Exodus 25:1 – Exodus 27:19
“Build Me a Sanctuary”
God gave the children of Israel a project, to make Him a sanctuary, which is known as the Tabernacle. The children of Israel were living in tents in the desert at this time and were going from place to place. God was guiding them and leading them but He also wanted to dwell in their midst so He asked them to make Him a sanctuary (Ex. 25:8).
When God gave this special project to the children of Israel He did not leave it to them to figure out the architectural plan, but rather He gave the plan to them with all of its materials and measurements. God even included the most minute details concerning the design. For example, the “Ark of the Covenant” was to be made of acacia wood; two and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. It was then to be overlaid with pure gold, inside and out, and so on (Ex. 25:10-22). The lampstand was to be constructed with a base, a shaft, and three branches coming out of each side. The design of the lampstand was to include cups, bulbs, and flowers representing an almond blossom (Exodus 25:31-40). God gave Moses specific instructions for every detail and demanded that it be constructed in the way that God prescribed (Ex. 25:9).
The Cost of the Sanctuary
No expense was to be spared for this sanctuary of God. The ark was to be made of wood and then covered in pure gold. The cover of the ark, along with the cherubim, were to be made of pure gold. The lampstand itself was to be a hammered work made from one talent of pure gold. This was to be a sanctuary fit for the King of Kings and the cost was not an issue, however, who would actually pay for it and provide the materials, including all of the gold?
Just as God had a plan for the sanctuary He also had a plan to cover the costs, He told Moses to take up an offering from the people. The name of this weeks Torah Portion in Hebrew is “תרומה – terumah,” which literally means contribution or offering, something given freely. God gave Moses a plan, told him that the children of Israel were to build Him a sanctuary, and told him that the children of Israel would also provide everything necessary to see it completed (Ex. 25:1-9).
Why Does God Ask for an Offering?
God spoke to Moses and told him to have the children of Israel take an offering for the LORD. It was God’s offering. It was not Moses’ offering, or Aaron’s offering, or the offering of the Tabernacle. It was the offering of the LORD (Ex. 25:2). Why did God ask for an offering? Does God really need anything?
One of the clearest answers to these questions is found in Psalm 50. This psalm is a declaration of Almighty God as the creator and judge of the earth. God specifically states that He does not need a thing from His people because it all belongs to Him:
I shall take no young bull out of your house, nor male goats out of your folds. For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine. – Psalm 50:9-11
God owns it all. All the world is His. God does not need anything. If this is so, why did God ask for an offering from the children of Israel to build His sanctuary?
The Principle of Ownership
The first reason I believe that God asked for an offering for the entire cost of the sanctuary from the children of Israel is to remind them that they are no longer slaves to Pharaoh and the Egyptians but worshipers of Almighty God (Ex. 3:10-12. 6:2-8). God had redeemed the children of Israel and brought them out of the land of slavery. They had a new master now who was not demanding from them but asking them to contribute to this project. Through a contribution to the sanctuary of God they were being given the opportunity to invest in a new relationship and remind themselves who they now belong to, the Creator of the universe.
“Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s;
and unto God the things that are God’s”
I believe that this principle of ownership is the same principle that Yeshua taught when He was on earth. The Pharisees were trying to trap Yeshua by asking Him whether or not it is proper to pay the poll tax to Caesar. Yeshua responded by saying, “…render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s…” (Matt. 22:21). In essence Yeshua acknowledged that it is proper to pay taxes to ruling authorities but also to remember that there is more to life than earthly rulers and powers. All earthly rulers have their day and they all perish. God is the Creator and He has given life to each and every one of us. In acknowledging that God is Creator we are reminded to bring to Him our life, our everything. Since we belong to God, everything we possess belongs to Him. To give back to God that which He has entrusted to us is the most natural action if we have a proper perspective of God as our Creator.
