Exodus 35:30-35
Called by Name and Filled with Skill
Read the passage
30Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
31And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,
32to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze,
33to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every artistic craft.
34And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.
35He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and as weavers—as artistic designers of every kind of craft.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Moses tells Israel that the LORD has called Bezalel by name and filled him with His Spirit, giving him ability for many crafts. He can design work in gold, silver, and bronze, cut stones for settings, and carve wood. God has also equipped Oholiab, and both men have been given the ability to teach others.
That last gift matters. A skilled person may know how to do something without knowing how to help a beginner learn it. God supplies both the craftsmanship and the ability to pass it on. The work will benefit from more than what these two men can accomplish alone.
The list includes engraving, designing, embroidery, and weaving. God's provision reaches across these different kinds of work. His Spirit equips people for the practical tasks His command requires, including the patient work of helping another person become capable.
Questions
1 Whom does Moses name as called and filled with the Spirit for this work?
AnswerBezalel, son of Uri, from Judah. God has given him skill, ability, and knowledge for artistic work with metals, gemstones, and wood.
2 What ability does God give both Bezalel and Oholiab?
AnswerThe ability to teach others. Their gifts are to benefit fellow workers, not remain knowledge that only they can use.
3 Does this passage separate artistic work from God's purposes?
AnswerNo. It describes God's Spirit equipping Bezalel for craftsmanship and God giving both men their skills. Practical and artistic work belong to the service He is preparing.
4 What helps when someone is learning a skill from us?
AnswerExplain one step, let the learner try it, and allow mistakes without ridicule. Teaching may take longer than doing the task ourselves, but it helps another person grow.
What This Means for Us
If you know how to do something useful, consider whom you could teach. Cooking, sewing, repairing, and making music all take patience to learn. Giving a beginner room to practice can be as generous as making something for them.
Receiving instruction also takes humility. We can thank God for the people who teach us and listen without pretending we already know.
Prayer
We pray: Creator God, thank You for calling people by name and equipping them with different skills. Give our household patience to develop its gifts and humility to use them for service rather than status. Amen.
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