All written materials for this series will be posted on this website, http://servingandsharing.com/, under the category, “Exodus – God Makes a Way.” All corresponding video presentations may be found on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFXW6HwOySA&list=PL7JRppjEn33ZzlfbuQKdvQQfsrkwm0GC5. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, send a message via the “Contact” button.
Here’s another impressive YouTube video of the tabernacle that I recommend that you watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxG4guyuasU&t=173s
From Dr. Coy Roper in the Truth for Today commentary: “Chapter 35 begins a new section of the Book of Exodus (chs. 35-40). By this time, the Israelites had sinned, had been punished, and had been restored. Moses had gone back up on the mountain for another forty days to receive God’s law a second time. Upon returning, he “assembled” the people to do what he had intended to do when he came down from the mountain after the first forty days: to relay to them the law of God that he had received on Sinai (chs. 25-31), especially the requirements regarding the tabernacle. Exodus 35 and 36 indicate that he delivered the command to build the tabernacle along with the directions he had received for its construction.”
“As Israel prepared to begin the task of building, Moses gathered the people together to relay to them God’s instructions. Regarding the working conditions for the job, Moses said that God forbade the people to work on the Sabbath (35:1–3). To obtain the building materials, he indicated that God wanted the Israelites to make a freewill offering (35:4–9). The people were then given a preview of the overall plan for the tabernacle which would be built (35:10–19). The people left the assembly and began to make the contribution, with the result that the building materials were made available (35:20–29). The chapter closes with the appointment of Bezalel to be the construction supervisor and of Oholiab to be his helper (35:30–35).”
EXODUS 35 – PREPARATIONS FOR BUILDING THE TABERNACLE
35:1-3 THE SABBATH COMMAND
Note the emphasis. For the sixth time, Exodus records the command that Israel must observe the Sabbath (16:4, 5, 23–29; 20:8–11; 23:10–12; 31:12–17; 34:21; 35:1–3).
35:4-9 CALL FOR A CONTRIBUTION
Cf. Ex 25:1–7. The results of this call are reported in 35:21–29 and 36:1–7.
35:10-19 A SUMMONS TO BUILD THE TABERNACLE
Ex 35:10 serves as a preface to the rest of the chapter and the next three chapters. Here’s what follows in this chapter.
- the tabernacle, that is, the tent itself (35:11) 2. the ark of the covenant (35:12) 3. the mercy seat (35:12) 4. the curtain of the screen (35:12) 5. the table of showbread (35:13) 6. the lampstand (35:14) 7. the altar of incense (35:15) 8. the anointing oil and the fragrant incense (35:15) 9. the screen for the entrance to the tent (35:15) 10. the altar of burnt offering (35:16) 11. the court (35:17, 18) 12. the priestly garments (35:19).
35:20-29 THE FREEWILL OFFERING
“Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the LORD’s contribution …”
What motivates God’s people today to give generously? What hinders generous giving?
35:30-35 THE CONSTRUCTION FOREMEN
Bezalel – “in the shadow of God.” Son of Uri, a member of the tribe of Judah (Exod. 31:2) and great grandson of Caleb (1 Chron. 2:20).
Oholiab – “father’s tent.” Danite craftsman, designer, and embroiderer.
EXODUS 36 – THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TABERNACLE (PART 1)
Moses concluded his charge to Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other skilled workers who were called to build the tabernacle, and then he put them to work (36:1, 2). Next the text records that the people gave materials so generously that they finally had to be “restrained from bringing any more” (36:3–7). The rest of the chapter records the building of the tabernacle, that is, the tent itself. The text describes the making of the following items: the inner curtains (36:8–13), the curtains of goats’ hair and coverings of rams’ skins and porpoise skins (36:14–19), the boards (36:20–30), the bars (36:31–34), the veil which separated the two compartments (36:35, 36), and the screen for the door (36:37, 38).
36:1-2 CALL FOR WORKERS
Has God given each Christian one or more skills, talents, or gifts to be used in the work of the local church?
How can we be more effective in teaching this principle and in involving every member of the body?
36:3-7 THE ABUNDANT OFFERING
Why do you suppose they gave above and beyond what was needed, so that they had to be restrained?
Was it perhaps due to their sense of God’s grace, their relief after surviving the golden calf incident?
How does our sense of forgiveness relate to our giving to the Lord’s work?
In the following sections, the text indicates that Moses and the Israelites followed precisely the blueprint instructions that Yahweh had given them previously. How essential it is that we today follow and respect God’s design and pattern for the church and for our individual lives!
36:8-38 THE TENT
— 36:8-19 The Four Coverings
— 36:20-34 The Walls: The Boards and the Bars
— 36:35-38 The Veil and the Screen
EXODUS 37 – THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TABERNACLE (PART 2)
37:1-5 THE ARK OF THE COVENANT
37:6-9 THE MERCY SEAT
37:10-16 THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD
37:17-24 THE GOLDEN LAMPSTAND
37:25-28 THE ALTAR OF INCENSE
37:29 THE ANOINTING OIL AND INCENSE
EXODUS 38 – THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TABERNACLE (PART 3)
38:1-7 THE BRONZE ALTAR
38:8 THE BRONZE LAVER
38:9-20 THE COURT
38:21-31 THE COST OF THE TABERNACLE
— 38:21-23 The Leaders
— 38:24-31 The Amount Given
EXODUS 39 – PRIESTLY GARMENTS, TABERNACLE PRESENTATION
39:1-31 THE MAKING OF THE PRIESTLY GARMENTS
— 39:1-7 The Ephod and the Onyx Stones
— 39:8-21 The Breastpiece
— 39:22-26 The Robe
— 39:27-31 The Tunics, Turban, Caps, Linen Breeches, and Gold Plate
39:32-43 THE PRESENTATION OF THE TABERNACLE
EXODUS 40 – ERECTING AND CONSECRATING THE TABERNACLE
40:1-15 INSTRUCTIONS
— 40:1-8 Setting Up the Tabernacle
— 40:9-15 Consecrating the Tabernacle and Priests
40:16-33 SETTING UP THE TABERNACLE
40:34-38 THE LORD’S INDWELLING THE TABERNACLE
As Dr. Coy Roper writes, “God manifested Himself in a cloud a number of times in the Old Testament. On Mount Sinai, He said to Moses, “I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear what I speak” (19:9). On the third day after that, there was a “thick cloud upon the mountain” (19:16) from which God spoke. when Moses entered the tent of meeting to receive revelations from God, God manifested His presence in a cloud (33:9). After the completion of the tabernacle, the LORD continued to make His presence known by means of a cloud by day which had fire in it by night (40:36–38). much later, when the temple was completed, God made His presence known by means of a cloud which “filled the house of the LORD” (1 Kings 8:10, 11). God cannot be seen as He is, but He made His continual presence known to Israel by something that could be seen — a cloud.
What final thoughts, questions, and comments do you have after studying “Exodus: God Makes a Way” with us?
