Exodus 25 - 27:19

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T’rumah - Contribution

Just before His final plague on Egypt, the Lord told Moses to instruct each man and each woman to ask for articles of silver and gold and clothing from their neighbors. The Egyptians gave the men and women what they asked for because the Lord gave the people favor in the Egyptians’ sight (Exodus 11:2-3 & 12:35-36).  So, when Moses asked for a contribution for the construction of the sanctuary, the people were able to provide all the materials needed. Interestingly, God moved the hearts of the Egyptians to give, but He did not move the hearts of the Israelites. Rather He told Moses to raise the contribution for the sanctuary from every man whose own heart moved him to give. Perhaps God wanted to test the hearts of the Israelites to reveal their attitudes. Were they willing to give up some of the valuable articles they just received from the Egyptians? What would I do? Would my heart move me to give generously or would it move me to hang on to the wealth? In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul wrote, “Each one must do as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). Dear Father, help me to examine my heart. Am I a cheerful giver? Please help me to be more generous. Please help me to give more freely to You and more freely to those in need. Help me to be answer to prayer, to serve unselfishly and bring honor to You when responding to those in need.