Exodus 25

Building a place for God’s presence

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them. ~ Exodus 25:1-2

Have you ever felt God stirring your heart to give something back to Him? Not because you were pressured, but because you simply wanted to show your love and thankfulness for all He has brought you through in life. In Exodus 25, God invited the Israelites to bring offerings so that a tabernacle could be built for Him to dwell among them. But there was one condition: each gift had to come from a willing heart. God could have demanded it, but He chose instead to invite His people to participate willingly in what He was building.

There have been times in my own life when God has prompted me to give or serve in a specific way, and my first reaction was hesitation. I began to think about what I might lose or how inconvenient it might be. But each time I chose to obey from a willing heart, I realized that God was not trying to take something from me, He was preparing me to receive something from Him. One particular moment stands out when I gave toward a ministry need that stretched my faith. What I gave wasn’t large by human standards, but the peace and joy that followed were far greater than what I had given away.

This chapter reminds me that God still desires to dwell with His people today. He may not ask for gold or fine linen as He did in today’s reading, but He still asks for something valuable, that is my heart, my obedience, and my willingness. Every time I respond to His invitation, I am building a place for His presence to dwell in my life.

Here are some ways you can show your love for Him this week:

• Ask God to show you specific ways to give from a willing heart this week.
• Offer your time, talent, or resources to serve in a way that honors Him.
• Keep your motives pure by giving out of love, not obligation.
• Take notice of how God meets your needs as you give to Him first.
• Thank God each day for the opportunity to be part of what He is building in the world.

Today I want to encourage you to give God your willing heart. He is not asking for perfection, He is asking for participation. When you bring what you have to Him freely and joyfully, you create space for His presence to fill your life. Just as the Israelites built a sanctuary for God’s glory to dwell, your obedience and generosity build a spiritual sanctuary where His peace and power can rest.

Today’s scripture reading: Exodus 25

1 The Lord said to Moses, 

2 “Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them. 

3 Here is a list of sacred offerings you may accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze;

4 blue, purple, and scarlet thread; fine linen and goat hair for cloth;

5 tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather; acacia wood;

6 olive oil for the lamps; spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense;

7 onyx stones, and other gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest’s chest piece.

8 “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. 

9 You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you.

10 “Have the people make an Ark of acacia wood—a sacred chest 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high. 

11 Overlay it inside and outside with pure gold, and run a molding of gold all around it. 

12 Cast four gold rings and attach them to its four feet, two rings on each side. 

13 Make poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 

14 Insert the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark to carry it. 

15 These carrying poles must stay inside the rings; never remove them. 

16 When the Ark is finished, place inside it the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, which I will give to you.

17 “Then make the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—from pure gold. It must be 45 inches long and 27 inches wide. 

18 Then make two cherubim from hammered gold, and place them on the two ends of the atonement cover. 

19 Mold the cherubim on each end of the atonement cover, making it all of one piece of gold. 

20 The cherubim will face each other and look down on the atonement cover. With their wings spread above it, they will protect it. 

21 Place inside the Ark the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, which I will give to you. Then put the atonement cover on top of the Ark. 

22 I will meet with you there and talk to you from above the atonement cover between the gold cherubim that hover over the Ark of the Covenant. From there I will give you my commands for the people of Israel.

23 “Then make a table of acacia wood, 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high. 

24 Overlay it with pure gold and run a gold molding around the edge. 

25 Decorate it with a 3-inch border all around, and run a gold molding along the border. 

26 Make four gold rings for the table and attach them at the four corners next to the four legs. 

27 Attach the rings near the border to hold the poles that are used to carry the table. 

28 Make these poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 

29 Make special containers of pure gold for the table—bowls, ladles, pitchers, and jars—to be used in pouring out liquid offerings. 

30 Place the Bread of the Presence on the table to remain before me at all times.

Plans for the Lampstand

31 “Make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. Make the entire lampstand and its decorations of one piece—the base, center stem, lamp cups, buds, and petals. 

32 Make it with six branches going out from the center stem, three on each side. 

33 Each of the six branches will have three lamp cups shaped like almond blossoms, complete with buds and petals. 

34 Craft the center stem of the lampstand with four lamp cups shaped like almond blossoms, complete with buds and petals. 

35 There will also be an almond bud beneath each pair of branches where the six branches extend from the center stem. 

36 The almond buds and branches must all be of one piece with the center stem, and they must be hammered from pure gold. 

37 Then make the seven lamps for the lampstand, and set them so they reflect their light forward. 

38 The lamp snuffers and trays must also be made of pure gold. 

39 You will need 75 pounds of pure gold for the lampstand and its accessories.

40 “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.

Journal:

• What is God inviting me to offer to Him willingly right now?
• How can I make room in my heart and schedule for His presence to dwell with me each day?