Exodus 36:3
And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning. And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.
The verse belongs to God's communications to Moses about building the tabernacle in the wilderness, just after Israel left Egypt when the people stood only a step between freedom and slavery, with scanty means and small tents of their own for dwellings. God commanded the tabernacle and showed Moses the pattern and gave the design to follow, and the work was to be carried out with exactness, skill, wisdom and perfection according to that pattern. This standard of exact and perfect work according to the divine pattern applies to every line of work done in God's service.
The offerings the people brought to Moses supplied the materials for making the sanctuary and for the work of the service of the sanctuary. They included gold and silver and brass, choice fabrics and yarn spun by wise-hearted women, valuable wood, precious stones, costly spices, and oil for the lights. The people also took ornaments and jewelry from their persons and gladly gave ornamental work to beautify and enrich it, at a cost of more than a million dollars.
Both men and women who were willing-hearted kept bringing voluntary freewill gifts every morning, continuing to bring them to Moses for the work of making the sanctuary. They brought without urging, each soul anxious to have an interest in the house being erected for God. Instead of enlarging their own dwellings they put God's house first.
The giving was willing and abundant and generous, and the gifts exceeded what the work required. Much more than enough had been brought for what the Lord commanded, so that all that was brought could not be used. The skilled workers assessed the supplies, and Moses had to proclaim that enough had been received and that the cheerful, willing bringing of offerings and labor must cease.
The sanctuary work was done by skilled workers whom God equipped with ability and with wisdom and understanding for the task. They were people willing to learn and cooperate with Him, and as they used the abilities God gave them they gained further wisdom and learned to overcome difficulties under His guidance. The ability and wisdom used in that skilled work were gifts from Him, to be used for His glory and to honor God.
This generous-hearted, willing service pleased God. When the tabernacle was finished He showed His acceptance by covering the tent with a cloud and filling the tabernacle with His glory. The verse thus stands as an example that when God's people are assured a work is to be done and God calls for their means and hearty cooperation in advancing His work, they give freely and willingly without urging.