Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 35:30 - 36:13

When employers hire employees, it is easy to focus merely on whether or not a person has the talent to do the job. When homeowners hire contractors to do repair jobs in their house, it is tempting to always give the job to the person with the lowest price. Talent and price are certainly important considerations, but when Yahweh called men to build the tabernacle, He did not merely look for men with skill. He had other requirements which perhaps we should consider using when we hire people or contractors.

When Yahweh was ready to have the Israelites build the tabernacle, He first gave them an opportunity to donate the materials necessary to build the tabernacle. The Israelites responded willingly, and brought gold, silver, bronze, fabric, and gemstones.

Ex. 35:30 ¶ Then Moses said to the sons of Israel, “See, Yahweh has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

Look at the phrase “Yahweh has called”. Yahweh is the One who specified who would lead the task of building the tabernacle.

Now look at the phrase “by name”. Yahweh did not make suggestions as to who should lead the effort. Yahweh identified the exact individual who was to take the lead.

Ex. 35:31 And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in discernment, and in knowledge, and in all craftsmanship;

Take note of the phrase “filled him with the Spirit of God”. The first trait of Bezalel that was mentioned was being filled with the Spirit.

The second trait listed is wisdom. It was important that the person heading up the construction project be a wise person. Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge, skill, and experience.

The third trait given to Bezalel was discernment. Discernment is the ability to perceive truth.

The fourth word used in the description of Bezalel is “craftsmanship”. In addition to wisdom and discernment, Bezalel also had the skill necessary to do the task.

When Yahweh appointed a leader for the task of building the tabernacle, He did not merely appoint someone with the skill to do the task. He appointed a man filled with the Spirit who also had wisdom and discernment.

When employers hire employees, or when homeowners hire home repair professionals, it is easy to focus only on education, skill, ability, and price. However, it is wise to hire people who also have wisdom and discernment so that they conduct themselves with integrity.

Ex. 35:32 to devise designs for working in gold and in silver and in bronze,

Ex. 35:33 and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to do well in every work of thoughtful design.

Ex. 35:34 He also has put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.

Notice the phrase “put in his heart to teach”. Not only was Bezalel wise, discerning, and talented, but he also had the ability to teach others how to create. The tabernacle was a huge construction project. Bezalel and Oholiab could not do it alone. Therefore, they had to be able to communicate their vision to others who could help them in the task.

This foreshadows a New Testament teaching regarding the qualifications to be an elder. An elder must be apt to teach. A main task of a church is to pass our faith down to succeeding generations. In order to do that, elders must teach those who will come after them.

Ex. 35:35 He has filled them with wisdom in their heart to do every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer, in blue and in purple and in scarlet material and in fine linen, and of a weaver, as those who do every work and make designs.

Ex. 36:1 ¶ “Now Bezalel and Oholiab and every person wise at heart, to whom Yahweh has given wisdom and discernment to know how to do all the work of the service of constructing the sanctuary, shall do in accordance with all that Yahweh has commanded.”

Look at the phrase “every person wise at heart” and then notice the words “wisdom” and “discernment”. The men who were destined to help Bezalel and Oholiab in the construction project also needed to have wisdom and discernment, not just skill.

Ex. 36:2 ¶ Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every person wise at heart to whom Yahweh had given wisdom, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to do it.

This verse repeats the requirement that the volunteers be wise.

Ex. 36:3 And they received from Moses the entire contribution which the sons of Israel had brought to do the work in the service of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning.

Ex. 36:4 And all the wise men who were doing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which he was doing,

Ex. 36:5 and they said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for the service of the work which Yahweh commanded us to do.”

Ex. 36:6 So Moses commanded and a proclamation was passed throughout the camp, saying, “Let no man or woman any longer do the work for the contributions of the sanctuary.” Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more.

Ex. 36:7 Indeed, the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to do it.

Ex. 36:8 ¶ And all those wise at heart among those who were doing the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet material, with cherubim, the work of a skillful designer, Bezalel made them.

Notice once again the words “wise at heart”. The workers building the tabernacle had to have wisdom.

Ex. 36:9 The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits and the width of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains had the same measurements.

Ex. 36:10 He joined five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he joined to one another.

Ex. 36:11 He made loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set; he did likewise on the edge of the curtain that was outermost in the second set.

Ex. 36:12 He made fifty loops in the one curtain, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was in the second set; the loops were opposite each other.

Ex. 36:13 He made fifty clasps of gold and joined the curtains to one another with the clasps, so the tabernacle was one unit.

When employers hire employees, it is easy to focus merely on whether or not a person has the talent to do the job. When homeowners hire contractors to do repair jobs in their house, it is tempting to always give the job to the person with the lowest price.

When Yahweh appointed a leader for the task of building the tabernacle, He did not merely appoint someone with the skill to do the task, He appointed a man filled with the Spirit who also had wisdom, discernment, and the ability to teach others. A man without wisdom and discernment will make bad decisions. Talent cannot overcome bad decisions.

When you make hiring decisions, do you consider wisdom and character, or do you focus only on talent and ability?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”