Exodus 31:1-11 ~ 20120617 ~ Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org

06/17 Exodus 31:1-11; 35:30-36:2 Holy Spirit Gifting

The culmination of the book of Exodus is the building of this portable worship tent, the tabernacle. God's purpose for rescuing his people from slavery in Egypt was 'let my people go that they may hold a feast to me' (5:1); 'to serve me' (7:16; 8:1, 20; 9:1, 13; 10:3) 'to sacrifice to the LORD' (8:8). The ultimate purpose of the exodus event was worship. God was demonstrating to both believers and unbelievers that he alone is God. He alone is to be worshiped.

Exodus 14:4 ...I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD.” …

God is inviting his people into relationship with himself.

Exodus 29:45 I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. 46 And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.

In chapters 19-24, God gives his newly rescued people instructions on what it means to be his people, how they must relate to God and to one another. In the next six chapters, God gave his people instructions in how he is to be worshiped, how he, a holy God is to be approached by his sinful people, and what it will mean for him to take up residence among them. He gave detailed instructions for the construction of his tent, the place where he will symbolically dwell in the middle of the camp of Israel, detailed instructions for the construction of all the furniture that is to be in his tent, furniture that ultimately points us to the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus.

Holy Spirit Equipping

Now that the detailed instructions have been given, God is here promising to supernaturally equip specific people to carry out these instructions so that the tabernacle will be built exactly to his specifications.

Exodus 31:1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. 6 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: 7 the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, 8 the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, 9 and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, 10 and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, 11 and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.”

Ten times in our English text we see words like 'skill, skillful, skilled, and skillfully' during the instructions for the building of the tent. The tabernacle was to be constructed 'after the pattern' or 'according to the plan' (25:9, 40; 26:30).

Exodus 28:3 You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him for my priesthood.

God Calls and God Appoints

Here God tells us that the special equipping to do this skillful work is because 'I have called by name ...and I have filled him with the Spirit of God … I have appointed … I have given to all able men ability'.

The first thing to note is that God did not ask Moses to look around and select worthy candidates for the construction project. God says 'look, I have called Bezalel and I have appointed Oholiab to build the tabernacle'. This was God's choice. Moses or any other Israelite might have complained 'but I've got skills! I really wanted to be the one to build the tabernacle and all the cool gold furniture.' God says 'this is not about you. This is about me, about my glory. This is my house. I am God. I call and I appoint whom I want to do what I want.'

It is also interesting to note that although the only ones allowed to touch and transport God's holy things were men from the tribe of Levi, the craftsmen who actually built the holy things were not from any particular tribe. Oholiab was from Dan; Bezalel was from Judah. I think it would be safe to assume that people from every tribe were gifted by God to build his dwelling.

Let's look at the fulfillment passage in Exodus 35 before we go any further. God commanded in chapter 31; the people obeyed in chapter 35.

Exodus.35:30 Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, 32 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, 33 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. 34 And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver--by any sort of workman or skilled designer.

Exodus 36:1 “Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the LORD has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded.” 2 And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work.

God Equips Those He Calls

The people God called and appointed to do the work, he also equipped to do the work. We have the danger of getting our feelings hurt when we are not appointed for something we think we should have been chosen for. There is also the danger of those who are appointed feeling inadequate for the task. 'Don't look at me! I can't do that! I'm not qualified. I can think of ten other guys who would do a better job than me. I don't want all that weight of responsibility.' God says 'I have filled you with my Holy Spirit. I have given you ability, skill, intelligence, knowledge, craftsmanship. I have equipped you with everything you need to do what I have called you to do.' 'But this task is huge and I can't do it alone! It's too big, it's overwhelming.' God says 'I have inspired you to teach. I have given all able men ability'. Bezalel was not to do this alone. Oholiab was called to work along side. (I wonder if they had ever met each other before this? I wonder if they were able to get along?) Oholiab and Bezalel were not to do all the work themselves. They were to teach. They were to instruct and oversee the many other men “in whom the LORD has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary”.

A Shadow of the Church

We need to remind ourselves of how relevant this is to us today. We are told in Hebrews that the whole tabernacle system was 'a shadow of the good things to come' (10:1) pointing to the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ. The dwelling place of God is not now a temple or tabernacle, but 'your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body (1Cor.6:19-20).

Ephesians 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

You, believers in Jesus Christ, you, the church, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, built around the cornerstone of Christ Jesus himself, you are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Peter says:

1 Peter 2:5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

We, believers in Jesus, are living stones in God's spiritual house, we are joined together as a holy temple, built together into a dwelling place for God. And Ephesians tells us that this is 'by the Spirit'.

All scripture is God breathed and useful for us today. God filled his craftsmen, who would build his house, with his Holy Spirit. God builds his church, his spiritual house, made up of individual believers, by that same Spirit. Two chapters later in Ephesians, Paul writes:

Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ...11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

God gave leaders and teachers filled with his Spirit to his church, to build up the body of Christ (which is another metaphor for this spiritual dwelling place of God). God gifts leaders to 'equip the saints for the work of the ministry'. And the goal is unity, knowledge, maturity of character, doctrinal stability, love. He says 'grace (an undeserved gift) was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift'.

Romans 12

In Romans 12, Paul uses this metaphor of one body with distinctly functioning members, and urges humility and usefulness for the common good.

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

One body. Many members. Distinct functions. Gifts that differ. Do what you were created to do. Be who you were created to be. What you have, you have by grace – an undeserved gift. In humility serve one another. Love.

1 Corinthians 12

Paul addresses the dysfunctional church in Corinth and corrects some of their thinking.

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. ...4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

The Corinthians were not unified, and not walking in humility. Paul urges that all the different gifts or manifestations of the Spirit are for the common good. The gifts of the Spirit of God are designed to build up the body of Christ. The gifts you have been given are not for you. They are not about you! They are for the common good, and ultimately for the glory of God.

Then Paul warns of two dangers. First, the danger of undervaluing your particular gifting.

1 Corinthians 12:14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

Don't denigrate yourself, because it's not about you! It is about the body. God arranges the members in his body, each one of them, including you, as he himself chose. He made you who you are. He put you exactly where he wanted you to be. You were chosen by God, redeemed by Jesus, gifted by his Holy Spirit to fill a necessary unique role. Don't dishonor God by feeling useless and sorry for yourself.

The second danger he warns of is overvaluing your particular gifting.

1 Corinthians 12:19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Some feel valueless and unimportant, and that is sin; others feel independently valuable and over-important. 'My particular gift is so important and so special that I don't need anybody else. In fact, if y'all would just get out of my way, I could show you how this thing should really be done!' We are warned as we look around at each other, never to say 'I have no need of you'. We, as the body of Christ, must acknowledge our interdependence. I am not complete in and of myself. I need you. I cannot do it on my own. I need you. Those that seem to be weaker are indispensable. There is no one to whom we can say 'we'd be better off without you'. Indispensable! Every one of us is indispensable! God has so composed the body in this way, so that there be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. For the common good. For the building up of the body of Christ. Unity. Humility. Love.

In 1 Corinthians 14:4 the contrast is drawn between building up self or building up the church.

1 Corinthians 14:12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

1 Corinthians 14:26 ...Let all things be done for building up.

In Ephesians 4, we are exhorted

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

In 1 Thessalonians

1Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

For those who have trusted in Jesus, for those who are part of the new covenant temple, the dwelling place of God, each of us has been chosen by God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, equipped with everything we need to do whatever service he has called us to fulfill in his body for the common good. So walk in humility. Be who you were created to be. Do what you were created to do. Build up one another for the glory of God.