A PRAYER FOR GOD’S GRACE. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. 1Ch.4:10
# 35 2025 Dev. Ex.38:24-26. Amazing Generosity! Read all of chapter thirty-eight first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Ex. 38:24-26 “The total amount of the gold from the wave offering used for all the work on the sanctuary was 29 talents and 730 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. The silver obtained from those of the community who were counted in the censuswas 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel— one beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel…”
Ex.38 “They, Bezalel and Oholiaband every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work, built the alter of burnt offering, they made the bronze basin and they made the courtyard.”
Vs.1-7 They built the altar of burnt offering. They made all its utensils of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans. They made a grating for the altar, a bronze network, to be under its ledge, halfway up the altar. This is what it looked like.
V.8 “They made the bronze basin and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the womenwho served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.” Polished brass mirrors have a long history, starting in China. This is what the basin looked like.
Vs.9-20 The Courtyard that enclosed the sanctuary was one hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide. A cubit had two sizes, the common cubit is 18 inches; the royal cubit is 20-21 inches. That was the size, 150 ft by 75ft. or 175 ft by 87.5ft. Because everything was to be symmetrical I think the common cubit was used. The courtyard was orientated West to East with the entrance to the East. The North and South sides was divided into twenty sections with posts and bronze bases. The West side was divided into 10 sections with posts and bronze bases. The East end, the South and North sides had 3 posts with bases, covering 15 cubits each. “The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was made of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer. It was twenty cubits long and, like the curtains of the courtyard, five cubits high, with four posts and four bronze bases.” This is what it looked like.
Vs.21-31 The value of the material used for the Tabernacle: gold, 29 talents and 730 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. One talent = 3.000 shekels and one shekel weighs 11 grams. To put it in perspective a shekel is worth about 1-2 days work. Gold, 87,730 shekels. Silver, 301,775 shekels. Bronze, 22,400 shekels.
These were free will offerings, yet, men 20 yrs. and older were expected to give. When people are tuned in to Jesus, and willing to serve, generous giving follows. Thanks be to God! © cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.
Heavenhigh 