“The Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you.'”
– Exodus 31:1–6
I want to read the first six verses. This is God talking about the construction of the tabernacle. I want you to listen closely to the language here.
This Passage Reminds Us That Everybody Has a Role to Play in God’s Will
What I love about this passage, and why I wanted to read all six of these verses is because here we’ve got the names of different people. Some of them were pretty hard to announce but take Bezalel, for example. We know about Moses, but hardly anybody recognizes the name of Bezalel. In this passage, God talks about how He specifically filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God and gave him the ability, knowledge, and craftsmanship to devise artistic designs. As well as the ability to work in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut stones for setting, to carve wood, and to work in these different crafts.
I just think the tabernacle would not have been able to be constructed without Bezalel and other guys like him. Other people like him. So, yes, God is speaking to Moses and using Moses in a unique way. But, God is also using Bezalel in a unique way. Every part of this picture matters.
It makes me think about 1 Corinthians 12 when Paul is talking about the body of Christ, the church, and he says we’re all members, parts of this body, and every part matters.
Exodus 31:1–6 We Must Recognize That Every Role is Important
I think if we’re not careful, we can look at even certain leaders in the church and think, “Oh, now, that person’s really important.” We can fail to realize every person is really important. I’m not just saying that. It almost sounds cliché as I say it, but it’s true. It’s biblical. God has given unique gifts, skills, and talents to all kinds of people to do all kinds of things in the world. This is skilled with crafts.
I think we have a tendency to say, “Oh, the noblest professions are pastors, or missionaries, or people who are leading this non-profit organization, or people who are doing this or that.” And, this person over here … I don’t want to pick on any particular profession, but this person’s an accountant. That doesn’t seem as noble as a teacher. Or, “No, this person over here works in a coal mine.” That doesn’t seem as valuable as going overseas as a missionary when the reality is it’s all valuable.
God Gives Gifts to All of His People
There are gifts given by God to all of His people to play all kinds of different parts in the spread of His glory in the world. God says, “I have given to all able men ability that they may make all that I have commanded you.”
The whole picture here is God’s grace in gifts that he gives to all kinds of different people for all kinds of different jobs, and responsibilities … all for the same purpose, that He might be glorified.
Encouragement for Those Who Feel Insignificant
So, let me encourage you today if you’re that accountant, or if you’re that coal miner, or if you’re in this or that stage in your life where maybe you’re almost tempted to think, “Ah, I’m not doing something as important as this person over here, or that person over there.” Don’t underestimate for a second how God is using the gifts and the grace that He has given you right where you are, right now, for the display of His glory.
Realize that God puts us where we are with the gifts we have for the accomplishment of His purposes. What is most important is not which part we’re playing. What’s most important is that we’re faithfully playing whatever part He calls us to play using the resources, the gifts, the grace He gives to us for His glory.
Exodus 31:1–6: Asking God to Broaden Our View of How He Disperses Gifts
God, I praise you for Bezalel in Exodus 31:1–6, and men and women all across Your church today who do all kinds of things in the world, good things done to Your glory. We pray that you would deliver us from any hierarchy of significance based on position and what we perceive as most effective for the advancement of your kingdom. God, we pray that you would give us a far broader view than this and a far more humble view than this that realizes You are the dispenser of gifts and abilities. You’ve dispensed them in all kinds of different, creative ways for the display of Your glory in multitudes of ways.
So, God, may it be so today. May it be so in my life as a pastor. May it be so in this accountant’s life, and that teacher’s life, and this mom’s life, and this dad’s life, and this student’s life, and this retiree’s life. God, help us, help us, help us, we pray, with the gifts You’ve given us, the skills. You’ve entrusted to us, the abilities, the opportunities You’ve given to us. Help us to glorify You today, right where you’ve put us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
