When we think of the leading figures of the Old Testament, we usually think of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Isaiah and the other prophets. And, without a doubt, the most important characters in the Old Testament are Abraham, Moses, and David. Last night, in my reading of Exodus, I came across a man who had a very important role and one we should not overlook: Bezaleel.
Exodus 31:1-11
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: 3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship…6 And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee
Bezaleel. Probably pronounced something like Betsal'el in Hebrew. His name means, “in the shadow of God.” He was filled with the Spirit. We usually think of that in terms of becoming a prophet or a king; and in the New Testament, tongues, prophecy, teaching, preaching. But, as far as we know, Bezaleel never uttered a word of prophecy, yet he was filled with the Spirit. How was this manifested in his life? I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.
God wanted Israel to have a tabernacle. He showed Moses exactly what He wanted. Moses saw it, wrote it down, but he couldn’t build it. So God gave him Bezaleel, a talented craftsman. And He filled Bezaleel with the Spirit for this work. And with this filling Bezaleel was equipped in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.
Exodus 35:30-39:43 is devoted to metallurgy, sewing, engraving, carpentry. Four and a half chapters devoted to Bezaleel’s building the tabernacle! And this is all neatly summed up in 38:22-23
22 And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded Moses.
23 And with him was Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a cunning workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and fine linen.
This is really neat - Bezaleel was every bit as important as Moses. Moses saw it, but Bezaleel built it. He was a craftsman, an artisan, a worker with his hands. He was filled with the Spirit and he built the tabernacle.
Exodus 39:33-43 gives us another neat picture:
33 And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses…
42 According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work.
43 And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.
Moses didn’t see it or inspect it until it was all finished. The work of building the tabernacle was totally in Bezaleel’s hands.
Bezaleel didn’t prophecy, preach, teach, heal the sick or manifest any of the other gifts of the Spirit. But when he was filled with the Spirit, his talents and skills were used in a mighty way for the glory of God. A lot of craftsmen are men of few words, they can’t preach or teach, but their sanctified skill can be used in the kingdom!
Father Damien, missionary to Hawai’i, was a craftsman, a wood-worker. When he started his ministry among the outcast lepers on Moloka’i, with his own hands he built a church building, houses and other buildings. He preached and taught, but he was a Bezaleel at heart, and God used him in a wonderful way. Amen.
As I thought about this, I sort of stretched it out. Wherever we are, whatever work we do, if we are filled with the Spirit, we can glorify God in it. We all have talents and skills and a life calling, “whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” And the amazing thing is, if we let Him, God will fill us with His Spirit and make this possible.
I think this is pretty neat.
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