The people brought special offerings of gold totaling 2,193 pounds, as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel. This gold was used throughout the Tabernacle. [Exodus 38.24]
I did some math today. I should say, "more math" as some time back I wrote about this same scripture and discussed the value of the gold at current market value.
However, today, I wish to consider something different about the precious metals donated for the Tabernacle.
First, there were 603,550 men 20+ years old in the group of Israelites that left Egypt. For the sake of making a point, I will assume this might be a fair numerical representation of the number of families that left Egypt.
Next, if 2,193 pounds of gold is divided among 603,550 families, that means each family contributed approximately 0.06 ounces of gold.
7,545 pounds of silver was the accumulation of approximately 0.20 ounces of sliver from each family.
And finally, the contribution from each family of bronze was around 0.14 ounces.
At today's current values (as of this writing), the financial burden upon each family for gold, silver, and bronze, would have been approximately $80.74 (gold accounting for about $77.37 of it).
What is the point of this? The point is, the financial burden for building the Tabernacle on each family was really quite small. There is power in numbers, and, even with only small individual contributions, the corporate sum is great.
If we take this thought a different direction and consider the value of our individual prayers, how great an accomplishment might a concert of prayer (people praying for the same thing) be responsible for?
Father, help us to realize that our contributions are significant to the whole (in whatever our contributions are - time, money, labor, prayer, etc.). Help us, as the Body of Christ to understand the necessity of our commitment regardless how minuscule it may seem!
I did some math today. I should say, "more math" as some time back I wrote about this same scripture and discussed the value of the gold at current market value.
However, today, I wish to consider something different about the precious metals donated for the Tabernacle.
First, there were 603,550 men 20+ years old in the group of Israelites that left Egypt. For the sake of making a point, I will assume this might be a fair numerical representation of the number of families that left Egypt.
Next, if 2,193 pounds of gold is divided among 603,550 families, that means each family contributed approximately 0.06 ounces of gold.
7,545 pounds of silver was the accumulation of approximately 0.20 ounces of sliver from each family.
And finally, the contribution from each family of bronze was around 0.14 ounces.
At today's current values (as of this writing), the financial burden upon each family for gold, silver, and bronze, would have been approximately $80.74 (gold accounting for about $77.37 of it).
What is the point of this? The point is, the financial burden for building the Tabernacle on each family was really quite small. There is power in numbers, and, even with only small individual contributions, the corporate sum is great.
If we take this thought a different direction and consider the value of our individual prayers, how great an accomplishment might a concert of prayer (people praying for the same thing) be responsible for?
Father, help us to realize that our contributions are significant to the whole (in whatever our contributions are - time, money, labor, prayer, etc.). Help us, as the Body of Christ to understand the necessity of our commitment regardless how minuscule it may seem!
1 comment:
I really liked this one Greg. I thought it was exactly what we need to remember and what some of us need to hear. So thx for your insight. God Bless you brother!
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