INTRODUCTION TO THE REMAINDER OF THE BOOK OF EXODUS

I.    Chapter 25-31 - Covers a period of 40 days and 40 nights.

A.  There is no doubt Moses saw glorious things unlawful for a man to utter, but he never tells of anything he saw except what God told him to tell.

B.   Ex. 25:9, 40,  26:30,  27:8 - God has a job for Moses to do, therefore God gives him the plans for construction and enables him to do it.

1.   Nothing is left to Moses ingenuity, or the people's preference.

2.   All is taken care of by God.

3.   When we attempt to build today, we must follow the plan in God's Word.

4.   All other plans will fail, in God's sight.

II.   Note the order of the building:

1.   25:10-16 - Ark  

2.   25:17-22 - Mercy Seat  

3.   25:23-30 - Table           

4.   25:31-30 - Candlestick  

5.   26:1-14 - Covering of the Tabernacle     

6.   26:15-20 - Boards of the Tabernacle      

7.   26:31-35 - Vail.

8.   26:36,37 - Hanging        

9.   27:1-8 - outside Altar

10.  27:9-19 - Court of the Tabernacle

11.  28 - The Priests and Garments

12.  29 - The Offering.

13.  30:1-16 - The Altar of Incense

14.  30:17-21 - The laver

15.  30:22-38 - The Anointing

16.  31 - The People to do the work

A.  God always works from the inside to the outside.  Man always works from the outside to the inside.  This is why God started building the ark of the covenant first, gradually working Himself to the court of the tabernacle, then finishing up with the people to do the work.

B.   When we start doing things God's way, we'll never fail -- and the people will always be there to do the work.

1.   Chapter 32 - The people of Israel made the golden calf while Moses was in the mount.  By allowing 2 days for the making of the calf and 6 days Moses was in the mount before going into the cloud (24:15-18), Moses was gone about 43 or 44 days (a little over 6 weeks) when Israel rebelled against God.

2.   Before the work on the tabernacle could be started, the sins of the people must be taken care of.

a.   Ex. 32-34 - Many times the work of God is delayed because of sin.

b.   It's not until chapter 35 that the offering commanded in chapter 25 is taken up.

3.   Chapter 35-40 - Tells of the building of the tabernacle and God inhabiting it.

Notes on Exodus 25:1-9

Verse 1-9, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, {2} Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. {3} And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, {4} And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, {5} And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, {6} Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, {7} Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. {8} And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. {9} According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

I.    God is a sovereign God, but He here limits Himself, in the building of His tabernacle to the willingness of His people.  Many of the works of God are limiting themselves to the willingness of God's people to do their part.

II.   Reasons to give willingly.

A.  Led them from Egypt.

B.   Give them spoils:

1.   Of Egypt - 12:35.

2.   Of the Amalekites - 17:8-13.

3.   Fed them at His own expense.

III. Didn't tell them how much to give, but let each give as much as they are willing to give.  How much are you willing to give?

IV. Told them what to give.

A.  These articles would be needed in the building of the tabernacle.

B.   Build up a storehouse of materials before the job was ever started.  See Malachi 3:10.

V.  How to give - willingly.