Exodus Chapter 31
The Call of Bezaleel and Aholiab
A. The Unique Gifts of Bezaleel and Aholiab
(Exodus 31:1–6)
Then 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. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, indeed I, have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all who are gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you.”
God personally called and equipped Bezaleel and Aholiab to lead the construction of the tabernacle. This calling was not based on their human talent alone but upon divine appointment and empowerment. The Lord declared, “See, I have called by name Bezalel,” emphasizing His sovereign choice. Bezaleel, meaning “in the shadow of God,” was the grandson of Hur from the tribe of Judah. God filled him with the Spirit, granting wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, so that the craftsmanship required for the tabernacle would reflect the beauty and holiness of God’s dwelling. This was a divine enablement, not merely natural ability.
The Spirit of God empowered Bezaleel to work skillfully in gold, silver, bronze, precious stones, and wood, demonstrating that spiritual gifts extend beyond preaching or prophecy to include practical and creative service. God values the work of builders, artists, and craftsmen who labor for His glory. The Holy Spirit not only inspired prophets but also filled artisans, showing that every task performed for the Lord—whether in ministry, art, or labor—is sacred when done in obedience and devotion.
This empowerment was not limited to Bezaleel alone. God also appointed Aholiab, of the tribe of Dan, as his assistant and placed wisdom in all the skilled artisans. The Lord ensured that His work would be a cooperative effort, done under His direction, through men filled with His Spirit. God’s words, “that they may make all that I have commanded you,” show that the Spirit’s gifts are given for obedience and service, not for self-glory. As the Apostle Paul later wrote, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23). Every act of craftsmanship was therefore an act of worship, carried out in reverence and submission to God’s command.
(Exodus 31:7–11)
“The tabernacle of meeting, the ark of the Testimony and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furniture of the tabernacle — the table and its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base — the garments of ministry, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests, and the anointing oil and sweet incense for the holy place. According to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”
God gave specific instructions for every aspect of the tabernacle’s construction. This passage outlines the complete inventory of what Bezaleel, Aholiab, and the artisans were to build. The detailed list begins with the tabernacle of meeting—the central sanctuary where God would dwell among His people—and includes the ark of the Testimony and the mercy seat, representing God’s throne of grace. The table of showbread, the golden lampstand, and the altars all symbolize fellowship, light, and atonement. Even the garments of the priests and the anointing oil were included, signifying the sanctity and completeness of God’s design.
This level of precision underscores that the work was not to be left to human imagination. God required that everything be done “according to all that I have commanded you.” The tabernacle was not an artistic interpretation of divine worship but a model of heavenly reality, a shadow of the true sanctuary in heaven as later explained in the book of Hebrews. Every thread, material, and dimension carried meaning and purpose. Through these details, God was teaching Israel about His holiness, the necessity of mediation, and the way of approach to His presence through sacrifice and priestly intercession.
Thus, the calling of Bezaleel and Aholiab shows that God equips those He calls, sanctifies even practical labor, and demands exact obedience to His revealed will. The craftsmanship of the tabernacle was a reflection of divine order, illustrating that worship is not to be shaped by personal creativity but by God’s revealed pattern.
B. The Sabbath
(Exodus 31:12–17)
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”
God’s command concerning the Sabbath was given directly after His instructions for the construction of the tabernacle, emphasizing that even the sacred work of building God’s dwelling place was not to override the divine principle of rest. The Lord declared, “Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep,” making clear that the Sabbath belonged to Him. It was not merely a human institution or cultural practice but a divine ordinance set apart as holy. By calling it “My Sabbaths,” God claimed ownership over this sacred day of rest, distinguishing it as a sign of His covenant relationship with Israel.
The Sabbath was instituted as a perpetual sign “between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.” It was not only a command to rest but also a reminder of sanctification—the truth that it is God, not human effort, who makes His people holy. By abstaining from labor on the seventh day, Israel was to acknowledge dependence upon God’s provision and recognize that their identity and holiness came from Him alone. The Sabbath was holy to the Lord, meaning it was consecrated and set apart for divine purposes.
The severe penalty for violating the Sabbath—death for those who profaned it—underscored the seriousness of disobedience. The command declared, “Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.” Such punishment might seem extreme, but it was rooted in the covenantal significance of the Sabbath as a testimony of Israel’s allegiance to God. To disregard it was to reject the covenant itself. This pattern of six days of labor followed by one day of rest reflected the divine order established at creation, where God Himself rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2–3).
In the New Covenant, believers are not bound to observe the Sabbath as Israel was under the Mosaic Law. The Apostle Paul wrote, “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5), and “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (Colossians 2:16–17). The Sabbath was a shadow pointing to the ultimate rest found in Jesus Christ. Our true rest is not in a day but in the finished work of the Redeemer.
Nevertheless, the principle of rest remains vitally important. God does not bless a life of constant striving without pause. The Sabbath serves as a spiritual lesson that our work for God must never eclipse God’s work for us. When believers grow weary or burnt out in ministry, it is often because they have allowed their service to overshadow their relationship with the Lord. The difference between what Christ has done for us and what we do for Him is as vast as the difference between the sun and the moon. Yet, just as the moon can eclipse the sun if it is positioned wrongly, so our works can obscure the radiance of Christ’s grace when we lose sight of Him.
The Sabbath, therefore, was both a covenantal sign for Israel and a spiritual type for believers today—a reminder that rest, dependence, and sanctification are found only in the Lord who made heaven and earth and who, after His labor, “rested and was refreshed.”
(Exodus 31:18)
And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.
After concluding His instructions to Moses, God presented him with the tangible witness of His covenant—the two tablets of stone. These were not crafted by human hands but were divinely written, as the passage states, “written with the finger of God.” This phrase emphasizes direct divine authorship, marking the Ten Commandments as the immutable standard of God’s moral law. The expression “written in stone” has since become synonymous with permanence, reflecting the unchanging nature of God’s Word.
The tablets were called “the tablets of the Testimony,” because they served as the physical testimony of God’s covenant relationship with Israel. These sacred stones would later be placed in the Ark of the Testimony, also known as the Ark of the Covenant, and kept in the Most Holy Place as the visible witness of God’s law dwelling among His people. Over time, two other items were added to the ark: Aaron’s rod that budded, representing God’s chosen priesthood, and a jar of manna, representing His continual provision (Hebrews 9:4). Together, these objects symbolized God’s authority, faithfulness, and sustaining grace toward Israel.
Thus, the giving of the tablets marks the culmination of God’s revelation at Sinai. The commandments, written by His own hand, were the moral and spiritual foundation for the covenant nation. They not only revealed His holiness and righteousness but also pointed forward to the coming of Christ, who would fulfill the law in His own life and inscribe God’s moral truth upon the hearts of believers under the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:33).