The Value of Contribution
One other aspect of this ownership principle is that an investment of time and money into something or someone builds relationship. When a person invests in stock in a certain company (for example through the New York Stock Exchange) they feel like they are a part of that company, and in a sense they are. When a teacher teaches students over the course of a year there is an investment in the lives of the students that is unique based on the time spent together and shared experiences. I even see this in my weekly Sabbath meals on Friday evenings as well. When I invite friends to the Sabbath meal I ask them to bring something to contribute to the meal; a salad, a dessert, or a bottle of wine. I also give everyone an opportunity to share a few words about themselves and what God is teaching them with me and the other’s around the table. Everyone participates and everyone feels part of the evening experience. Each one invests in our time together and each one feels connected to one another. Investment, whether through time or money, builds connection and relationship.
The Principle of Generosity
The second reason that I believe God asked the children of Israel to give an offering was to teach them the principle of generosity. God does not need a thing but I believe that He wanted to teach the children of Israel how to give generously and enjoy it. The children of Israel were set free from slavery, bondage, and poverty for the first time in at least 80 years (up to 400 years) and when they left Egypt they plundered the Egyptians of gold, silver, and clothing (Ex. 12:35-36). They went from rags to riches but needed to learn to be generous.
Yeshua taught this principle as well: “Give and it will be given unto you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38). We don’t simply receive for the sake of ourselves but to be able to share with others.
Even though God does not need a thing, we need to remember to be like God and be generous. We don’t give to God for His benefit. We give to God for our own benefit, to remember that we belong to God and to learn to walk in generosity with others.
The Heart of “Nadav”
When God spoke to Moses about asking the children of Israel for the offering to build the Tabernacle He chose His words very carefully. God said, “Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution” (Ex. 25:2). God did not want to force a contribution. God didn’t want the people to feel like they owed God something. For example, “Since God just set you free from Egypt, now you need to pay Him back.” No, this was not God’s intent. I believe God’s heart was to simply give them opportunity to partner with Him. God wanted everyone who had a generous heart to give whatever they wanted to give. God did not want a contribution that was given out of compulsion, guilt, or obligation but rather out of desire.
The phrase “whose heart moves him” in the above verse uses the word “nadav – נדב” which means generous, willing and without obligation. We see the meaning more clearly in this same context later on in the book of Exodus when it explains that the people freely brought their offerings of gold and silver and everything else to the LORD, “as many as were willing-hearted” (Ex. 35:21-21, 29. Ex. 36:3).
The first use of the word nadav in the Bible is when Aaron named his son “Nadav” (Ex. 6:23). God used this same word, “nadav – נדב,” to describe how He freely loved Israel (Hosea 14:4). And in Psalms 54 we also see King David speaking about offering sacrifice to God from a willing heart; “Willingly I sacrifice to You; I will give thanks to Your name, O LORD, for it is good” (Ps. 54:6). The word for “willingly” is “nedavah,” the same root word as nadav. “Nadav” means generous, willingly, and without obligation. The heart of God is a generous spirit and He invites us to partner with Him
God Loves a Cheerful Giver
We know that this message of generosity is in the New Testament as well.
“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor. 9:6-7)
In essence, God wants us to be free to love Him, to love others, and to give freely.
The Invitation from God
God gave Moses instructions about how to build His sanctuary with all of its details and He invited the children of Israel to join Him, to partner with Him, and to prepare the way for His dwelling in their midst. “Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them” (Ex. 25:8). God wasn’t asking for a summer cottage where he could escape from the world. God wanted a holy place that had proper boundaries to protect His holiness and that would be a residence for Him in the midst of His people. God had brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and He promised to be with them. The “Mikdash” (the holy sanctuary) was the place where God would come and dwell in the midst of the people. God’s desire is to abide with His people.
God’s heart towards mankind has not changed since the day that He invited the children of Israel to partner with Him and prepare Him a place to abide with them. God still desires to abide with us today.
“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him” (John 14:23).
God desires to abide in each one of us today through His Holy Spirit. Are you willing to prepare a place in your heart for Him? Yeshua’s invitation in the above verse still stands.
Shabbat Shalom!
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Torah Portion: Ex. 25:1 – Ex. 27:19
Hafatara: 1 Kings 5:26 – 1 Kings 6:13
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