Exodus 31:1-18  Bezaleel and Aholiab; and the Sabbath

[Study Aired January 2, 2022]

Exo 31:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Exo 31:2  See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: 
Exo 31:3  And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 
Exo 31:4  To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 
Exo 31:5  And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. 
Exo 31:6  And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee; 
Exo 31:7  The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle, 
Exo 31:8  And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense,
Exo 31:9  And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot, 
Exo 31:10  And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office, 
Exo 31:11  And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do. 
Exo 31:12  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Exo 31:13  Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. 
Exo 31:14  Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 
Exo 31:15  Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 
Exo 31:16  Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 
Exo 31:17  It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. 
Exo 31:18  And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

This chapter shows us how the Lord equips His children to make them useful in building and making His tabernacle functional. It also focuses on the sabbath which represents our rest in Him. In Ephesians 4:8-16 we are shown how the Lord equips His people to make them effective in building the body of Christ. These verses in Ephesians therefore summarize the first 11 verses of Exodus chapter 31, which is today’s subject under review.

Eph 4:8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 
Eph 4:9  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 
Eph 4:10  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 
Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 
Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 
Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 
Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

As we can see in Ephesians 4:13, the purpose of our work in building the body of Christ is for us to measure up to the stature of the fullness of Christ. This is done through bringing His elect together in the unity of the faith through the knowledge of Jesus Christ which is what every joint supplies. Unity of the faith means that we are all of one mind, speaking the same thing and having the same judgment.

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

This chapter also shows us that a prerequisite to being effective in the service of the Lord is finding rest in Him, which is symbolized by the need to keep the sabbath. Resting in Christ means that we cease from our own strivings. In other words, we come to realize that everything is from the Lord, and therefore we depend on Him wholly to do His work through us. In Exodus 11:12-18 we are given details on how we can observe the sabbath. These verses therefore throw more light on how we can effectively rest in Christ. 

Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Exo 31:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Exo 31:2  See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

In these verses, the Lord wanted Moses to know how He had prepared Bezaleel to carry out the building of the tabernacle. According to Strong’s Dictionary, the name “Bezaleel” means “in the shadow of God.” If we are called and chosen, then the Lord will prepare us under the shadow of His wings, which is the secret place of the Most High. In other words, the Lord prepares us in secret, from the eyes of everyone.

Psa 91:1  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psa 91:2  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Psa 17:8  Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Apostle Paul gives us an example of how the Lord trains us in secret.

Gal 1:11  But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Gal 1:15  But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 
Gal 1:16  To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

This does not mean that we do not need men to assist us in our spiritual growth since it is the Lord’s elect who will guide us into the truth. What Paul is referring to is that we depend on the Holy Spirit to unveil the truth to us.

Exo 31:3  And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

The Lord equips us for the work of the ministry by filling us with the spirit of wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of Him. This verse is the same as saying the following:

2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

As He is, so are we. Our Lord Jesus was equipped with the spirit of wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of God. We, too, are being filled with the spirit of wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of Him just as the Lord did to Bezaleel.

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Isa 11:1  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 
Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 
Isa 11:3  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 
Isa 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
Isa 11:5  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

Here in Isaiah, we are given to know what happens to us when the spirit of wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of the Lord comes on us. Firstly, this spirit of wisdom causes us to fear the Lord. This is affirmed by the fact that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  The fear of the Lord causes us to walk in righteousness as the sun of righteousness rises upon us with healing in his wings. In addition, the fear of the Lord grants us the power to trample on the wicked. The wicked here is our flesh or our old man. In other words, we overcome the flesh.

Mal 4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Mal 4:3  And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

Isa 11:5  And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

Secondly, the spirit of wisdom comes with the judgment of our old man as the Lord will judge us (the poor) as He smites our old man with the rod of His mouth which is the word of the Lord. We are the earth in Isaiah 11:4 which the Lord shall smite with His words.

Isa 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Jer 22:29  O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

Exo 31:4  To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
Exo 31:5  And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

Here, we are given what the spirit of wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of the Lord will do in our lives. It is to help us work in gold, silver brass, the cutting of stones and the carving of timber. If we can remember, our works that please the Lord are classified as gold, silver and precious stones as against the works of the flesh which include wood, hay and stubble. The work in gold, silver and stones therefore entails the fiery trials we go through to build upon the foundation the Lord has laid in our lives in building the temple of God within us. This means that the giving of a spirit of wisdom in our lives comes with tribulation and persecutions in our lives to refine us as we learn righteousness. The carving of timber in verse 6 refers to our works in wood or the works of the flesh that must be destroyed by fire in order to build a habitation for the Lord to dwell.

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 
1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

The Hebrew word for brass is copper which is a base metal. We know from the scriptures that the key to understanding spiritual reality is through the things that are made. This is true of base metals which are taken from the earth and refined through fire to remove all earthen matter. 

Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

The work to be carried out in our temple includes brass or copper which is to remind us of our carnal state in Christ. The work in brass is therefore to show us that we were in our carnal state when the Lord came to us to give us the spirit of wisdom. The cunning work in brass therefore is the Lord’s work within our temple (our hearts and mind) to transform us from our carnal state to become a habitation for the Lord to dwell (become mature). Remember that this involves our being judged to learn righteousness.

Exo 31:6  And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee; 

The Lord had given Aholiab and the hearts of all that are wise hearted to Bezaleel to help him with the work of the tabernacle. Aholiab means ‘tent of his father’. Our bodies are the earthly tent of our Father, Jesus. Aholiab, therefore, represents the body of Christ, or the Lord’s elect, as we are given to work with the Lord (Bezaleel) in the building of the New Jerusalem for our Lord to dwell. This is affirmed by the fact that God has given Aholiab and all those who are wise hearted to work with Bezaleel. Both Aholiab and the wise-hearted are the elect.

