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Exodus 31:1–11
“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’ ” (Ex. 31:1–3).
Today we return to our study of the book of Exodus. We have come to chapter 31, which is the final chapter in the lengthy section on the directions for the tabernacle that began in chapter 25. The Lord provided instructions for the tabernacle, its furnishings, the priestly garments, and several other rituals and products associated with ancient Israel’s corporate worship. In today’s passage, we learn that He also provided the artisans who crafted these items.
Exodus 31:1–6 identifies two men who had leading roles in the construction of the tabernacle, Bezalel and Oholiab. Bezalel, because he is named first, may have overseen the entire project, with Oholiab serving as his right-hand man. Or they were co-leaders in the endeavor. Significantly, we read in verse 1 that God filled Bezalel with His Spirit in order for him to do the work. Dr. R.C. Sproul frequently reminded us that this is the first time in Scripture that a person is described as being filled with the Holy Spirit. Clearly, the Lord had a special concern to make sure that everything for the tabernacle was built correctly, since to be filled with the Spirit here means to be endowed with special skill for the work. In addition to Bezalel and Oholiab, several other men assisted in building the tabernacle and its associated items (Ex. 31:6). Although the text does not explicitly say that Oholiab and these assistants were filled with the Spirit as Bezalel was, we may rightly infer that they shared in the Spirit’s empowerment and gifting, for verse 6 indicates that the Lord gave all the builders special ability to finish the task. That God enabled these men is instructive for how He provides for His people today. John Calvin comments, “Although the call of Bezalel was special, because . . . God entrusted to him an unusual and by no means ordinary work, we gather that no one excels even in the most despised and humble handicraft, except in so far as God’s Spirit works in him.”
We know very little about Oholiab, only that he was “the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan” (Ex. 31:6). Verse 2, on the other hand, tells us that Bezalel was the grandson of “Hur, of the tribe of Judah.” It is reasonable to assume that this Hur was the same Hur who assisted Aaron in holding up Moses’ hands so that the Israelites would defeat the Amalekites when they fought them before arriving at Mount Sinai (Ex. 17:8–16). Centuries later, a greater descendant of Judah, Jesus our Lord, came to build the true, everlasting temple of God (1 Peter 2:4–8; see Matt. 1:1–18).
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
We cannot fulfill the mission that the Lord has given us apart from His Holy Spirit. Each of us has a distinct vocation and a special calling for service in the church, and God gives what we need to accomplish the tasks related to each. He equips us to serve other people in our vocations and to serve others in the church, so let us seek to faithfully perform the service He has given to us.
For Further Study
- Exodus 35:30–35
- Micah 3:8
- 1 Corinthians 12
- Ephesians 5:18