Exodus 35:22, commentary and pictures

Both men and women whose hearts were willing answered the call to build the wilderness tabernacle by bringing their own gold jewelry as freewill offerings to the Lord, given willingly from the heart without urging or compulsion. They kept bringing free offerings every morning, each one eager to share, until far more than enough had been gathered for the work commanded and they had to be told to stop bringing. God accepts only what is freely given, and He showed His pleasure when His glory filled the finished tabernacle, giving those who had willingly shared a part in its blessing. This was a special offering beyond the regular tithes and appointed gifts, laid upon all the people according to what each had been entrusted with, both for His service and for their own good. Those who value God's presence still show it by giving their best for His worship and work willingly, earnestly and generously, and the blessing received answers to the value they place on sacred things.

Wilderness Tabernacle Offering

Exodus 35:22 records both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, answering the invitation to contribute for building the tabernacle in the wilderness by bringing personal gold jewelry — bracelets, earrings, rings and tablets — as free-will offerings to the Lord. The gifts were given willingly from the heart with devotion and sacrifice, freely and without urging or compulsion. Beyond jewelry, the offering included gold, silver and brass, choice fabrics and valuable wood, precious stones, costly spices and oil for the lights, and hand-spun work brought by wise-hearted women. Ornaments were taken from their persons and cast into the treasury to beautify and enrich God's house.

The giving happened just after leaving Egypt when freedom was new and return to slavery was still near, when means were scanty and their own tents were small. Yet they did not seek to enlarge their own dwellings but put building God's house first according to the design God gave. The tabernacle was to be built exactly as the Lord directed, for He is very particular about the building as about anything connected with His service. Outward splendor was allowed because Israel had been accustomed in Egypt to see splendor and grandeur connected with anything kingly and would not be impressed without it, and Jesus Christ Himself talked with Moses and gave directions.

The skill, wisdom, understanding, intelligence, tact and careful labor used for the work were gifts from God to appointed workers for His glory, and practical skill and careful labor can thus honor God. God required exactitude, skill, tact, wisdom and perfection in that work according to the pattern shown to Moses in the mount. The people kept bringing free offerings every morning, each person anxious to have a share, in cheerful and willing labor worth more than a million dollars. Until much more than enough had been brought for the service of the work commanded and all that was brought could not be used, so Moses had to proclaim that they had enough and must cease bringing.

This generous-hearted, willing service was pleasing to God, who accepted only offerings freely given. When the tabernacle was completed He signified acceptance when a cloud covered the tent of the congregation and His glory filled the tabernacle. Willing participation brought the givers a share in the blessing of the work.

Pattern for Giving Today

The verse describes a special free-will offering called for building the tabernacle in the wilderness, distinct from and beyond the regular systematic and proportioned tithes, sin-offerings, thank-offerings, firstfruits, ransoms, and provisions for the poor. Like the later offering for the temple at Jerusalem, it was a call made by God upon all the people, not upon a particular class, with the amount required growing with the capital entrusted to each. God laid this claim upon the people both to sustain His service and for their own good.

The cheerful and generous bringing of precious materials and gold jewelry shows that those who value God's presence and worship should give willingly and earnestly, offering their best for a place of worship. Devotion, energy, generosity, zeal and liberality in preparing a place for God and His worship provide the example, with voluntary giving for His presence marking true liberality. The amount given and the spirit of the giving show how highly the givers value sacred and divine things. Offerings for a house of worship are therefore to be given from the heart and with earnestness, not grudgingly or merely to minimize expense, and the blessing received corresponds to the value placed upon divine things.

That wilderness liberality sets the pattern for hearts now to give freely, willingly and anxiously for the advancement of God's work whenever the work and God's call for means and hearty cooperation are made known. Christ makes His people willing to give in just the same way as the willing-hearted men and women who brought gold jewels to the Lord. The same exactitude, skill, tact, wisdom, perfection, understanding and intelligence required in that work belong in every line of work done in His service now, with workers seeking mental strength to do everything according to the pattern shown to Moses in the mount. The people were invited to give as their hearts prompted and to cooperate with God and one another in its preparation, learning through giving and labor to help build God's temple in the soul, showing that practical skill and careful labor can honor God and be used for His glory.