Exodus 31
Exodus 31:1-11: Appointment of Bezaleel and Aholiab This section explains how God chose specific people to lead and do the skilled work for building the tabernacle. The Israelites were to provide the materials, but God decided who would be responsible for turning those materials into the tabernacle and its furniture. Even though Moses was wise and there were surely talented people among the Israelites, none were trained in the fine arts needed for this holy work. God solved this by calling and equipping the right people. v. 2: God chose Bezaleel, from the tribe of Judah, to be the chief craftsman (v. 2 a). Bezaleel was the grandson of Hur, who had helped Moses during the battle with Amalek (ch. xvii. 12 b) and was an important leader among the people (ch. xxiv. 14 c). This honored Bezaleel’s family, but it was clear that the choice was God’s, not Moses’s. v. 3: God gave Bezaleel the wisdom and skill he needed for the work by filling him with the Spirit of God (v. 3 d). This shows that all abilities, even in practical jobs, are gifts from God (Job.38.36; Isa. xxviii. 26 e). – – v. 6: God also chose Aholiab from the tribe of Dan to help Bezaleel and be his partner (v. 6 f). This meant both a leading tribe (Judah) and a less important tribe (Dan) were included, showing that God values all people and wants to prevent pride or division among the tribes (1 Cor. xii. 24 g). Hiram, who worked on Solomon’s temple, was also from Dan (2 Chron. ii. 14 h).Many other skilled people were chosen to work under Bezaleel and Aholiab (v. 6 i). God always provides the right people for His work, and He gives them the ability to do it. Those who are called by God can trust that He will help them succeed. v. 7: The work included making the tabernacle itself and all its special items, such as the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, and the washbasin (v. 7 j and following verses). God gave the workers the skill to shape gold, silver, and bronze for these things. – – – v. 11: God provided everything needed for the work, including both the workers and their abilities. Just as He gave special gifts to the apostles to build the “greater and more perfect tabernacle” of the church (Heb. ix. 11 k), God gives different gifts to different people for the benefit of everyone (1 Cor. xii. 11 l). Exodus 31:12-18: The Observance of the Sabbath This section gives a strong command to keep the Sabbath day holy. The Sabbath law was given before other laws and is found in several parts of the Old Testament. Here, God reminds the Israelites not to break the Sabbath, even while they are busy building the tabernacle. The Sabbath is a special sign of God’s covenant with Israel and an important part of their religious life. God also gives Moses the two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments, written by God Himself, as a lasting witness to the people. v. 13-17: God commands the people to keep the Sabbath day holy (v. 13-17 m). The Sabbath was a sign between God and Israel, showing that God chose them and set them apart. Keeping the Sabbath showed their obedience and helped them remember that God made the world in six days and rested on the seventh (ch. xvi. 23; ch. xxiii. 12 n). The Sabbath was for their benefit and God’s honor. They were to rest from regular work and focus on God. This rest was to be kept for all generations as a sign of their covenant with God.v. 13-14, 16: The people were to guard the Sabbath as something precious. They had to observe it, not pollute it, and not let it be forgotten (v. 13, 14, 16 o). While other nations had yearly festivals, Israel was unique in having a weekly Sabbath. This made them different from everyone else and showed they worshipped the one true Creator. The Sabbath was also a sign between God and Israel, showing that He had sanctified them and set them apart as His people . This covenant was to be observed throughout their generations as a lasting sign of their relationship with God. v. 14-15: Anyone who worked on the Sabbath, except for works of mercy or necessity, was to be cut off or put to death (v. 14, 15 p). If the judges did not punish the offender, God Himself would judge them. This showed that breaking the Sabbath was a serious sin that would not go unpunished unless there was repentance. The Sabbath was holy to the LORD, and anyone who profaned it by working on that day was to be put to death. This command emphasized the seriousness of keeping the Sabbath holy and dedicated to God. v. 15: God explains that the Sabbath is a day of rest and is holy to Him (v. 15 q). People were to stop their regular work and dedicate the day to God. Anyone who broke the Sabbath was to be punished by death, showing how serious God was about this command. – v. 17: God gives the reason for the Sabbath: it is a reminder that He created the world in six days and rested on the seventh (v. 17 r). By resting, God set an example for His people, and by keeping the Sabbath, they showed they belonged to Him and remembered His power as Creator. The Sabbath was a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, reminding them of His role as Creator and their special relationship with Him. v. 18: God gave Moses the two tablets of testimony—the Ten Commandments—written by God’s own finger (v. 18 s). These tablets were made of stone to show that God’s law would last forever. The tablets were called the tables of testimony because they were evidence of God’s will and His kindness to Israel. The law was written by God’s power, not Moses's, showing that only God can truly write His law in our hearts (2 Cor. iii. 3 t). The two tablets also remind us that God’s law teaches us how to treat both God and other people.
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