Bezalel

Bezalel was one of the most talented people in all of the Bible. His work was tremendously important to generations of Israelites and has  been talked about throughout the ages of history. He was a prolific craftsman whose work was truly worthy of admiration.

"Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah" (Exodus 31:1-2). God had a big job for Bezalel. Along with his assistant, Oholiab, Bezalel was basically commissioned to make everything for the tabernacle. The amount of work, the variety of work, and the quality of the work were incredible.

Consider the amount of work. Although Bezalel and Oholiab did train some helpers, essentially the entire work of making the tabernacle rested on them. This included the actual curtains that formed the structure. In creating the structure, they had to prepare hooks, boards, bars, pillars, sockets, poles, curtains, screens, hangings, pegs, coverings, gratings, clasps, and bands. They also had to make all the furniture for the tabernacle, including the ark of the testimony, the mercy seat, the table for the bread, the lampstand, and the laver with its stand. Additionally, they had to make all the utensils that were used in conjunction with these furnishings: dishes, pans, bowls, jars, snuffers, trays, pails, shovels, basins, flesh hooks, and fire pans.  These men had to make the priestly garments, the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense for the holy place (Exodus 31, 38, & 39).

Consider the variety of work. These were true Renaissance men, gifted in multiple areas of creativity. They were sculptors of precious metals (gold, silver, and bronze). They were jewelers who cut and set precious stones. They were engravers of precious metals and gems. They were woodcarvers, upholsterers, and furniture makers. They were clothing designers, weavers, embroiderers, and seamstresses. They were perfumers (chemists). On top of all this, they were also teachers who instructed others in their vast knowledge.

Consider the quality of work. What these men did had to be "according to all that I have commanded you" (31:11). They were creating the extremely special place in which God chose to meet with man. By no means could their work be slipshod, careless, or mediocre. This was not a matter of merely throwing a few simple things together or just making a functional structure.

They prepared the furniture with gold overlays, golden moldings, and golden rings for transporting the furniture. They crafted golden cherubim with outspread wings. The incredible six-branched lampstand, adorned with bulbs and flower blossoms, was all hammered out of a single piece of gold. The altar featured horns. The curtains were made of finely twisted linen of several colors, apparently with pictures of cherubim worked into them.

When they made the priestly clothing, they hammered gold into sheets and then cut it into threads to be woven into the clothing. They set engraved onyx stones into shoulder pieces. They mounted rows of engraved precious stones into gold filigree settings in the breastplate. They made chains of gold like twisted rope to hold the pieces together and added a special binding to protect the openings of the robe from tearing. The hem was decorated with pomegranates of fine twisted linen of various colors alternated with golden bells that actually tinkled. They created decorated caps and sashes and an engraved crown.

In all of this work, Bezalel and Oholiab met God's expectations. God said they did everything just right. "And Moses examined all the work and behold, they had done it; just as the LORD had commanded, this they had done" (39:43).

Where did Bezalel's talent come from? God said, "I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in all kinds of craftmanship" (31:3-5). Bezalel and Oholiab were described as men "in whom the LORD has put skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work in the construction of the sanctuary" (36:1).

These men apparently had some natural talent, and even that talent came from God, who said, "In the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill" (31:6). Each of these men was a "skillful person in whom the LORD had put skill" (36:2). God took their natural (God-given) skill and raised it to levels far beyond what these men would have ever had without His continued purposeful interaction.

What is the point? First, talent clearly comes from God. God gave these men talents and increased their natural talent to incredible levels. Any talent that a believer has, whether large or small, comes from God. Even if someone works to develop and perfect his talents, he can never boast in his own efforts or insinuate that he has made himself great. Every talent is a gift from God and an enablement by Him.

Second, a believer must be willing to serve God with his talents. Moses gave a proclamation seeking workers: "Let every skillful man among you come, and make all that the LORD has commanded" (35:10). Bezalel came not because he was forced, but because he was willing. "Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came" (35:21). Bezalel and Oholiab were included in the group of willing workers. "Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skillful person, . . . everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it" (36:2). Talents are not to be used for personal glory, for personal ambition, or according to individual preference; rather, they must be offered freely to God  to be used fully for Him and according to the direction and guidance that He provides.

"Take my life and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee." (Frances Havergal)