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In our consideration of the
materials for the Tabernacle, it is recognized that they are in two
sections. This document deals with the initial receiving of the goods
by borrowing from the Egyptians, the following
will deal
with the
presentation of that which was given for the work.
The Initial Receiving Of The Goods By Borrowing From The Egyptians
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The release of the children of Israel by God was no sudden
impulse. Hundreds of years before, God had promised two
unconditional promises: |
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1) |
He would judge the nation that the children of Israel would
serve. (Gen. 15:14) |
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2) |
He
would bring them out with great substance. (Gen. 15:14)
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In His fulfilling of those promises, there is manifested the
infinite foreknowledge of God and His sovereign power to
accomplish that which He had pledged. The deliverance from
Egypt was to be the great criteria by which all other
deliverances were to be contrasted: |
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1) |
“For
the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers
out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which
did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the
way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we
passed.” (Josh. 24:17) |
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2) |
“Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why
then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles
which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us
up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered
us into the hands of the Midianites. (Jud. 6:13) |
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3) |
“Thou didst separate them from among all the people of the
earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of
Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of
Egypt, O Lord GOD.”
(1 Kgs. 8:53) |
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After the 400 years of being evilly afflicted (Gen. 15:13),
described as an “Iron furnace” (Duet. 4:20; Jer. 11:14), the
time for their release was imminent. God, through Moses,
instructed His people to do a series of things. They were to: |
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1) |
Begin a new year and on the 10th day of the 1st month take a
lamb for the Passover. (Ex. 12:2-3) |
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2) |
The lamb was to be kept for 4 days. (Ex. 12:6) |
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3) |
On the evening of the 14th day the lamb was to be slain and its
blood sprinkled on the lintel and two side posts. (Ex. 12:6-7) |
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4) |
They were to eat the roasted lamb with various other foods and
spices. (Ex.12:8-10) |
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5) |
They were to be ready to go at a moments notice. (Ex. 12:11) |
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Somewhere in that time frame they were to borrow from the
Egyptians. (Ex. 3:22; 11:2) |
We further read: “the people found favour in the eyes of the Egyptians
and they ‘lent’ unto them such as they required”. (Ex. 12:36)
Here there must be the observing of a distinction between how the word
“borrow” is used today and its meaning in the ancient world.
When we use the word “borrow” it indicates the intention to give that
which was borrowed back. Indeed, it became part of God’s law that if a
thing was lent and damaged it was to be made good to the owner (Ex.
22:14). Yet, in the case of the Israelites “borrowing” from the
Egyptians, there was no way these metals and materials would ever be
given back. (Psa. 105:37)
When we first read this it appears as an extremely unrighteous activity,
bolstered by God Himself. To borrow a thing, or be lent something
without any intention of returning, glares of absolute deceitfulness.
This cannot be the meaning here for God is the righteous God (Psa. 7:9;
14:5).
This seeming dishonesty is clarified when some observations are made.
The words translated “borrow” and “lent” is the same Hebrew word “sha’al”,
which means to ask. It is used this way in Gen. 24:47 when the servant
asked, “Whose daughter art thou?” In 1 Sam. 20:6, He “earnestly asked”,
and to the ancients they never would have thought of it meaning to lend
to get back. The Israelites simply went into the homes of the Egyptians
and asked for, for instance, the gold bracelets, copper looking glasses
and silver coins, etc., and they were freely given. The Egyptians were
only to happy to give them whatever they wanted to escape the fury of
Israel's God (Ex. 12:33; Psa.105:38).
It is noticed that this was a joint effort for: “Let every man borrow of
his neighbour and every woman of her neighbour” (Ex. 11:2). It could be
suggested that this was God’s repayment to them for the many years of
labour, and that would have been right, but is that where the purpose
ends? In itself, that would not have been righteous because during
those 400 years many slaved, were undoubtedly injured, and very possibly
thousands died, and they never got paid. So if it was simply a matter
of repayment, then why should the last generation there get everything?
God had something bigger in mind than repayment.
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Giving this a practical application, we know that for the most
of us every week or month we receive wages from a job the Lord
has given to us. The questions are: |
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“Has God given us the job to do and the health to do the work
for no other reason than because we have worked for “x” number
or hours?” |
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2) |
“Has God something bigger in mind, or is there a spiritual
dimension?” |
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3) |
Has a job and health and funds been given for no other reason
than we have money to buy the necessary items for living, or the
extra unnecessary luxuries we crave, i.e. a better car, the
newest computer gadgets, or new appliances? |
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4) |
Is there a spiritual dimension why God gave to the Israelites
and to us that which we earn? |
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There was a spiritual dimension that glorified God and blessed
the people spiritually.
