Tishrei 11 – Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring an offering to the LORD…

Tishrei 11, 5785; from sunset October 12, 2024, to sunset October 13, 2024

(The eleventh day of the seventh month)

This is the name “Mosheh” (מֺשֶׁה – Moses) as seen in the Dead Sea Scrolls, written over two thousand years ago.

After Moses returned from Mount Sinai on the Day of Atonement, he reiterated the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy. He also made a checklist of items that were needed to build the tabernacle – and asked those with a willing heart chip in.

Then Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said to them, “These are the words which the LORD has commanded you to do:

Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day.

And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying: `Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.

All who are gifted artisans among you shall come and make all that the LORD has commanded: the tabernacle, its tent, its covering, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; the ark and its poles, with the mercy seat, and the veil of the covering; the table and its poles, all its utensils, and the showbread; also the lampstand for the light, its utensils, its lamps, and the oil for the light; the incense altar, its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, and the screen for the door at the entrance of the tabernacle; the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles, all its utensils, and the laver and its base; the hangings of the court, its pillars, their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court; the pegs of the tabernacle, the pegs of the court, and their cords; the garments of ministry, for ministering in the holy place– the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests.’”

And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. – Exodus 35:1-20

Earlier this spring, the children of Israel gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai and experienced God speaking the Ten Commandments. He then had Moses come up the mountain to show him everything needed in order for Him to dwell among them. Moses was up there for 40 days while God explained everything in fine detail. When Moses returned with the covenant, he discovered the sin of the golden calf and broke the tablets of the Covenant. He, then, returned up the mountain and successfully pleaded for atonement. Now God has once again agreed to dwell among them; but first He needs the people to build Him a Tabernacle.

Today we read that Moses has shared the LORD’s shopping list with the people. God has requested that all who have a willing heart bring their offerings so the work may begin. We’ll check in on the children of Israel as they gather the materials and fashion everything needed to construct a fit dwelling place for the King of the Universe. Alicia Jo Rabins wrote a beautiful song that revolves around God’s request; below are the lyrics.

Wise-hearted men, wise-hearted women

Bring what you can, silver and linen

Wool of crimson and of blue

And the bodies I gave you

Build Me a tent that I can dwell in

Incense and oil and precious stones

And when you walk, I’ll walk beside you

And where you live will be My home

Betzalel guide them well

Build Me a place to dwell

Make Me a lamp with seven branches

From a single piece of gold

Seven arms like almond blossoms

From their petals fire will glow

Make Me an altar of acacia

On the corners place four rings

Make Me a pair of golden angels

To guard My Words beneath their wings

Oholiav fill them with love

Make Me a place to live

Melt down, melt down your copper mirrors

To make a sacred bowl

And fill it up with holy water

To wash your bodies and your souls

Weave me a cloth with angel’s faces

Just as fine as thread can sew

And when I see how they surround Me

I will know that I am home

Wise-hearted men, wise-hearted women

Bring what you can, silver and linen

-Alicia Jo Rabins

Here’s a link to a YouTube video if you’d like to hear her sing it.

Just a reminder that it’s tradition to read Psalm 27 daily through the Feast of Tabernacles. You can find it by clicking on the link.

Did you know that you can view any of our posts whenever you’d like?

Visit our home page at https://todayinthebible.com

where you can find them organized by month

in the “Archives” section on the right side of the page.