Oholiab & Bezalel
January 10, 2020
Commentary
God values all the skills of His people, not only those with theological or leadership abilities. We often admire those who teach, preach, or lead, but God also honors those who serve quietly with their hands. In this passage, He chose Bezalel and Oholiab and filled them with His Spirit, giving them wisdom, understanding, and artistic skill to create what He had shown Moses (vv. 1–5). These two men were not prophets or priests but craftsmen who used their talents for God’s glory. Their natural abilities were shaped and empowered by the Spirit to accomplish God’s purpose. They were called “gifted artisans,” which means they had developed their abilities through practice and were now spiritually equipped for sacred work. God wanted everything in the tabernacle to reflect His beauty and holiness, so these men were chosen to make all that had been prescribed (Ex. 25–30).
By His Spirit, God also enabled others to help complete the work (vv. 6–11). Every person had a role to play—some in building, some in sewing, some in crafting, and others in teaching these skills to others (Ex. 35:34). God delights to use both our talents and our teachable hearts. He still gives special abilities today to accomplish His purposes, empowering His people to serve with excellence, humility, and joy. Whether I work with my hands, my mind, or my voice, God provides both the desire and the strength to do His will (Phil. 2:13).
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work” (I Cor. 12:4–6).
Application
I know that God has given me special gifts and abilities to do certain things in this life, and I need to be committed to doing them, as long as He makes it possible for my mind and body to function. This may change as we go different seasons of life.
Exodus 31:1–11 (NET)
1 The Lord spoke to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God in skill, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, 4 to make artistic designs for work with gold, with silver, and with bronze, 5 and with cutting and setting stone, and with cutting wood, to work in all kinds of craftsmanship. 6 Moreover, I have also given him Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, and I have given ability to all the specially skilled, that they may make everything I have commanded you: 7 the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony, the atonement lid that is on it, all the furnishings of the tent, 8 the table with its utensils, the pure lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense, 9 the altar for the burnt offering with all its utensils, the large basin with its base, 10 the woven garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons, to minister as priests, 11 the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the Holy Place. They will make all these things just as I have commanded you.”
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