22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the Lord.

23 And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers’ skins, brought them.

24 Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the Lord’s offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it.

I mentioned yesterday how God trusted that there would be enough Israelites who joined this project that the tabernacle could be built. Part of us trusting the Lord is trusting His plan, and that even the parts which are dependent upon mortals will work out. We have to trust that enough of our brothers and sisters will come forward to make the vision a reality, and that God knew that they would do so because of His omniscience.

Over the next few days, we will read how emphatically positive of a response God’s invitation found among the Israelites. His plan was not in vain, and more than enough Israelites did, indeed, make a willful offering.

The record divides the contributions of the Israelites according to their various stations. First, we hear the contribution of the common men (verses 22-24), then of the common women (verses 25-26), and then of the rulers (verses 27-28). All brought forward according to their unique status and capability, each having their own part to play.

In today’s verses we cover the contributions of the men. They provided all of the raw materials. The wood, the precious metals, the skins, and the linen. These were things that men would chop, dig, and hunt for, the fruits of sheer brute labor. The contributions of the common man came “by the sweat of their brow.”