Finishing the Tabernacle: No More Offerings for the Tabernacle
After receiving God’s instructions, the Israelites worked together Finishing the Tabernacle. Through obedience, leadership, special talents, and generous offerings, the people accomplished God’s purpose. Their gifts overflowed beyond the need, demonstrating faith, unity, and commitment to God’s covenant and redemption plan.
Obedience, Teaching, Leadership, Group Efforts, Special Talents, Protection, God’s Covenant, Offerings, Redemption Plan
📖 Exodus 36:1-3
“36 So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.”
“2 Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. 3 They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.”
When God’s People Work Together – Finishing the Tabernacle
📖 Exodus 36:4-8
“4 So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing 5 and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.”
“6 Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, 7 because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.
“8 All those who were skilled among the workers made the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by expert hands. “
The Lord had delivered Israel from Egypt, established His covenant, and given clear instructions for building the Tabernacle. Now the time had come to put those instructions into action. God had equipped Bezalel, Oholiab, and many skilled workers with wisdom, understanding, and special talents to complete the sanctuary. As the people responded with willing hearts and generous offerings, the work moved forward exactly as the Lord commanded. This chapter demonstrates how obedience, leadership, generosity, and teamwork become powerful tools in fulfilling God’s redemption plan.
God Equips Those He Calls – Finishing the Tabernacle
📖 Exodus 36:9-13
“9 All the curtains were the same size—twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide.[a] 10 They joined five of the curtains together and did the same with the other five. 11 Then they made loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and the same was done with the end curtain in the other set.
“12 They also made fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the other set, with the loops opposite each other. 13 Then they made fifty gold clasps and used them to fasten the two sets of curtains together so that the tabernacle was a unit.”
The Lord did not leave His people to accomplish the work on their own.
Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled worker received their abilities from God Himself. Their craftsmanship, knowledge, and understanding were gifts designed for a specific purpose.
God’s work is accomplished through people who are willing to use the talents He has given them.
The Lord still equips individuals today with unique abilities to serve His purposes.
Willing Hearts Bring Generous Offerings
📖 Exodus 36:14-18
“14 They made curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven altogether. 15 All eleven curtains were the same size—thirty cubits long and four cubits wide.[b] 16 They joined five of the curtains into one set and the other six into another set. 17 Then they made fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set and also along the edge of the end curtain in the other set. 18 They made fifty bronze clasps to fasten the tent together as a unit. “
The Israelites continued bringing freewill offerings day after day.
Their generosity reflected gratitude for God’s protection, provision, and covenant faithfulness. They were no longer giving out of obligation but from willing hearts.
True worship often reveals itself through cheerful generosity and faithful service.
The people understood that building a place for God’s presence was worth their sacrifice.
More Than Enough – Finishing the Tabernacle
📖 Exodus 36: 19- 23
“19 Then they made for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of the other durable leather.[c]”
“20 They made upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle. 21 Each frame was ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide,[d] 22 with two projections set parallel to each other. They made all the frames of the tabernacle in this way. 23 They made twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacle”
Eventually the skilled workers approached Moses with unexpected news.
The people had given more than enough.
Their offerings exceeded the needs of the project.
Moses then issued a command throughout the camp:
“No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.”
This remarkable moment highlights a rare example where generosity overflowed beyond the requirement.
God’s people responded so faithfully that additional offerings were no longer needed.
Excellence in the Work – Finishing the Tabernacle
📖 Exodus 36:24-28
‘24 and made forty silver bases to go under them—two bases for each frame, one under each projection. 25 For the other side, the north side of the tabernacle, they made twenty frames 26 and forty silver bases—two under each frame. 27 They made six frames for the far end, that is, the west end of the tabernacle, 28 and two frames were made for the corners of the tabernacle at the far end. “
The workers carefully followed every instruction God had provided.
The curtains, frames, coverings, clasps, bases, crossbars, and supports were all crafted with precision and skill.
Nothing was careless.
Nothing was rushed.
- The Tabernacle reflected the excellence that comes from obedience.
- The Lord deserved the very best effort His people could offer.
The Sanctuary Becomes a Reality
📖 Exodus 36:29-38
“29 At these two corners the frames were double from the bottom all the way to the top and fitted into a single ring; both were made alike. 30 So there were eight frames and sixteen silver bases—two under each frame.”
“31 They also made crossbars of acacia wood: five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle, 32 five for those on the other side, and five for the frames on the west, at the far end of the tabernacle. 33 They made the center crossbar so that it extended from end to end at the middle of the frames. 34 They overlaid the frames with gold and made gold rings to hold the crossbars. They also overlaid the crossbars with gold.”
“35 They made the curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker. 36 They made four posts of acacia wood for it and overlaid them with gold. They made gold hooks for them and cast their four silver bases. 37 For the entrance to the tent they made a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer; 38 and they made five posts with hooks for them. They overlaid the tops of the posts and their bands with gold and made their five bases of bronze”
The skilled workers completed the curtains, entrances, posts, bases, and furnishings that would form the Tabernacle.
What had once been instructions given on a mountain was becoming a visible reality among God’s people.
The sanctuary would serve as a constant reminder that the Lord dwelled among them.
Every detail pointed back to God’s covenant relationship with Israel.
Lessons From the Tabernacle
This chapter teaches several important truths:
God gives people different gifts for different purposes.
Leadership works best when responsibilities are shared.
Generosity can accomplish great things when hearts are willing.
Excellence honors God.
Obedience turns God’s instructions into reality.
Every contribution matters in God’s work.
God’s covenant people accomplish more when they work together.
Final Thought
Exodus 36 is a powerful picture of what happens when God’s people unite around His purpose. The Lord provided the skills, the leadership, the resources, and the willing hearts necessary to complete the Tabernacle. The people responded with such generosity that Moses had to tell them to stop bringing offerings because there was already more than enough.
The lesson remains timeless: when God guides the work and His people respond in obedience, generosity, and faith, His purposes are accomplished and His presence is revealed among them.