Exodus Chapter 35

Exodus 35 — “A Willing People After Forgiveness”

Exodus 32 showed Israel’s fall.
Exodus 33 showed God’s mercy.
Exodus 34 revealed His Name.

Now Exodus 35 shows the fruit of forgiveness.

This chapter answers a vital question:

What does a forgiven people do?

They do not fear.
They do not flee.
They do not hide.

They give.

1. The Sabbath Is Restored First

“Moses assembled all the congregation of the people of Israel and said to them…” (Ex 35:1)

The first command Moses repeats after the covenant is renewed is not about gold, fabric, or wood.

It is the Sabbath.

Before Israel builds for God,
they must rest in God.

St Augustine writes:

“God commands rest before labour, lest men believe their work earns what only grace bestows.”
(Sermons)

Sin had made Israel restless and afraid.
Grace restores peace.

2. Holy Work Must Not Replace Holy Rest

“You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.” (v. 3)

Even the building of God’s dwelling must pause.

God is teaching something radical:

Worship is not proved by activity,
but by trust.

The forgiven soul no longer strives to earn God —
it rests in Him.

3. God Invites, He Does Not Coerce

“Take from among you a contribution to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart…” (v. 5)

God does not command how much to give.

He commands how to give — freely.

This is the mark of redemption.

Slaves are forced.
The forgiven are free.

St John Chrysostom says:

“Nothing so pleases God as the free will of the giver.”
(Homilies on 2 Corinthians)

4. The Same Gold, Now Redeemed

The gold that once made a calf now builds a sanctuary.

Grace does not erase the past —
it reclaims it.

St Augustine observes:

“What was once the instrument of sin becomes the material of holiness.”
(Sermons)

This is how God redeems history.

5. The Heart Is the True Offering

“Everyone whose heart stirred him…” (v. 21)

God measures not the gift, but the desire.

A willing heart is the true sacrifice.

The tabernacle is built not on wood and gold,
but on repentance.

6. Women Restored to Sacred Work

“All the women whose hearts stirred with wisdom…” (v. 26)

The same women who once surrendered jewelry to idolatry
now give skill to holiness.

Grace restores dignity.

Their hands, once misused, now become instruments of God’s dwelling.

7. Bezalel and the Spirit of God

“The LORD has called by name Bezalel…” (v. 30)

The Spirit who creates the world
now creates a sanctuary.

The Fathers saw this as a revelation:

God fills artists, builders, and workers with His Spirit.

St Gregory of Nyssa writes:

“The Spirit who orders the cosmos also orders the hands that build the house of God.”
(Life of Moses)

Beauty is holy.

8. A New Israel Is Born

Exodus 35 is the opposite of Exodus 32.

There:

gold was demanded.
fear ruled.
idolatry grew.

Here:

gold is offered.
love rules.
holiness grows.

This is what grace does.

Theological Summary

ThemeRevelation
SabbathRestored communion
Willing giftsFreedom
Redeemed goldGrace transforms sin
Women’s workDignity restored
Spirit-filled artBeauty belongs to God
ObedienceFruit of mercy

Christological Fulfilment

What Moses does here, Christ will do perfectly:

He forgives.
He restores.
He creates a willing people.

The Church is built not by force —
but by grace.

Spiritual Application

  • Let God reclaim what you once misused.
  • Give freely.
  • Work joyfully.
  • Rest faithfully.
  • Build what glorifies God.

Closing Prayer

Lord God,
You turned a stiff-necked people into a willing one.
Take what was once broken in us
and make it holy.
Teach us to rest in Your mercy,
to give from grateful hearts,
and to build Your dwelling in our lives.
Through Jesus Christ,
who makes all things new.
Amen.