Take a moment to read the entire chapter of Exodus 38 before reading the devotional below.
With the Ark of the Covenant, table, lampstand, and incense altar complete, the interior of the Tabernacle is decorated. Recall that all of these items were either crafted of gold or were gold-plated. Today we focus on the altar of burnt offering, the washbasin, and the Tabernacle courtyard. These elements are crafted from bronze.
Note the contrast between the gold elements inside the Tabernacle and the bronze elements. One interesting perspective is that bronze represented sin and judgment, whereas gold represents God’s glory and brilliance. The items placed inside the Tabernacle were symbolic of God’s holiness, and the items outside the Tabernacle showed the sin of the people that kept them from entering into God’s holy place.
Here’s your freedom for today: God has a purpose for your offering. Some of the Israelites contributed gold, some bronze, some wood, some fabric. No offering was better than another — all the materials were needed and useful. Some materials represented God’s holiness, others represented sin and the need for a sacrifice. God had a purpose and a plan for every material, and he crafted his dwelling place from the materials they had. No matter what you have to give to God, he can use it for a purpose. Whether it is a small or big amount of money, skill, or talent, give it to God willingly and watch what he can make from it.