A Skilled Woman with a Heart to Do God's Work!

While reading along in Exodus, I have been intrigued at all of the detail that has gone into the Tabernacle. God requested things be done a certain way with such detail! It is truly amazing! And after hearing my Pastor's sermon on Sunday morning about heaven it just makes me wonder....if so much detail was put into the Tabernacle here on earth....I can't even imagine what heaven is going to be like! We are so limited in our understanding and our material here on earth. Anyway, as I was reading along at the requirements for Aaron's garments and for the curtains, and even the items that are to go inside the Tabernacle I began thinking of those who had the honored privilege of constructing such beautifully intricate things for God! I would imagine these people had a heart to serve. Just as much as Aaron or Moses. And then, when I got to chapter 35 of Exodus I read these verses!

(20-23) Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. So they came both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, and all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the Lord. And everyone who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats' hair or tanned rams' skins or goatskins brought them. (25-26) And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats' hair. (29) All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord.

Sure, we attend church, and we know there are women who serve in many different area's of the church. We each have a different skill that we can bring to God's house and give to Him to use for His honor and glory! But, are we doing what we are supposed to be doing with a willing heart? Are we doing what we are doing because our heart's were stirred? Do we have a skill that God gave us that we are not using simply because we don't see how in the world it could be used? When was the last time your heart was stirred to use a skill that God had given you to give back to God as a freewill offering? I love artsy crafty things. I can't say I am necessarily good at them, but I do enjoy them. I can't imagine having the skill that these women possessed that they were able to use in such a way to give back to God and help to build/construct the Tabernacle! What an honor and what a privilege.

I also think of all the possessions that these women had. Some near and dear to their hearts no doubt, that they were willing to give to God! Wow! I have some special treasures of my own. I would be honest when I say that to give them to God would be difficult, but if the opportunity arose I would like to think that I could do that! My challenge for myself after reading this is to search my heart and know that if God called upon me to give up any of my possessions here on earth that I would do so in a heart beat with a heart that was willing. Also, to be searching for certain skills/gifts that God has specifically equipped me with that I can use to give back to Him in a special way and use for His honor and glory! May we all be willing women with hearts stirred to use our talents and gifts and skills for God!!

Where I am at.

Well, today I just finished Exodus 21. I have really been enjoying this study and since having been to the Holy Land have a better idea of the area where a lot of the events that I have read about took place. Just a plug...if you have never been to Israel..GO! Your Bible reading will come alive in a way that will  help you immensely! Since I last posted, I have read about the children of Israel's flight out of Egypt and their journey through the wilderness and how God provided in miraculous ways for them! Today I read about the Ten Commandments and then God's rules on slavery.
The other day something jumped out at me that I found most interesting. In Exodus 18, Moses' father in law, Jethro comes to him and seeing that Moses is taking on all of the burdens of the people steps in and gives Moses some instruction. He tells Moses to appoint able men who fear God and who are trustworthy to take on some of these burdens from Moses. These men were to be over different groups of people. Any matter too great they would bring to Moses, and any small matter they would decide themselves. This looks like a clear picture of how the church is set up today! You have deacons and or assistant Pastor's who can help bear some of the burden! I like what the end of chapter 18 says, "If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure..." I believe this is a clear picture of a healthy church.
I also love chapter 15. It is the song that Moses led the people in singing after they crossed the Red Sea and saved them from the Egyptians.

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, 

"I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.

The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.

The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name.

"Pharaoh's chariots and his host he cast into the sea, and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea.

The floods covered them; they went down into the depths like a stone.

Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.

In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries; you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble.

At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up; the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.

The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.'

You blew with your wind; the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

"Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

You stretched out your right hand; the earth swallowed them.

"You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

The peoples have heard; they tremble; pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia.

Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed; trembling seizes the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.

Terror and dread fall upon them; because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone, till your people, O LORD, pass by, till the people pass by whom you have purchased.

You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O LORD, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.

The LORD will reign forever and ever."

Looking forward to continuing my journey! As you can tell I may not write every day, but I will write!! There is so much I am learning through this study and I hope you are also being blessed by it!