When God Does The Hiring

The Boss Inspects the Tabernacle

Exodus 39:32-43:

32 Thus all the work of the Tabernacle of the tent of meeting was completed; and the sons of Israel did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses; so they did,

33 And they brought the Tabernacle to Moses, the tent and all its furnishings; . . .

34 – 41 give a description of all the things they brought to Moses right down to the garments of the priests.

42 So the sons of Israel did all the work according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses.

43 And Moses examined all the work and behold, they had done it; just as the LORD had commanded, this they had done. So Moses blessed them.

Thoughts on the Passage

David Guzik reminds us that Moses was the leader with the command from God and with the best knowledge of the pattern to which God wanted the Tabernacle built. So, it was right and proper for him to supervise every detail of the construction. And it was perfect. As Guzik said, “No wonder Moses blessed them.”

This raises two issues for me.  First, is it true that our church leaders have “best knowledge of what God wants” for our specific local church? Regrettably, some leaders believe that to be true. Regrettably, some congregations believe their leaders have no special knowledge of what God wants. And perhaps most regrettably, some congregations have a blind trust in their leaders.

I believe our pastors and priests are human beings like the rest of us. It is God Who may call them to a much greater service and/or share His plans or desires for the local church with them. And if that is the case, the congregants that are also close to God in their own lives will be made aware of this. And such a conclusion that a particular church leader has been blessed in that way, can and should be arrived at and verified first of all by the leader’s life – his/her words and actions and deeds; second by his/her time spent with God and in His Word; third, by the fact that whatever he asks for is supported by the doctrine taught in Holy Scriptures; and finally, that it in every way, brings glory to God, and God alone. Then, and only, then does a local church leader have the right to the kind of obedience Moses God from the people – which in reality was asked for, as obedience to God; and thus, the text is quick to remind us again and again, that all was done “as God commanded.”

Matthew Henry believes it was not much more than five months from the beginning to the finishing of the Tabernacle. Not sure how he knows that at this point, but I am sure he has found other references in Scripture that talk about what month it began and when they celebrated its conclusion. Nevertheless, considering they were in the desert and the tools they had were still not very advanced, this is a remarkable feat for such an elaborate structure involving embroidery, engraving, working with gold, precious stones, etc.

There is also no mention of any striving between the works – they worked as a team, in unanimity. That certainly helped with the timeline. One wonders how much more work would be done for the Kingdom today if we worked as one body. Of course, to achieve that, we would all have to be as committed to the work; we would have to be cheerful and happy in it; we would all have to have positive personal relationships with God; we would have to be in prayer regularly individually and as a group; and, as these workers were, we would have to have our training provided by God (in our case through His Word). Then, perhaps, we would make fewer, perhaps no, mistakes.

I have watched my granddaughter compete in Dragon Boat Racing for her high school team. Last summer my three grandsons, along with my eldest daughter and her husband, participated in white-water rafting. In both these events, what was most important was that each member of the team – each rower on the dragon boat and each individual sitting at various strategic spots in the raft – followed the precise instructions of the captain.  There can only one captain per boat or raft and everyone, without exception, had to follow their instructions – even my granddaughter’s team was to win the race or if I and my grandsons and family didn’t want to go under.

In like manner, these workers observed their orders because what was at stake here was more than a ribbon or trophy or even getting soaked and going for a swim in cool waters. This was about obedience to God. Punctuality was involved too just like in dragon boat racing – each rower has to be rowing on the same beat as the drummer or the steersman. Be on your own timing and you slow down the boat.

Henry reminds us that God’s work must be done, in every respect, and on every dimension, His way. And only then is God pleased with those that willingly worship Him and serve Him as He instructs.

Also of interest is that the workers did not object to the fact that Moses himself was not a craftsman and that he shouldn’t be the one approving the work or judging it. Henry says, on the contrary, God not only gave them the skills and knowledge to accomplish the work but also the humility to have it examined by Moses to see if it matched the plan. They knew the work, he knew the model. As workmen, they could only be pleased with their work, if they knew that it satisfied the model. So, too, our goal in any service to God is not to be praised by men but to somehow have it be accepted by God.

Moses for his part blessed the workers. He did not seek to find fault where there was none. It amazes me how hard it is for earthly competition judges to assign a “10” to the performance of athletes or others. I am confident that Moses would have identified any shortcomings had they existed. God wants us to be fair and honest in both or praising and in our feedback when improvement is needed. But that aside, Christian judges of the work of others should be willing to give credit where credit is due. Perhaps, tongue in cheek, we should be able to utter the words, “You know, I must admit, I couldn’t have done it better myself. LOL.”

