What does it say?
Moses assembled the congregation and said this is what the Lord commands. You are to work for six days and rest on the seventh day. Everyone who has a willing heart is to give a contribution for building the tabernacle and making the priestly garments. Everyone who is skillful shall build the tabernacle and the articles that are put into the tabernacle. All of the people whose heart stirred within them brought gold and silver and materials for the building of the tabernacle as a freewill offering to the Lord. Then Moses told the people that the Lord has filled Bezalel of the tribe of Judah with his Spirit to have wisdom and knowledge in craftsmanship; also, Oholiab of the tribe of Dan.
What does it mean?
There are three specific things that we should take from this text:
- The Lord has commandments that he expects his people to follow.
- The Lord gives people the freedom to chose.
- The Lord chooses people to do his will.
We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23) and sin is lawlessness. (1 Jn 3:4) There are things that God expects from each of us but we all fall short. God gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not die the eternal death, in the lake of fire, but have everlasting life. (Jn 3:23, Rev 21:8) Every single person who hears the good news of eternal life in Christ Jesus has the freedom to chose eternal life in Jesus Christ. However, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (Jn 3:3) Those who believe in Jesus are born of God. God has put it into their heart, with the Spirit of God, to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and trust in him as there Savior.
What shall I do?
I shall pay heed to the teachings of Jesus Christ because he has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. (Mt 28:18) I shall use the desire that the Lord has put into my heart for his glory. I shall use the skills that the Lord has given to me for his kingdom.