2Co 5:1  Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever. (CEV)

We are therefore co-workers with the Lord as we work together as a unit to achieve what God desires. That is, by building the church of God which is the Lord’s body.  God has really honored us to be enlisted as co-workers in his great work of salvation. 

1Co 3:9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 
1Co 3:10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

Being co-workers with Jesus, we are required not to receive in vain the grace the Lord has given us. As Paul indicated, the spirit of wisdom and understanding of the knowledge of the Lord which comes to us to qualify us as co-workers with Christ is accompanied with judgment of our old man to ensure that we do not receive the Lord’s grace in vain.

2Co 6:1  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2Co 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
2Co 6:3  Giving no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed:
2Co 6:4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
2Co 6:5  In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
2Co 6:6  By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
2Co 6:7  By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
2Co 6:8  By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
2Co 6:9  As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 
2Co 6:10  As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Exo 31:7  The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle, 
Exo 31:8  And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense,
Exo 31:9  And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot,
Exo 31:10  And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office,
Exo 31:11  And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.

These items show us the work of the Lord (Bezaleel) within us to prepare our temple, including the temple articles for the Lord to dwell in. These items to be made constitute the vessels of gold, silver, wood and of earth which the Lord is making in His great house as He purges us to become vessels of honor, fit for the master’s use and prepared for every good work.

2Ti 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

The preparation of the priestly garments to clothe us refers to putting on the righteousness of Christ, which is the work of the Lord (Bezaleel). This is achieved through the fiery trials through which the Lord takes us in order to learn righteousness.

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

The anointing oil is made through a process which speaks of our fiery trials and persecutions which causes us to bear a sweet odor of oil as we ready ourselves for our union with Christ. In other words, we become anointed of the Lord through a process which is alluded to in the following scriptures as beaten oil:

Exo 29:40  And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.

Num 28:5  And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.

The anointing oil is the work of a perfumer, who is our Lord Jesus Christ. It is through Him we are judged to become anointed of the Lord. In a similar vein, all the items that are used for the incense must be crushed, broken or heated in the preparation of incense. We are these items that are used for the preparation of incense. As we have stated earlier, incense represents the prayers of the saints. This means that our prayer as a sweet aroma before the Lord is through the fiery trials we encounter in this life. 

Rom 5:3  And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh stedfastness;
Rom 5:4  and stedfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope:
Rom 5:5  and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us.

Through our trials, as we learn righteousness, we become steadfast and approved, which makes us and our prayers like a sweet odor of incense before the Lord.

2Co 2:14  But thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place.
2Co 2:15  For we are a sweet savor of Christ unto God, in them that are saved, and in them that perish; 
2Co 2:16  to the one a savor from death unto death; to the other a savor from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

Exo 31:12  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Exo 31:13  Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.

These verses admonish us to keep the sabbath. It is through keeping the sabbath that we get to know that it is the Lord who sanctifies us. What we need to know therefore is the spiritual significance of keeping the sabbath. Sabbath comes from the word “Shabbat” which means “a day of rest.”

Heb 4:3  For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Heb 4:4  For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
Heb 4:5  And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
Heb 4:6  Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 
Heb 4:7  Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 
Heb 4:8  For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Keeping the sabbath means entering into the Lord’s rest and therefore ceasing from our own strivings. In other words, we come to realize that we can of ourselves do nothing and therefore depend on the Lord wholly to do everything on our behalf. Knowing this is what will cause us to recognize that it is the Lord who sanctifies us.

Exo 31:14  Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

In verse 14, we are warned that if we do not keep the sabbath, we shall be put to death or cut off from among the Lord’s people. In Hebrews 4:6-7, we are given a reason why many will not be able to keep the sabbath – because of unbelief. The reason many do not believe is that their hearts have been hardened by the idols of the heart, which say that we are responsible for our own actions as a result of having our own will. Believing in this false doctrine prevents us from surrendering everything to the Lord. Let’s look at the example of our Lord Jesus who rested in God to do the works in the following scripture: 

Joh 14:10  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

The death resulting from failing to observe the sabbath is a spiritual one. In other words, we continue in our spiritual blindness and are therefore cut off from the elect.

Exo 31:15  Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
Exo 31:16  Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 
Exo 31:17  It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. 

As we are aware, the number six is the number of mankind. The six days during which we must work spiritually refers to our works before the Lord here on earth.  The seventh day is when we become complete in Christ as we are caught up with the Lord and shall rest from our labor here on earth as the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. 

Col 1:29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. 

Rev 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. 

Exo 31:18  And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

What the Lord gave to Moses is what we call the law of Moses or simply the law. The Lord gave the law to expose our sinful nature as He knew that man is not capable of obeying His law, unless He works Himself into him.

Mal 4:4  Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

Rom 7:7  What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 
Rom 7:8  But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.
Rom 7:9  I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.
Rom 7:10  The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 
Rom 7:11  For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 
Rom 7:12  So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 
Rom 7:13  Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

The law was therefore our schoolmaster until faith came.

Gal 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 
Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 
Gal 3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 
Gal 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

It is significant to know that the law was written on tables of stones. This was to show us the stony nature of our hearts and minds. As a result of our stony hearts, the word of the Lord could not penetrate and therefore we were not able to obey His law. It is after we have come to know our spiritual poverty that we are granted a heart of flesh and can therefore obey. 

Deu 5:29  O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever! 

Eze 36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 
Eze 36:27  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

May the Lord be merciful to us as He continues to pour on us His spirit of wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of Him as the day approaches!! Amen!!