Exodus 31:1-18 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Exodus 31:1-18. Let’s go!
Exodus 31:1-11 (NIV)
1 Then the LORD said to Moses,
2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,
3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts–
4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze,
5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.
6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you:
7 the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent–
8 the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense,
9 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand–
10 and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests,
11 and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.”
On verses 1-11: Could God have created the artistic designs and done all the work himself for the tabernacle? Of course He could have. God could have spoken these things into existence in an instant. Yet He chose to involve Moses, Bezalel, Oholiab and a bunch of unnamed craftsmen in the designing and making of the items that would form the tabernacle. Why? It’s because God delights in involving His children in His work in the world. God didn’t make us only to be spectators to God’s work but participants too.
If you are artistic like Bezalel, God put that in you for a reason. I encourage you to use your art as a bridge between God and people, that somehow through the art you create people will get to know the God who made them and loves them. Relying on the Holy Spirit, may you create beautiful art that touches people’s hearts, opens people’s minds and brings glory to God and His house.
Also, notice that God didn’t just appoint Bezalel, but God surrounded Bezalel with a team, starting with Oholiab as Bezalel’s assistant as well as a number of unnamed craftsmen (v6). Once again we see the team theme coming up in Exodus: God didn’t make you to be a lone ranger in the work and mission He has for you. He made you to give your best in the context of a team.
Also, if you are in a helping role, notice what the LORD says in verse 6: “Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him.” Being a helper is an appointment from God. So don’t look down on your role as a helper. If your is that of a helper, know that you are doing something significant that God chose and appointed you for. By helping that person, team or organization, you are ultimately serving God who appointed you and the mission He appointed you for.
Exodus 31:12-17 (NIV)
12 Then the LORD said to Moses,
13 “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.
14 “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people.
15 For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death.
16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant.
17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.'”
On verses 12-17: In these verses we learn 5 reasons why God wanted the Israelites to observe the Sabbath and 5 reasons why it’s important for us too to get regular rest:
1. First, regular rest is vital to our spiritual health and relationship with God. Observing a Sabbath day encouraged the Israelites to grow spiritually and in their relationship with God (“so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy” – v13)
2. Second, regular rest allows us to cherish the gifts God gives to us. The Sabbath day was God’s gift to the Israelites. When the LORD tells the Israelites that the Sabbath is “holy to you” (v14), in part He means that the Sabbath day is something you want to treat as special, sacred and set apart. Could you imagine working every single day without ever taking a break? God knew that we need regular rest and thus implemented the Sabbath for the Israelites to get a needed break every week. Let’s not take our day of rest for granted.
3. Third, regular rest allows us to give God consistent worship. The Sabbath day was, in a way, the Israelites’ gift to God. As verse 15 says, the Sabbath is “holy to the LORD”. It was the Israelites’ way of trusting not in their own strength and wisdom but in God’s strength and wisdom.
4. Fourth, regular rest is a habit worth modeling for others. God wanted the Israelites to observe the Sabbath as a way of life worth to pass down to future generations. When the Israelites observed the Sabbath, they were teaching their children and grandchildren how to live healthy, godly lives. That is why God tells the Israelites to celebrate the Sabbath for generations to come (v16).
5. Fifth, when you rest regularly, you are following God’s example. Observing the Sabbath day was following God’s example. God doesn’t need to rest because God never gets tired or weary. But God chose to rest on the seventh day to set an example for you and me. As verse 17 says, “for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested”.
Exodus 31:18 (NIV)
18 When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.
On verse 18: After speaking to Moses in Exodus 25 through 31 on Mount Sinai, the LORD gives Moses two stone tablets on which He inscribed the 10 commandments, or the “Testimony”. God told Moses to put these stone tablets inside the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:16). Just as it was important to God that the Israelites had His words not just in oral but also in written form, so let’s be thankful that today we get to both hear and read His words in our Bibles.
Thank You Father for involving us in Your work and also encouraging us to rest. May we be great at both – for Your glory and for our joy. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
