Our Torah portion this week is a description of the “contributions” for the Tabernacle. At the beginning of chapter 25, we read that Adonai tells Moses to take an offering for Him to be used in the building of the Tabernacle. The Hebrew text says, “take for me an offering.” The word for “offering” is “terumah.” This word is often used in the Bible to define a gift given to the priests and a gift given to God as a voluntary offering. Sometimes it was part of the peace offering and sometimes it is referred to as a tithe. A terumah was something that belonged to an individual but was separate and made holy by its use for spiritual purposes. In Exodus 25, it is a gift given to Adonai for the purpose of building the dwelling place of God in the wilderness. We read that the gift was not a command but rather a voluntary offering to be given by those who are motivated by an inner attitude to give. This kind of giving was an act of worship and a joyful expression of participation in the work of God. This was an invitation of participation.
This kind of giving is like what we read in the New Covenant Scriptures: Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver, (2 Cor. 9:7). We also read of this kind of giving in Phil. 4:18 where Paul refers to the gift as a fragrant aroma. When we give from our resources in our offerings and gifts, we are joyfully participating in the work of God.
Another layer of meaning and application for us is to realize that when we embrace Yeshua and live for him, we become a “terumah.” We read in the Scriptures that we should be a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1). We should be dedicated and devoted to the work of God and give our lives for his purposes. In loving God and loving people, we should live as a terumah: a joyful gift to God in serving his purposes. In Hebrews 13:15-16 we read, Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Finally remember that the invitation to participate in building the Tabernacle by providing a terumah comes after they had provided a “gift” to Aaron for the building of the Golden Calf (even though we read about it in chapter 25). After the forgiveness of God and the judgement related to the sin of the Golden Calf, God invites them to give their precious goods for a godly purpose. He does not give up on them! This is an encouragement to us. We may have used our lives, our time, and our bodies for ungodly purposes, but when Yeshua redeems us, we are new people. We become a terumah! God invites us to be used for his eternal purposes. The words of Shema ring true for us in Messiah Yeshua. Let us love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul and with all our resources! Let us be a terumah!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Howard Silverman
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