And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the LORD. And every one who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats' hair or tanned rams' skins or goatskins brought them. Everyone who could make a contribution of silver or bronze brought it as the LORD's contribution. And every one who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work brought it. And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats' hair. And the leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set, for the ephod and for the breastpiece, and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense. All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD.
Exodus 35:21-29
A comparison of the givings of the people with the instructions given to Moses in the mount will show how closely those instructions were followed in the response the people made. It was all in accordance with what the Lord had commanded. This raises an issue of great interest. The work of the tabernacle's construction was hemmed in by firm divine restrictions, and the question that arises is whether these in fact serve to cramp and stifle human initiative and creativity. From the merely human standpoint this might seem to be so, and indeed many artists and aesthetes would insist that such limitations would be disastrous. But it is part of the paradox of spiritual life that it is precisely in being captive to the word and will of God that men find truest freedom, both in personal life and in service. If man is made in the image of God, and for God, how could the divine will be in any way restrictive for him? Must it not rather be in the deepest sense perfect freedom? On the contrary, trouble always starts, and restriction in his work ensues, when men's own ideas are intruded into the service of God, things which He has not commanded, and which He will not own. Why are we so unwilling to model the life of the Church on the 'pattern shown us in the mount'? This is so often the simple explanation of our barrenness. The moment we take God at His word, and take His word seriously, fruitfulness will begin to be seen, and creative originality and versatility too. After all, He is the Creator God.