Giving Your Best

God wanted the children of Israel to have a material representation in their midst to remind them of His presence among them, and He gave specific instructions on the design of this “tabernacle”. He also gave specific instructions as to His choice of artisans to design and craft the articles that were to be contained inside this portable structure: he specifically chose Bazalel of the tribe of Judah, and his friend Oholiab from the tribe of Dan.

We learn in Exodus 31 that Bezalel was a skilled craftsman in designing artistic works in gold, silver and bronze. He was also gifted with an ability to cut gemstones and to carve wood. In Exodus 35 we find that he was also skilled in embroidery in every kind of yarn and fine linen. We are further informed from these passages that God had “filled them with His Spirit, with wisdom, with understanding and with all kinds of skills”. In other words, God had prepared Bezalel and Oholiab for the work He was asking them to accomplish.

In Exodus 35 we find that not only were these gentlemen skilled artisans, but they had the ability to teach others! So while they were given the responsibility of designing and crafting the articles for the tabernacle, they were able to pass some of the work along to their students who in turn helped them accomplish this massive task. 

Here is an interesting footnote. According to 2 Chronicles 1:5, some 430 years after these articles were crafted, Solomon put them in the temple that he built to house the tabernacle. When Bezalel and Oholiab built something, they intended for it to last!

What can we learn from these skilled craftsmen?

a. God gives each of us certain gifts and abilities, and we are to use them for His glory.

b. God will bring others alongside to help us use our gifts for Him

c. God wants us to give Him our very best.

d. We have a responsibility to teach others in the areas in which we are especially gifted

e. Once we begin to use our gifts in service, we are not to give up!

f. Work done with quality will last a long time.

Give God your very best effort! Quality work will last long after we are gone. It only takes one…

(adapted from “Lessons From Lesser-Known Bible Characters”, available at www.johnggage.com/biblestudy/