EXODUS…

In considering the Wilderness Miracle and accomplishing the Purposes of God we must KNOW what that purpose is, believe that purpose, adopt it as our own and have it literally become the PURPOSE of our lives.  In a very real way it becomes who and why I am.

In Exodus 35-26 we discover a significant miracle with the account of the building of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and I’d like for you to consider at least three things regarding this:

• The Greatness of the Miracle.
• The Fact of the Miracle.
• The Principle It Conveys.

             First, remember where they came from – Egypt which most would identify as a type of the flesh or the world.  It very definitely expresses a worldview or state of mind and a thought process.  Next, they had been oppressed poor slaves and now they were wealthy through having spoiled the Egyptians but they still had the worldview of Egypt in them.  Additionally, all their needs were being met (shoes, clothes, food) through the miraculous hand of God so the wilderness was not costing them anything.  Then, they had the Dream of a Promised Land they would possess but with the Egyptian mentality.  None of this suggested a mentality or willingness to trend toward lavish giving.

It is only as they began to receive the revelation of who God really was, understand their purpose, destiny and relationship to their possessions are they to be free to respond to the request that is being made to build the Tabernacle.  One of the greatest fears a person who has been poor but become wealthy or comfortable is becoming poor again.  They Egyptian mentality had to be removed for them to be free.  As they tasted God’s provisions they learned to trust more freely.  As they came to know God they could view the Tabernacle as a representation of the Manifest Presence of God in their midst.

           This miracle conveys a truth that touches every aspect of our lives.  God is above all.  All we have and are is for the establishing of His purpose and as we, in faith, obey HE BECOMES ALL WE NEED!  In Him there is total supply and victory.  In Him they learned the keys to living in Covenant.  Therefore I ask, “Is the Bible true or not?”  Jesus said, “Ask anything in My Name and I will do it.”  God had promised and they learned to believe that promise.  Too often we are just trying to ‘get through’ rather than living victoriously.

They and we need to learn the Law of Sowing and Reaping.  In this we learn that God is our source not man.  There is no harvest without planting or sowing and the reaping is in kind or “We reap what we sow”.  If you plant beans you do not harvest corn.  We reap what we so, more than we sow and later than we sow but WE REAP.

The miracle involved money but it was far more than money.  They were giving themselves and the ultimate test of how much of you God has is reflected in your giving.  In this situation we find:  The NEED was God caused.  The GIVING POTENTIAL was God arranged.  The OFFERING was God directed and the GIVING was God inspired.

Exodus 36:5-7 – “…they spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the LORD commanded us to do.”  6 So Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.” And the people were restrained from bringing, 7 for the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done — indeed too much.”  NKJV

The result was God GLORIFYING!  They had to be restrained from giving for they were giving too much!  Do you see what I’m saying?  They learned to trust God and their giving was an act of worship.  Luke 6:38 declares, “Give and IT shall be given unto you….” 

The Miracle was God had them in totality and in that state could begin the process of bringing them to the Place of Promise.  Preparation always precedes blessing!   May God be with you as you go through your day!