Exodus 31:1-11 – Be enlisted and equipped to build His community

In Exodus 31 we see two persons uniquely called and gifted to be the official artists for the construction of the Tabernacle and all its furnishing. Their special gifts came from God. And besides, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Their names are Bezalel, the son of Uri the son of Hur, and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach from the tribe of Dan. While Moses was given the pattern for how the Tabernacle and its furniture should be made, he was not the one that would be tasked to do it. He didn’t have the gifts needed to do it. Bear in mind the amount of sewing, embroidery works, building, casting, metal beating, stone cutting, and engraving. Just imagine the skill required to make the golden lampstand that was beaten and made out of a single piece of gold. God wanted the work to be done skillfully. God’s dwelling place must not only be built with the best material, but it must also be built by the best artisans. So Bezalel and Oholiab were the personal choice of God for the job. Not only were these two unique, but their names also bear out their calling. Bezalel means “in the shadow of God” and Oholiab means “my tent is the Father-God.” The former tells us that God guides and overseas his handiwork. The latter suggests that the tent was to be designed to reflect that God would be the shelter of His people.

God could have made everything He had instructed Moses to do by Himself, but He didn’t. Why? because He is a gracious God. He allowed His people to participate in His work. Remember the primary ministry one is called to fulfil is the ministry where he or she is gifted. The secondary ministry would be one where he or she is needed. However, we must always ensure that the best gifted should be enlisted for the best job. People always think that when you can’t make it to be a lawyer or doctor, then try fulltime ministry. Shouldn’t the reverse be the truth, that the best should be entrusted to do the work of God?  However, we must always remember that the primary qualification, regardless of what area one is called to serve the Lord, is for the person to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

One excuse people give for their unwillingness to participate in a ministry is their lack of experience. Think of Bezalel and Oholiab. Did they have any experience? Of course not. No one had seen the Tabernacle or any of its furniture yet. The issue is not about experience but one’s willingness. The Bible tells us that we are all gifted with different gifts. God expects us to actively exercise our gift for the building of the fellowship, the community of believers. God gives gifts to every one of us, just like he also gifted a group of people besides Bezalel and Oholiab. Verse 3 tells us that God had also put skills in the hearts of all who were skilful to do the work. So, the work of building the Tabernacle, its furniture and the priest garments, were entrusted to a group of skilful men.  

Beloved, God will equip us for the task He has entrusted to us to do. The leadership of the church only calls us to be committed to the building of God’s dwelling. We are the people whom God has given the diverse gifts for the work of the ministry. Yes, the Lord has given some to be Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers. It is true that not all of us are called to those roles but we are all called to the work of the ministry. Let us be found willing to answer the call to commit to building the community of God. Let us be blooming where we are planted!