A BEAUTIFUL TENT

[Exodus:35:1-35 [1] And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them. [2] Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death. [3] Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day. [4] And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying, [5] 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, [6] And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, [7] And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, [8] And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, [9] And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate. [10] And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded; [11] The tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets, [12] The ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy seat, and the vail of the covering, [13] The table, and his staves, and all his vessels, and the shewbread, [14] The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light, [15] And the incense altar, and his staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entering in of the tabernacle, [16] The altar of burnt offering, with his brasen grate, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot, [17] The hangings of the court, his pillars, and their sockets, and the hanging for the door of the court, [18] The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords, [19] The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office. [20] And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. [21] 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. [22] And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD. [23] And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers' skins, brought them. [24] Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD's offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it. [25] And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. [26] And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair. [27] And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate; [28] And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. [29] 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. [30] And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; [31] And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; [32] And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, [33] And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. [34] And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. [35] Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work. ]; [Exodus:40:33-38 [33] And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. [34] Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. [35] And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. [36] And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: [37] But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. [38] For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. ].
“In my Father’s house are many mansions” (John 14:2).
God’s Glory
Because Moses had been near to God, his face shone so brightly that he had to cover his face when he talked to the people. He had much to tell them of the things God had said to him. God had told him what he should do to help them keep true to Him, and then God would go before them and protect them against their enemies.
The Tent-Church
The people were not to stay in Sinai a long time but were to go on to the land into which God was leading them. So God told Moses to have the people make a tent-church in which to worship Him. This church could easily be carried with them on their journey.
Willing Workers
Moses asked the people to give what they could to make the tent and the things in it. He said that those who had a willing heart should bring an offering to the house of God. God wants only the things we give to Him willingly. The people seemed to be glad to do it. Some brought gold, wood, spices, skins, and anointing oil. Those who could weave, made cloth and curtains for the tent. For every part of the work that needed to be done there was someone who knew how to do it. No doubt, God had taught them and prepared them for it.
The blue, and scarlet, and purple curtains must have made the tent very beautiful.
The tent was carried by certain men whom Moses appointed. And they carried it just as God had told them.
The Altars
There were altars upon which the offerings were laid that were brought for the worship of God. God has given us much, and He expects us to give Him something in return, especially our love.
The Appointed Workers
God told Moses to choose certain ones for every kind of work to be done. And some of them had to be dressed in a special kind of clothing. God told Moses just how it should be, and Moses did what God told him. God was pleased with the way they had obeyed Him. God told them He would tell them when to set up the Tabernacle and begin the worship.
God’s Blessing
When the Tabernacle, or tent-church, was finished, God covered it with a cloud in which He was present. Moses could not even go into it because of God’s presence there.
When they journeyed on, there was a cloud over the tent by day, and a bright light at night so that all the people could see it. This made them know that God was there with them, leading them. God plans everything well. If we do just what God tells us to do and when He tells us to do it, we shall always be happy and it will please our heavenly Father.
1. What kind of offering did the Children of Israel bring unto the Lord? [Exodus:35:29The 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.
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2. What kind of offerings should we bring to the Lord? [2 Corinthians:9:6-7 [6] But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
[7] Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
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3. How should we act when we come into the house of the Lord? [1 Timothy:3:15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
]; [Psalms:100:4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
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4. What happened when Moses had finished the work? [Exodus:40:34Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
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5. How did the Children of Israel know when to travel? [Exodus:40:36-37 [36] And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:
[37] But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.
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