TALENTED AND SKILLED HANDS (5)

“And I have FILLED him with the SPRIT of GOD, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in ALL MANNER of WORKMANSHIP” – Exodus 31:3

GOD is the Source of Creative, TALENTED and SKILLED HANDS: “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have FILLED him with the SPIRIT of GOD, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in ALL MANNER of WORKMANSHIP, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship” (Exo.31: 1-5). This was a ‘Spirit-filled Construction Work’!

God filled Bezalel and Oholiab with His Spirit to become highly talented and skills hands in constructing the tabernacle and its various components. Although not everyone could be Bezalel or Oholiab, there were openings for everyone whose hearts were willing and stirred to participate in doing the work. This remains God’s principle: There is an opening for whoever has a genuine heart-desire to serve. God’s Word highlighted qualities about Bezalel, Oholiab and other craftsmen who willingly put their minds and abilities to work on the tabernacle.

First, these men were gifted for their tasks and they were models for whoever will engage in building with God. Bezalel was called by God to lead the project, Oholiab appointed by God to assist him, and several craftsmen worked under their teaching and direction. God gave to each one the gifts needed for their particular roles so that they could build Him a tabernacle. Bezalel was filled with the Spirit. Bezalel and Oholiab were both inspired to teach and gifted to do engraving, designing, embroidering and weaving, and the other craftsmen were given the skill and intelligence to know how to do their work. But as important as the intelligence and skill – know-how – were, the more important quality was that they were willing from the heart to do the work; their hearts were stirred up to do it (Exo.36:2).

Since Jesus is greater than Solomon, we might consider that Jesus is the new and greater Bezalel and His apostles are the new Oholiab. Jesus is the chief architect and overseer of God’s New Home and the apostles, His foremen. He will present us to Himself a Glorious Church (Eph.5:27)! That is, we can understand Bezalel as a type of Jesus and Oholiab as a type of Peter and Paul. No wonder Paul called himself a skilled master builder, a terminology only used in the Old Testament concerning Bezalel (1Cor.3:10). Like a skilled master builder Paul laid a foundation, which is Jesus Christ, and Apollos built upon it. Today, we can lay no other foundation than Jesus, and we need to build with the right materials lest what we build be consumed by fire on the day of the Lord (1Cor.3:11-15). Jesus, our Great Overseer continues to raise up skilled master builders, their assistants, and other craftsmen for the construction of His Eternal House – the Church!

Second, there was order to the workings of these talented and skilled hands. If we liken the church minister or pastor to Bazaleel, every Bezalel needs an Oholiab who, though also inspired by God to teach, is endowed with skill to do diverse sorts of work. Oholiab, like a general contractor for a big project, also requires subcontractors with their gangs of workers. What they will be able to accomplish depends on being surrounded by craftsmen that are willing and eager to do the work for which God had gifted them the skill.

As believers in Christ, we have the opportunity to participate in constructing the most magnificent, glorious, and eternal building. We must agree about what we are helping to build – a Glorious Home for God. Our construction efforts must follow all of God’s building codes. What we’re engaged on is not a physical building of brick and stone, but a living temple of people who trust in Jesus and will reflect the beauty and glory of our God. We must work in synergy to support the Architect and other workers, playing our part in this grand project.