The Freewill Offering

Yesterday we began studying chapter 25 with verses 1-9.

The very first topic God addressed with Moses on this trip up the mountain was giving back to Him. In class we took a look back at all the occasions when God had given to the Israelites since their release from captivity.

Ex. 12:12-13 and 21-23 - God gave Life
Ex. 12:29-33 - God gave Freedom
Ex. 12:35-36 - God gave Wealth
Ex. 14:21 - God gave Deliverance
Ex. 15:22-25 and 27 - God gave Water
Ex. 16:11-15 and 31 - God gave Quail and Manna (food)
Ex. 17:1-2 and 5-6 - God gave Water
Ex. 17:8-9 and 13 - God gave Victory Over an Enemy
Ex. 20:1-17 - God gave a Government (legal constitution)
Ex. 21:8 and 30 - God gave Redemption
Ex. 24:8 - God gave a Blood Covenant (a Promise because even then He was planning to give His Son)

We then recalled that the Israelites got all the things they brought from the Egyptians when they left. It never had belonged to the Israelites.

In the same way, all we have today doesn't belong to us. God gave it to us. 1 Chronicles 29:12-13 told us this.

We began making lists of all the things God has given us since our salvation.

In light of our lists, it seems such a small thing to give above our tithe back to God.

Specifically, God asked the people to give in order to make a place of worship. We at FBC have built an addition which we are still paying for. So, our freewill offering would logically be used for the church facility.

We closed by writing a prayer of response to God based on Exodus 25:1-9.