had freely and without compulsion.  We will have some Bezalels, but not all of us are called to be that.