Scripture

So Moses gave the command, and the message was sent through the camp: “Men and women, don’t prepare any more gifts for the sanctuary. We have enough!” So the people stopped bringing their sacred offerings. Their contributions were more than enough to complete the whole project.

Application

The craftsmen begin the project of constructing the Tabernacle in the wilderness. The call goes out for people to bring the materials needed as a sacred offering to the Lord. The people respond so generously that Moses has to tell them to stop giving.

Has there ever been a time in the recent history of the church where a pastor has said, “Stop giving! We have enough already!”

There are two miracles in this episode.

Firstly, the people had faith and resources to give so freely to the project. Often churches and pastors have to plead with people to have faith to give generously to anything,

Whole books have been written and training courses have been developed to help pastors motivate their people to be generous.

Here in the desert, a nation of former slaves have miraculously got the materials needed. And they also have the faith in God’s provision for them to be able and willing to give.

The second miracle is for those in charge of the project to recognise that they had more than enough. They had the same kind of belief to know that God would provide all that they needed to complete what they had begun.

When we read through Exodus it is easy to focus on the failings of the Israelites. Here they show how great their faith really was.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for these people who show us how to give generously and faithfully for your works. Amen.