Exodus: A Group StudySample

What is this passage saying?

Following the instructions for the tabernacle, Yahweh appoints Bezalel and Oholiab alongside several other craftsmen to construct the tabernacle. Yahweh also reiterates the command to keep the Sabbath, emphasizing the integral role of rest in the covenant community.

What is this passage teaching?

Bezalel and Oholiab were divinely endued with the ability to craft and build everything needed for the tabernacle. They were chosen, they were obedient, and Yahweh was glorified through their work. On all accounts, the construction of the tabernacle was incredibly complex. The middle of the wilderness is not an ideal place for master craftsmen to construct an intricate dwelling place for Yahweh. However, the craftsmen were filled with the Spirit of God, enabling them to accomplish all that Yahweh set before them.

How do I respond?

While Bezalel and Oholiab were talented craftsmen, their true skill resided in their reliance on Yahweh to complete the task. In the same way, God has gifted you with skills, talents, and abilities to be used in His service. This is not just for “ministry” – the beauty of Christ is that He has transformed all work into ministry. No matter how naturally gifted you are, you cannot complete the tasks God has put before you without His Spirit. Whether at work, at home, in the church, or the world, nothing can be accomplished apart from the Spirit’s work in your life. Are you tempted to rely on your gifts to accomplish the tasks God has given you? How might the Spirit of God transform your work and your world by relying on him to complete the tasks before you?