The Potential of a United People

The Potential of a United People

Exodus 36:1-7

“And they spoke unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make… For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.”

Exodus 36 is the incredible account of people believing, responding, and participating in God’s plan.

God invited Israel to an opportunity where they could witness what God could do through them.

It was what we might call a project – Moses could not do it by himself, No single group could do it.

It would take all of the people of Israel working together to accomplish this opportunity.

But working with God would guarantee the accomplishing of His plan.

I. God invites His people to remember what He has done – Exodus 14:30-31

“…the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians… When Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people revered the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses.”

The People of Israel had Witnessed God at Work Before

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They had Experienced God’s Supernatural Protection Before

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They had Enjoyed God’s Abundant Provision Before

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II. God Invites His People to Join Him in what He wants to do – Exodus 35:4-5a

“And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord has appointed you, saying, Take of yourselves an offering for the Lord: every one that engages in his heart” (LXX-BES)

God had already Expressed What He Wanted To Do.

Exodus 25:8 “And let them make a place for Me, that I may dwell among them.”

Exodus 29:45-46 “I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them…”

The People Responded to What God Wanted To Do

Exodus 35:20-21 “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…

The People Participated in What God Wanted to Do

Exodus 35:29a “The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the LORD, all the men and women whose hearts were willing…” (NKJV)

III. God Invites His People to Experience His Incredible Power in what He does

Exo 36:3-7 [The workers] “received from Moses all the contributions which the sons of Israel had brought to perform the work in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. And all the skillful men who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which he was performing, and they said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the LORD commanded us to perform.” So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, “Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary.” Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more. For the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it” (NASB)

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What is the Potential?

Ex 40:33-35 Moses ‘erected the… tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the veil… [And] finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter… because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled it’