Verses 1-2 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:
Uri was a prince of the tribe of Judah. His father, Hur, was a chief assistant to Moses and Aaron. The name, Judah, means “praise”, and it is fitting that the main overseer of the building of the tabernacle was from the tribe of Judah which was also the tribe into which Jesus was born. The tabernacle was a place for the people of God to praise and worship Him, and Jesus being God, very God, deserves the praises of His people today.
The meaning of the name, Bezaleel, is “in the shadow of God”. This man was one of the original architects of the tabernacle and was an artisan in working with metal, wood and stone. He was chosen specifically for such a task, at such a time by the Creator of all things. What an honor to fashion artistic works for the greatest Artist of all, the LORD God Almighty.
Application: All believers are called by God and therefore, all believers have a specific purpose and place in the kingdom of God. You may not be talented in works of art like Bezaleel was, but you have skills and talents given to you by God. Use them and you will be blessed.
Verses 3-5 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 5 And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.
Application: Bezaleel was filled with God’s spirit who would guide him in his creative tasks. Believers are also filled with God’s spirit and therefore guided in the paths they take. However, believers need to listen for His voice. That requires practice and patience as the pace of life on Earth with all its distractions can drown out the voice of God. Be still, slow down, and listen.
Verses 6-11 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; 7 The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle, 8 And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense, 9 And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot, 10 And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office, 11 And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.
The name, Aholiab, means “Father’s tent”. This was such an appropriate name for a person helping to build the tabernacle, which was in essence a big tent for the Father. Notice he was from the tribe of Dan whose name means “a judge”. Not only was the tabernacle a place for praise and worship, it was also the place where God met with Moses and gave to him the law under which the Hebrew people would live and be judged.
Verses 12-17 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. 14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
Once again God repeats His command to keep the sabbath, something that was to be done by all Hebrews throughout all future generations. It was a covenant or an agreement, not just a suggestion. But notice in verse 17 that God said it was a sign between Him and the children of Israel for ever. It was not a sign between Him and other people from other nations. So is this covenant in place today in the Christian church or was it an agreement between God and the Hebrew people of the nation Israel and therefore not a command for believers today? You decide.
Verse 18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
Three is the number of perfection. God wrote with His finger three times as recorded in Scripture. This was the first time. God was communicating to His people. The second time God wrote is recorded in the book of Daniel when a hand appeared on the wall of the pagan king’s palace telling him that his kingdom was coming to an end. God was communicating with a government entity. The third time was when Jesus wrote in the dust when a woman caught in the act of adultery was brought before Him for judgement. God was communicating with the religious system of the time. Interesting.