So Moses Finished the Work
By C. W. Flaiz
“Come up to me into the mount, and be there: . . . and Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: . . . and the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering; . . . and let them make me a sanctuary; . . . and look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount.” It could not be considered an insignificant undertaking for a people so lately delivered from bondage to erect a building, the pattern of which had been shown. The materials required for its construction were expensive, and not easily obtained. The mechanics necessary to plan and execute the delicate work were not to be found in all their tribes. There were many problems that conspired to make it a most difficult undertaking, but the children of Israel had faith in God, and believed that he would give them strength and grace to accomplish what he required of them. They immediately applied themselves to the task of gathering the “material fund.” There was no way to secure this except by making a call to the people. So Moses called the people together, and said to them, “This is the thing which the Lord commandeth, saying, 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, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood, and oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, and onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate. And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the Lord hath commanded.” No complaint was heard; no excuse was offered; no criticism ventured; but, hastening to their tents, the people soon emerged, bringing treasures in such abundance that those engaged in the work of collecting materials could soon say, It is enough; we have an ample amount for the “material fund.” But the work was not yet complete. Indeed, it had but just begun. They set themselves resolutely to the task before them. Men, women, and children engaged earnestly in the work, and in six short months the building and its appointments were complete, and it could be said of Moses, “So Moses finished the work.” Then, and not till then, did the glory of God fill the tabernacle. Had they never finished the work, they would never have seen the glory. It was the finished work that brought the glory. How keen the joy, and what a sense of satisfaction must have filled the hearts of the people as they saw the token of the presence of God. The Lord had revealed to them his plan, and given them a specified work to do. This was to be a test to the children of Israel. Nobly they responded to the call. Moses finished his task, because the people had a mind to work. More than two years have passed since the Lord honored modern Israel by committing to them a most sacred trust. By means of the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” we were asked to co-operate with God in removing the reproach of debt that had so long rested like a dark shadow upon the educational institutions of the denomination, and had affected every other branch of the work. We ought to rejoice that the Lord places such confidence14in us that he asks us to do that which, from our human standpoint, would seem impossible of accomplishment. It is such calls as this that reveal the mettle of the denomination. It reveals the sounding brass, and the men of action. We were told that this work would be a test to all the people. Two campaigns for the sale of the book have been conducted, and the third and last effort has now been inaugurated. The efforts already put forth have developed two classes of people—one rejoicing in the experiences obtained in obeying the call, the other murmuring and complaining at the hardness of the way. Noble efforts have been made. Many who went out with trembling, experienced such blessings in taking the book to the people that they were not content to sell simply their quota, but continued their efforts until they have sold in many instances scores of books, and are still engaged in the blessed work. Some of the conferences have taken hold with holy zeal, and have nearly completed their work. Others put forth feeble, waning efforts, and abandoned the work altogether when difficulties presented themselves, and as a consequence their books are still stacked up before them. From the best information obtainable, it is estimated that there are about one hundred and forty thousand books yet to be taken to the people. Can it be done?—Of course it can, else God would never have asked us to undertake the task. It can be done if the people will have ‘a willing mind.’ We were not asked to assist in rolling away part of the reproach. We were asked to assist in removing the whole debt. The work will not be completed until the last dollar is paid. We cannot say the work is ‘finished’ until our institutions go free. God’s glory cannot rest upon the work of our hands until the last debt is paid. To fail in this is to fail in the task the Lord has imposed, and prove ourselves disloyal to the cause of God. To come short condemns us to wander still longer in the wilderness. The call is to every conference president, every laborer, every church member, every family, and every member of every family. Shall we not arise to the demands of the hour, and like valiant soldiers, never falter until the victory is complete, and it can truthfully be said, They finished the work? Let every conference president become a tower of strength, and lead the people to victory. Every laborer should be filled with the spirit of a Caleb or a Joshua. Silence every murmur and complaint. They have no place in the cause of God. Strengthen thou the feeble knees, and in the name of the Lord march on, and soon the Jubilee banner will be floating over every church throughout the land. Then, and not till then, shall we see the full meaning and results of this great undertaking. Then, and not till then, shall we see the glory of God.