Leadership must stay in control until they enter the domain of the divine. Moses was fully in control of the entire process of constructing and setting up the tabernacle for the presence of God to dwell. But once God came down with his glory, Moses had to back off (Exodus 40:34-38).
It’s important for us to sense or “see” the move of God’s Spirit in a particular situation. At that moment we allow God to do his work. If we continue pushing our agenda, we risk forfeiting or stalling the work that God intends to do.
As we learn to recognize the move of God, we can allow for more of God’s work in people. The divine presence brings his divine initiative and his divine power. At that point, step back and watch him work.
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It’s amazing to see those who consistently pay the price to be in God’s presence. Some suffer ridicule and others suffer physical abuse, but those things don’t deter them.
Some borrow money for the bus ride. Others take the bus to the location they can afford and walk the rest of the way. Others clearly told their bosses that they will come to work only after church and work till evening. “You can keep me or let me go – it’s up to you.”
But others will come if it’s convenient. If all factors are favorable, then they’ll be in church. I don’t put down such people. Because I know that people will pay a premium price only for those things they value.
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It’s interesting to notice the throw away culture that has developed in the western countries and now is spreading to other nations as well. Most items are used and thrown away without being re-used or re-filled. Some items could be used longer. But we discard them with some product left in them.
The opposite can also be a problem. Holding on and holding things longer can be the sign of a hoarding problem. Keeping items for another few uses or some day when you need it can be a problem. After some time, every room will be full of items you don’t use, but someday “it might come in handy.”
There is a deeper issue here.
Remember.

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matt 6:26)

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For a group of former slaves, gold is quite an expense! Even though they looted the Egyptians before they left, the cost would be much. Actually, when this group “plundered the Egyptians” and got the gold into their hands, it would be quite difficult to let go.
So I go back to the question in the beginning: Why gold? Why was so much gold used in furnishing the Tabernacle where God dwelt? I understand two factors here.
First, they wanted to express the value they placed on God’s presence. They understood the Tabernacle as the place where the actual presence of God dwelt. Thus they placed so much value on his presence that they were willing to spend their most valuable possessions. I’m sure everyone did not give. Only those who valued God’s presence so much.
Second, God wanted them to part with material things that gave them a false sense of security. God is their only security.
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Irritation stemming from unmet expectations are a sure recipe for anger. But why should your expectations be met according to your desires? Unfortunately, expectations become the primary measure in our relationships.
But what if our relationships were not based on our expectations? What if the basis or focus of our relationship shifted from our expectations to something else? What would that something else be?
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I’ve heard it said from some highly skilled musicians and athletes that the cause of their success should be attributed to 10% talent and 90% hard work. You might have heard a different numbering pattern, but the same idea is prevalent. Talent is within the person, and that is God-given. But it is up to the individual to work that out through practice and persistence.
In the book of Exodus while the tabernacle was being constructed, craftsmen with various skills stepped up to do the work. This is what the text says: “…every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill.” Although the text may not have intended to say this, I want to bring out the truth that the skill is in the mind. It is our job to work it out with our hands through contstant practice, learning, and persistence.
Work it out.
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I don’t like to beg. Asking people to give is sometimes like drawing blood. It’s hard to convince people to part with their possessions.
When the tabernacle was being built, Moses asked the people to bring contributions. But we have to remember that these people only had a limited supply of possessions and no opportunity to earn more. But those who gave were moved from within.

“And they came, everyone whose hearts stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for its service, and for the holy garments.” (Exo 35:21)

So the better option is to allow their hearts to be stirred and their spirits to be moved.
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The need to be accepted and to be part of the group cannot be ignored. In fact, we’ll do anything to be accepted. We’ll even become (or try to be) something that we are not, just to be accepted.
This internal need for acceptance fits well with the demand for conformity in all groups. For many groups, community is defined by conformity. Exceptions are rare and come with an expectation to conform as quickly as possible.
Now, God also has a standard. His is a standard of holiness that we may never be able to attain on our own. But God wants us anyway. Just because we are his creation – his inheritance. This was Moses’ response to the merciful God:

“…If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord to in the midst of us for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.” (Exo 34:9)

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No external response, but you’re displeased. No verbal objections, but you object with every cell in your body. No anger displayed, but your blood boils. You don’t really want to harm anyone, but you are consistently harming yourself.
You are harmed with an ongoing internal cyclone with a spiraling effect deep within. That “cyclone” ultimately translates into physical ailments that are explainable, or gets categorized as genetic or hereditary.
People with such an internalizing nature need to find a suitable solution to the problems they face. A peaceful solution – especially for you.
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How would you calculate that? What’s your worth? I suppose the kidnappers may consider how much your family can afford or how much they can borrow. They’d want to get the maximum but they also want to get rid of you and get the money. How much?
The Israelites were to pay a ransom for their lives to the Lord when the census was taken (Exodus 30:11-16). Sin has made them guilty and the wages of sin is death. So, instead of getting the due penalty of death, they could ransom their lives by payment. Everyone twenty years of age and above were to pay a ransom. It was a set amount for everyone. No one was allowed to pay more or less.
So, let’s come back to the original question. How much are you worth? The ransom paid by the people was never enough. That’s why it was repeated every year. But the full payment was made by Jesus on the cross at Calvary. That’s expensive. And that’s how much you are worth!
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