the migrant wife

featured image source: yearinthebible.com

A few weeks ago I wrote about the worthiness of “stories about little things”. These little stories, little snippets that leave wide margins for awe, wonder, and imagination. Bezalel and Oholiab are the first two people with small stories that I’d like to explore. If you haven’t heard of their names before, worry not – you can easily find their little story in exodus 31, 35, 36. These were the skilled artisans on whose shoulders lay the honourable task of building God’s tabernacle.

Have you noticed that God gave very specific instructions to the building of the Tabernacle? The bible contained more detailed instructions for the plans for the Tabernacle than for the Temple – God really cared about the exactitude of each curtain and fixture, and also the manner in which the Tabernacle was to be built. The Tabernacle was meant to be the anchor of Jewish life as they wandered across the desert, moving from place to place. The Tabernacle -God’s dwelling place – offered a temporary, but proper, worship place for Israel, and temporary house for God, until the time of Solomon when the Temple was built. The specificity in the design of the Tabernacle also reflects God’s beauty, order, holiness, greatness, and awe. The Tabernacle (God’s dwelling) pointed forth to a glorious time when the Son of God would tabernacle among us, Immanuel (God with us). The typography of the Tabernacle is far too rich to be explored in a short blog post as this, but is a topic well worth exploring, one which will be a rich blessing to the soul.

But now we turn to these two men would be ell us small stories of a big God:

1. God’s work is worthy of skill, beauty, theological depth, and care.

After the long lists of commands for the building of the Tabernacle (Exodus 25-31), God appoints these two skilled workers, Bezalel and Oholiab, to carry out the work of the construction.‭‭

Exodus‬ ‭36:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬[1] “And Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whom the Lord has put wisdom and understanding, to know how to do all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, shall do according to all that the Lord has commanded.”

The quote here is the ending to Moses’ speech announcing that these two men are to lead a whole troupe of skilled craftsmen to carry out God’s commands (Exodus 35:30-35) Bezalel was filled with the Spirit of God (typical of old testament characters who were chosen to carry out the will of God); both Bezalel and Oholiab were filled with the ability to teach. This ability to teach could be related to teaching of God’s word – not only because Exod 31:6 mentions godly wisdom given to Oholiab, but also that this ability to teach seems to have something to do with their heart instead of their actual skills (Exod 35:34).

Even for men who were known chiefly for their skill, the Lord considered their hearts. The most skillful chiseling of stones and the most delicate of woven cloth is not fit for the King of the Universe, if it were not an outflow of a godly character, or a humble heart, or a contrite spirit only boasting of knowing its Saviour. There is a dangerous complacency in God’s workers labouring in so-called “holy things” – on one hand, he might err with endless activity and hurry, filling his schedule with pointless meetings and tasks, yet not once honouring the One whom he claims to serve; on the other hand, he might mistake “carelessness” as “trusting in the Lord”, as he fumbles through one appointment to another without care, nor depth, nor intention.

God’s requirements and provision for these skilled men revealed that He chose intentional and dedicated workers for the task. This was a supremely important charge. He didn’t need people who could “do the job” – He wanted the Tabernacle, from its instruction, construction, to establishment, to reflect His care, intention, beauty, and wisdom.

Does this sound familiar? David, whose soul-searching psalms and hymns colour our imagination to reach for God’s faithfulness? Solomon, whose wealth and wisdom gave honour to the mighty God of Israel such that nations stand in awe? The apostles, who beheld the glory and humility in the Incarnate Son in the daily work and ministry, who were given the authority and ability to teach from the Spirit? God’s work, in God’s way: skill, beauty, and care, empowered by His living wisdom and love. It was never only about completing the task; after all, one who does His bidding would never finish without sensing that God was more Real than before, that He has used me, somehow, in displaying His character to those around me.

2. It is joy and privilege to be involved in the work of the Lord, regardless of how “unspiritual” it might seem.

Bezalel and Oholiab were chosen, to be craftsmen. They were to work with real, material wood, stone, linen, metal. They did not engage in theses-writing or debating or influencing thought or corporate worship. They served. And yet they were noted by name, several times, in the Holy Scriptures preserved through the ages. They were the blessed ones who built God’s Tabernacle.

There seems, in the present day, to be a divide between the “truly spiritual work” and the “work of this life”. Yet I don’t believe this is a biblical division. (Note: God calls them to teach, and to work with their hands!) One worships as much with one’s mind as with one’s hands. Scripture encourages us to “work with our hands” (1 Thess 4:11) as well as to do “everything as unto the Lord” (Col 3:23-24). It might be easier for Bezalel and Oholiab (they were building God’s literal dwelling place, after all!) but that does not warrant our misguided thinking that there is nothing honouring to the Lord about our manual tasks.

Filing documents? Reflect God’s order and care with each stack you file. Cleaning the bathroom? Love those who use it, praise Him for His provision. Marking papers? Remember every child whom He has put under your care, and thank Him for the eternal value each interaction holds. Sorting mail? Do it diligently as unto the Lord. The spiritual and the mundane exist on the same plane of life.

Bezalel and Oholiab were not called to do “lesser things” than the prophets or spiritual leaders. They have been called to different things. They were chosen to participate in the unique task given to them at that point in time for the people of Israel. They honoured the Lord with their hands. Their handiwork invited awe and wonder, and made Israel aware of their need for Beauty.

3. The Lord provides through His people.

When we zoom in on the story of the two skilled artisans, we inevitably miss out on the even smaller stories of those who surrounded them those whom God still intentionally used.

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭35:21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬[21] Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments.

The Lord worked in Israel’s heart. People brought forth gifts and offerings to articulate their joy (of God having spoken), and their yearning (to see what God will do). Note how the author of exodus adorns the monotonous hum of feminine domesticity with the brilliance of skill, beauty and care:

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭35:25‭-‬26‬ ‭[25] All the women who were gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands, and brought what they had spun, of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. [26] And all the women whose hearts stirred with wisdom spun yarn of goats’ hair.

It wasn’t just the two skilled men, Bezalel and Oholiab, slaving away. Imagine them and their teams, working on the material offered by their own people, every jewel, silver cup, every piece of linen bearing a story of its own, stories of children loved, of wages earned, of dreams chased, of marriages enriched, of hearts humbled, of the Exodus retold, each whispering the story of God’s faithfulness and generosity enduring through the generations. In His divine wisdom He provides for every need, and He gives abundantly. Every little story, every tiny contribution, bears His imprint.

Small stories about a Big God

As amazing as this might sound, the Tabernacle did not last forever. Israel’s willing offering attitude did not continue. The Lord’s people still rebelled. Bezalel and Oholiab’s craftsmanship would outlive them, but would be made redundant when Solomon established the Temple.

These little people with little stories point us to a bigger reality: And the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) As these two mens story leaves us wanting more of His Beauty and His Love, so our story can be one that reflects His enduring goodness, in the light of the Great High Priest who Himself ministers in the true tabernacle.