It was the intention of God, for those who were redeemed by
blood and delivered from the great Prince, to build Him a
dwelling in the wilderness, a place where He could “sojourn”
with them as they travelled the waste howling wilderness (Deut.
32:10). |
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1) |
There was a spiritual dimension. The materials needed to build
His tabernacle were given to them by God from that which they
received from the Egyptians. |
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2) |
They were going to take from that which the Lord had given to
them and give to the Lord, an act of gratitude and worship.
They would give gold, silver, various cloths and skins, as well
ultimately many offerings. (Compare 1 Cor. 16:1-2 and 2 Cor.
chs. 8-9.) |
Does this mean God is a taker, who gives to ask for things back again?
Not in the slightest. God gives abundantly and when they gave to Him He
gave them great spiritual blessings for their material givings. Because
they gave the materials, God permitted them to build Him a tent to dwell
in and they had His continual presence. Furthermore, they lacked
nothing all the time they traversed the wilderness. God provided for
their bodies by providing food and clothing that did not wear out (Deut.
8:4; 29:5; 33:25; Neh. 9:21). This was a test of their faith and the
pathway of faith development.
The reality was that God had given these things to them (Psa. 105:37),
and had it not been for His goodness, they would have had none of these
things.
However, the human heart can rationalise why that which we have is
ours. It is so easy to speak of “this is my home”, “I have so much
money in the bank”, “this is my car”, or “this is my hard earned money
and I can do what I want with it”! It is so easy to miss the reality
that all we have is from God. It is He who gives us health, strength,
all our faculties; as well as every material blessing. Nebuchadnezzar
made the costly mistake of saying: “Is not this great Babylon that I
have builded?” (Dan. 4:30). God is far more interested in people than
things. Being God, He could make whatever He desired, but His great
desire is the restored fellowship of humanity to Himself.
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This opportunity to give to the Lord is seen in the attitude
shown in the way they and we give. |
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It was a very real test of their attitudes towards material
things and true values. The command by God to build a
tabernacle demanded them to determine what they should give to
the Lord? They had beautiful gold vessels, delightful copper
looking glasses, and silver in abundance. All given by God but: |
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How much should they give to the Lord and what should they keep
for themselves? Should they be like Ananias and Sapphira?
(Acts. 5:1-2) |
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b) |
Which was the more important to them, holding that which was
material or giving it to God for the glory of God?
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And how will I feel afterward if I learn that Mr. So in So, who
had more than me, gave considerably less! Or contrariwise, if I
learn that Mr So in So, who has very little, gave considerably
more! |
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Such questioning would result in: |
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A critical spirit judging others and this would grieve the Lord
before the Tabernacle was ever started. |
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A regret that I gave more or less than others. |
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No wonder God emphasis a “willing heart” or “spirit made
willing”. |
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1) |
“Take
ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a
willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold,
and silver, and brass.” (Ex. 35:5) |
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2) |
“And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every
one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’S
offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and
for all his service, and for the holy garments.” (Ex. 35:21) |
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3) |
“The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the
LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to
bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be
made by the hand of Moses.” (Ex. 35:29) |
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God does not want nor need that which they or we give
begrudgingly. |
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1) |
He
gave His only Begotten Son. There was nothing stingy nor
begrudging in that. (Jn. 3:16) |
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2) |
He gives us all things rightly to enjoy. There is nothing
stingy not begrudging in that. (1 Tim.6:17) |
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3) |
He gives us great and precious promises. There is nothing
stingy not begrudging in that. (2 Pet. 1:4) |
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4) |
He gives us a living hope. There is nothing stingy not
begrudging in that. (1 Pet. 1:3) |
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He give us “Christ in you the hope of glory”. There is nothing
stingy not begrudging in that (Col. 1:27) |
God is the benevolent God, perfectly honest and righteous in all He
does, therefore does not want nor need my money from ill gotten gain.
May
God grant us good understanding as He, by His Holy
Spirit, deigns to guide us into all truth.
John 16:13
Copyright © 2011 by Rowan Jennings, Abbotsford,
British Columbia |
