God gave specific instructions for the Israelites to build a tabernacle. In Exodus 35:5 Moses said for all who were willing-hearted to bring an offering to the Lord. Both men and women were to bring gold, silver, and bronze, blue, purple and scarlet thread, fine linen, goats’ hair, ram skins dyed red, badger skins, acacia wood, oil, spices, and precious stones.
Exodus 35:21 tells us, “Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments.” In verse 22 Moses makes sure that we know that both men and women brought earrings, nose rings, necklaces, gold jewelry.
Again, in verse 29 we’re told, “The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the LORD, all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which the LORD, by the hand of Moses, had commanded to be done.”
God wanted the people to give an offering that would be used to build the tabernacle, but He didn’t want to force it. He didn’t require it. He merely said for those who were willing-hearted to give of what they had.
The same goes for us today. God blesses us and then asks that we give back a portion of our blessings. He doesn’t order us. He suggests it. But if we give willingly, we end up being the ones who are blessed. We can’t outgive God.
We don’t give so that we might receive, but we give as a way to worship God and show our appreciation for all that He does for us. May we be willing-hearted women today.
Read about willing-hearted women in Scripture: Exodus 35
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