Exodus 31

Bezalel and Oholiab

Keeping the Sabbath

The rule is hard and fast for the five-year old - you cannot run with scissors. However, the time comes when mommy desperately needs the five-year old to get the scissors for her.

“Honey, go get the scissors for mommy, please.”

In the five-year old’s glee to get to be helpful to mommy, how many times will the rule about running with scissors become forgotten or ignored? The odds are high that the child comes running into the room, scissors in hand.

In Exodus 31, God is concluding His initial information dump to Moses about the basic rules and regulations for the people and the directions for creating the items needed for the tabernacle. After beginning the chapter by informing Moses who the Lord has selected to lead the project, He reminds the Israelite leader of one particular area of the law - the sabbath.

You see, God has just given Israel a construction project that is not going to be built in a day. Whether the size and specifications for the curtains to the tent and court, or the fine craftsmanship necessary for the furniture and instruments, it will take time.

While the Supreme Being understands the time it will take, He also recognizes there will be the propensity for the artisans to be like the five-year old above. In their haste to please God, they could ignore, or completely forget, another command of God that directly affects their schedule and timetable for completion.

God does not want Israel to violate one command in order to keep another. Therefore, He tells Moses to remind the people that these commands concerning the tabernacle do not supersede the commands concerning the Sabbath - they are meant to be fulfilled together.

The same holds true for us today. While the Old Testament law was fulfilled by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, the principle God reminds Israel to insert in their plans holds true for us as well. We cannot violate one command of God in order to keep another. His expectations illustrate the desire for His commands to work side-by-side, not one over the top of the other.

As you study chapter 31, consider the importance of not violating one commandment to keep another. It is a very important lesson - whether for the Israelite of Moses’ day, or the Christian of today.

Exodus 31

Introducing the Artisans. (Vs. 1-11)

• God calls Bezalel. (Vs. 1-5)

  • He is of the tribe of Judah. (Vs. 2)

  • He is the grandson of Hur. Whether this is the same Hur mentioned in chapters 17 and 24 is unknown, but it is possible. (Vs. 2)

  • He has been filled with the Spirit of God to have the ability, intelligence, knowledge, and craftsmanship to handle every level of craftsmanship needed for the tasks described in the previous chapters. (Vs. 3-5)

• God also appoints Oholiab of the tribe of Dan. (Vs. 6a)

• Finally, God states that He has given to all able men abilities so that they can make all that He has commanded Moses. (Vs. 6b)

  • The term “able” comes from the Hebrew phrase meaning “wise of heart.”

  • These are men with the desire and ability to fulfill the needs of creating these items.

• The list of items that need to be built: (Vs. 7-11)

  • The tent of meeting (tabernacle).

  • The ark of the testimony with the mercy seat on it.

  • The furnishings of the tent.

  • The table and its utensils.

  • The lampstand and its utensils.

  • The altar of incense.

  • The altar of burnt offering and its utensils.

  • The basin and its stand.

  • The finely worked garments and holy garments for the priests.

  • The anointing oil and the incense.

Instructions for Moses. (Vs. 12-18)

• God has concluded His first set of commands regarding this covenant with Israel and what needs to be prepared. In closing, He gives Moses some final instructions.

• He admonishes Moses to remind the people of the necessity of keeping the Sabbath. (Vs. 13-15)

  • These commands have been given previously, but they are reiterated here.

  • This will serve as a reminder that, even with the work that is going to be done in preparing the tabernacle, it will not be an excuse to ignore the commands of the Sabbath.

• The people of Israel are to keep the covenant. It is a sign between God and the people of Israel. (Vs. 16-17)

• God gives Moses the two tablets of the testimony that had been written with the finger of God. (Vs. 18)