What role does divine inspiration play in teaching skills, according to Exodus 35:34? The Verse in Focus “And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.” (Exodus 35:34) The Setting: Building the Tabernacle • Israel has just received God’s precise blueprints for the Tabernacle. • Bezalel and Oholiab are appointed as chief artisans. • God not only fills them with craftsmanship (vv. 31–33, 35) but also with a unique, God-breathed capacity to pass that craftsmanship on. Divine Inspiration Defined • Verse 31 says Bezalel is “filled…with the Spirit of God.” • That same Spirit imparts “skill, ability, and knowledge” (v. 31) and, in v. 34, an “ability to teach others.” • Teaching skill is therefore viewed as a direct work of the Spirit, not merely a natural aptitude. The God-Given Ability to Teach • God’s inspiration equips Bezalel and Oholiab to translate technical know-how into clear instruction. • Their teaching ensures the larger community can participate in God’s work, multiplying skilled labor for the Tabernacle. • The verse implies that effective teaching is itself a sacred stewardship, essential to fulfilling God’s commands. Other Scriptural Witnesses • Deuteronomy 6:7 — Parents are commanded to “teach them diligently,” yet the ability originates with God’s earlier revelation. • 1 Chronicles 28:12, 19 — David receives temple plans “in writing from the hand of the LORD,” then instructs Solomon. • 1 Corinthians 12:28 — “Teachers” are listed among Spirit-given gifts to the church. • 2 Timothy 2:2 — “Entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also,” echoing the Exodus pattern of Spirit-empowered multiplication. Practical Implications for Today • Recognize teaching skill—whether in pulpit, classroom, or workshop—as Spirit-granted, not self-generated. • Pray for and cultivate that gift, trusting God to make instruction clear, accurate, and fruitful. • Pass on whatever skill God has given; hoarded ability hinders the community’s obedience. • Expect the Spirit to guide both the content and the pedagogy, just as surely as He guided Bezalel’s artisanship. Key Takeaways • Divine inspiration includes the power to teach. • God equips instructors so His people can work together in obedience. • Valuing, seeking, and exercising Spirit-given teaching multiplies ministry, skill, and worship in the body of Christ. |
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