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Exodus 35:10-19

Let Every Skillful Person Come

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10Let every skilled craftsman among you come and make everything that the LORD has commanded:

11the tabernacle with its tent and covering, its clasps and frames, its crossbars, posts, and bases;

12the ark with its poles and mercy seat, and the veil to shield it;

13the table with its poles, all its utensils, and the Bread of the Presence;

14the lampstand for light with its accessories and lamps and oil for the light;

15the altar of incense with its poles; the anointing oil and fragrant incense; the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle;

16the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its utensils; the basin with its stand;

17the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the gate of the courtyard;

18the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, along with their ropes;

19and the woven garments for ministering in the holy place—both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.”

Berean Standard Bible

Read aloud

Moses calls every skilled craftsman to come and make what the LORD has commanded. The work includes the tabernacle itself, the ark and mercy seat, the table, lampstand, altars, and basin. It also includes curtains, ropes, tent pegs, oil, incense, and priestly garments.

The list puts large and small tasks beside one another. The ark has a special place in the sanctuary, but ropes and pegs are also needed for the dwelling to function. No worker is being asked to produce an impressive object with no place in the whole. Each task serves the meeting place God has provided for His people.

At this point Moses is summoning the workers; the construction is still ahead. Hearing the instructions is necessary, but the materials will also need skilled hands. God calls His people to put the abilities they have received to work in obedience to Him.

Questions

1 Whom does Moses call to come and work?

AnswerEvery skilled craftsman among the people. They are to make what the LORD commanded, using their abilities for the sanctuary rather than choosing a separate project of their own.

2 Which smaller items appear alongside the ark and altars?

AnswerThe list includes utensils, tent pegs, ropes, oil, and incense. These less prominent items also have a necessary place in the sanctuary's service.

3 What gives all these different jobs a common purpose?

AnswerThey serve the dwelling and worship God has commanded for His people. Their importance comes from that purpose, not from how much attention an individual object attracts.

4 How could we help someone turn a useful ability into actual service?

AnswerAsk what help is needed and match a task to the person's skill. Someone may also need materials, time, or instruction before they can do the work well.

What This Means for Us

Moses names the work that needs doing. People are being invited into a responsibility they can understand, with different tasks requiring different skills.

When asking someone to help, explain the task clearly rather than leaving them to guess. A child can take a manageable part; a more experienced person can handle something difficult. Clear expectations make it easier to offer help and receive it gratefully.

Prayer

We pray: Giver of skill, make us grateful for the abilities and materials you place in our hands. Help us offer them freely, honor the work of others, and use excellence for the good of your people rather than for applause. Amen.

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