Scripture: The LORD said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.”
Exodus 31:1-11 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, the Lord outlines the preparation and administration of the holy anointing oil and incense to Moses (to be blended by a perfumer). They will comprise the most excellent of oils and spices. Once prepared, Moses will anoint Aaron and his sons to consecrate them for priestly service to the Lord. Moses must also announce to the people that they will continue this consecration service with Aaron’s successors, but no one else may receive the anointing oil. Furthermore, if anyone replicates or uses these recipes for unauthorized purposes, they will be excommunicated.
Regarding today’s reading, as we work through the book of Exodus, Moses records details about Sabbath and festival observances and the conquest of Canann in chapter 23. Then, chapter 24 presents the confirmation of the covenant, while chapters 25-30 outline all the elements of divine worship from priestly to temple matters. Here, in chapter 31, Yahweh instructs Moses to appoint Bezalel (from the tribe of Judah) to oversee the artisan work of the temple with the understanding that he:
- is filled with the Spirit of God,
- has the ability and intelligence, and
- has the required knowledge.
To assist Bezalel, Yahweh appoints Oholiab (from the tribe of Dan) and other able men to aid in the construction of the tabernacle’s infrastructure, furniture, and accourtrements.
Takeaway: Interestingly, Bezalel’s name in Hebrew means “in the shadow of God,” implying that he is under Yahweh’s wing of protection. Indeed, to be filled with the Holy Spirit (before Pentecost) indicated God’s anointing for a particular task and duration. Thus, the Lord has fully equipped Bezalel to perform his duties under Yahweh’s provision (skill, intellect, and knowledge base), care (protection), and guidance (Holy Spirit).
Our takeaway? Like Bezalel, the Lord has equipped us with all we need to live and proclaim his Covenant of Grace. We have the Holy Spirit, the ability and intelligence, and the required knowledge to let the light and love of Christ flow through us and transform hearts of stone into flesh. But it’s not about IQ, bronze, resume, education level, or charisma; it’s about Christ, the “final temple” in us.
Our part? It’s about responding to the call by simply being ourselves, nothing more or less than what our gracious Lord created us to be: the redeemed—saved by grace through our faith in the Master Artisan and his Son, who together have crafted and equipped us to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). And when we respond, we will marvel at the beauty and majesty of our good works that emanate from their divine Source through us.
Prayer: Father God, thank you for calling and equipping us to be ourselves as ambassadors for our Master Craftsman, Christ. Would you please deepen our understanding of your grace so we might rest in the shalom of life in Christ as you intended, resisting worldly expectations and embracing the beauty of the Artisan who indwells us? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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