Contributions for the Sanctuary (Exodus 25:1-9)

1 The Lord said to Moses [reminding the listeners Moses is repeating what had been said to him], 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. [They had to get materials in the wilderness to assemble a place of worship, many of which came from their Egyptian spoils]. From every man whose heart moves him [giving is an act or worship, not command] you shall receive the contribution for me [God personally, not the tabernacle]. 3 And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze [metals with a hierarchy], 4 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats' hair, 5 tanned rams' skins, goatskins [fabrics and skins], acacia wood [the most abundant tree found in the Sinai], 6 oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 7 onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece [for the high priest]. 8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. [The Hebrew is just five words and communicates a major theme of Exodus. The wording sounds contingent. If they invite God through building a properly prepared space, he will come and locate with them, and then they will set up their tents around his tent.] 9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it. [God has a plan and Moses must follow it exactly. Why does God do this? God did not require a building. He had already been moving around with them in the pillar. God was setting a desire in their hearts for heaven. Is there another tabernacle in heaven? See Hebrews 8:5. The tabernacle was a symbolic representation of the realities of heaven.]