What is the meaning of Exodus 36:1? So Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person – God handpicked two men by name, “Bezalel…and Oholiab,” and set them in front of “every skilled person” (Exodus 31:2-6). – Their names stand out to remind us that the Lord knows exactly whom He is calling; no one chosen for His work is anonymous to Him (cf. Isaiah 43:1). – The phrase “every skilled person” shows that Bezalel and Oholiab were not celebrity craftsmen but part of a Spirit-formed team (Exodus 35:10-19). – Like the singers and gatekeepers who assisted David (1 Chronicles 15:16; 28:21), each member brought a unique contribution. Together they picture the New-Covenant body where “God has arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He desired” (1 Corinthians 12:18). are to carry out everything commanded by the LORD – The craftsmen did not design their own blueprints; they were to fulfill “everything commanded.” Obedience—not innovation—was the key. • Exodus 25:9: “You must make the tabernacle … exactly according to the pattern I show you.” • Hebrews 8:5 recalls this same pattern and underlines that precise obedience matters just as much in New-Testament worship. – Jesus framed obedience in relational terms: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). The builders loved Yahweh by following every detail He gave Moses. who has given them skill and ability – The ability to carve, weave, overlay, and set stones was not self-generated; it was a gift. “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). – Exodus 31:3-5 says God “filled [Bezalel] with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship.” Spiritual empowerment and practical know-how are not opposites—they unite in God’s workers (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6). – This keeps pride at bay. Deuteronomy 8:18 warns, “Remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the power to gain wealth.” The same principle applies to artistic gifts. to know how to perform all the work of constructing the sanctuary – The talent was aimed at a holy purpose: raising the sanctuary where God would dwell among His people (Exodus 25:8). – Skill without purpose drifts; purpose without skill stalls. The Lord provided both so the tabernacle would rise on schedule and to specification. – Paul uses construction imagery for the church: “You are God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9-11). Each believer is fitted together, “growing into a holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:21-22). – Gifts are meant “for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7) and must be stewarded “as faithful managers of God’s grace” (1 Peter 4:10). summary Exodus 36:1 highlights a God who calls people by name, surrounds them with a gifted community, commands precise obedience, and supplies every ounce of ability needed to finish His house. The verse invites each believer to recognize personal gifting as a direct endowment from the Lord, to submit that gifting to His instructions, and to pour it into building a dwelling place for His glory among His people today. |
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