Devotion: Use this resource at home to guide your household’s daily devotions. You can do this alone, as a couple, as a family; in the morning, during the day, or at night. Find a routine that works best for you.

Pray: Light a candle and open your devotion time with a prayer.

Generous God, your freed your people from slavery in Egypt, and provided for them in their journey. Help us to trust that you will provide for us today and each day, and give us generous hearts, so that we may willingly give back to you. Amen.

Reflect: Reflect on the key verse from Sunday’s reading.

All the Israelite men and women whose hearts made them willing 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 35:29 NRSV)

Study: Study the reading and consider the background.

While Joseph brought his brothers and his family to Egypt to care for them, over time the Hebrews became slaves to the Egyptians. God heard their cries, and appointed Moses to lead God’s people to freedom. Now they are living in the wilderness, dependent on God for direction, food, and water. God has made a covenant with them, and given them the 10 commandments and other instructions. Part of those instructions involve building a tabernacle, a special tent that would be used for worship. The people are invited to give from their own resources so that the tabernacle can be created.

Read: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding of Sunday’s text. After the reading, ask the follow-up questions.

Follow the story of the Israelites in the Wilderness, and how God provided for them. (This week, you will be looking back on the events leading up to Sunday’s reading)

Sunday, Exodus 25:1–9; 35:21–24, 29 Offering for the Tabernacle

Monday, Exodus 14:10-14, 21-29, Rescue at Sea
Tuesday, Exodus 15:22-27, Bitter Water Made Sweet
Wednesday, Exodus 16:1-21, Bread from Heaven
Thursday, Exodus 17:1-7, Water from the Rock
Friday, Exodus 17:8-16, Amalek Attacks Israel and Is Defeated
Saturday, Exodus 18:13-27, Jethro’s Advice

Where did God show up in these stories? How did God show up? What do these stories tell us about who God is?

Connect: Connect in conversation with others in your household. Discuss the following questions, or simply check in with “Highs” and “Lows.”

• What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?
• How has God provided for you?
• How does our congregation provide for others in our community?

Do: By acting on what we learn, we make God’s word come alive. Do the following activity this week.

Prayerfully consider what God is calling you to give. Are you being called to increase your commitment to God’s work through the church? Pray about what you are being called to commit to giving on Consecration Sunday next week.

Consider your possessions and your skills. Find one item you can give or skill you can share with someone else as a gift.

Bless: Close your devotion with a blessing.

God who always works for good, teach us by your word to trust you above circumstance, to follow you when temptation beckons. Amen

Copyright © 2014 Clergy Stuff. Adapted by Lorinda Hoover. Adapted and used with Permission. Find more at www.ClergyStuff.com. Blessing written by Pr. Chip Borgstadt.  Scripture quotations from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used with permission. All rights reserved.