Moses not only praised them, but he prayed for or blessed them. And remember, there were no wages paid out here. This work was voluntary. Payment was the knowledge that they would have among them God’s Tabernacle constructed as He wanted it. And God took care of their physical needs – manna was provided daily from heaven and elsewhere we read “their raiment waxed not old upon them” (Deuteronomy 8:4).

If God does the hiring, He will bless the hiree. And as Henry says, “those whom he blesses are blessed indeed” including “life for evermore”.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

When God Needs You To Do Something, He'll Equip You

The Altar of Incense and Anointing Oil

Exodus 37:25-29:
This is an account of the construction of the Altar of Incense exactly as described by God earlier in Exodus 30:1-10, as well as account of the making of the anointing oil and incense in accordance with God’s command and description in Exodus 30:22-38.

Thoughts on the Passage

First thing that comes to mind here is the Moses was indeed human! I say that because I note that up to this point the descriptions of the work in these later chapters of Exodus have been pretty well as long as the initial descriptions of the various aspects of the Tabernacle for which God gave specific instructions in the earlier chapters of Exodus. And then we come to this passage – where, with respect to the Altar of Incense, ten verses in Exodus 30 have been reduced to 4 here in Exodus 37, and with respect to the anointing oil and incense, 17 verses seem to have been reduced to just one. Was Moses getting tired of being repetitive or was his memory failing and thus he couldn’t remember the details?  I don’t know. You’ll have to ask him when you meet him. However, I would side with his being human and getting tired of repetition.  Remember in real-time, he probably had to give these instructions over and over again to the skilled Bezalel and his crew.

Matthew Henry reminds us that the golden altar was used for the burning of incense daily. He believed it signified both the prayers of saints and the intercession of Christ – events both to have come many years later.

Henry indicates that the beauty of the rings and staves being overlaid with gold remind us that God is indeed “the best, and we must serve Him with the best we have”. This is a question God’s true children, His true followers, ask themselves often – “Am I giving of my very best to God?”

Not only was Bezalel the skilled precious metal worker that he was, but God needed him to learn other skills as well to complete the Tabernacle in accordance with God’s instructions. He had to learn how to make anointing oil and incense. That required the skills of an apothecary, someone who could mix the right ingredients to make the necessary formulas as God had intended. And he did it so aptly. So much so, that Henry writes, “though he was not before acquainted with it yet he made up these things according to the work of the apothecary, as dexterously and exactly as if he had been bred p to the trade.”

And he leaves us with this further thought based on that: “Where God gives wisdom and grace, it will make the man of God perfect, thoroughly furnished to every good work.”

So, let’s ask ourselves – have we sought that wisdom and grace from God?  If we have done so earnestly with no strings attached, and if we have been granted – are we putting to good use that wisdom and grace to accomplish good works?

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

Training One Another For God's Service

Exodus 35:30-35:

³⁰ Then Moses said to the sons of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.

³¹ And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all ^[a]craftsmanship; 

^32 [b]to make designs for working in gold and in silver and in ^[c]bronze,

³³ and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work.

³⁴ He also has put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.

³⁵ He has filled them with ^[d]skill to perform every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer, in ^[e]blue and in purple and in scarlet material, and in fine linen, and of a weaver, as performers of every work and makers of designs.

Footnotes:

1. Exodus 35:31 Or work
2. Exodus 35:32 Lit devise devices
3. Exodus 35:32 Or copper
4. Exodus 35:35 Lit wisdom of heart
5. Exodus 35:35 Or violet

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Thoughts on the Passage

What we have here is an excellent example of how God works with man and then brother works with brother to accomplish the work of the Lord.

First, Moses shares with Israel the encouraging news that God called Bezalel to design the gold, silver, and bronze aspects of the Tabernacle.  God called him by name. He filled him with His Own Spirit.  He gave him the necessary wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and the skills he needed in his craftsmanship. That’s complete work on God’s part. Everything Bezalel needed was provided by God. We can be assured that when God calls us, especially by name, He will provide us with everything we need to do the job He intends for us to do.

To me, this passage reinforces the thinking that a) skill in secular employment is God’s gift and comes from above (as Matthew Henry points out), and b) secular skills can be used in God’s work.

Second, God gave Bezalel one more thing – his heart’s desire to teach others what he knows, so they can help in the work or continue the work after he is gone. In so doing, God’s Tabernacle was to be completed. Similarly, today, as we teach those that God has given us what He has taught us, the work of His Kingdom and can continue, and one day, be completed.

If Moses were to be the General Contractor for this project, because of the importance of all the work in precious metals, the stonework, and the wood carvings involved, Bezalel could well be thought of us the Senior Foreman or perhaps the tradesperson with the highest journeyman’s ticket.

Bezalel was indeed appointed by God to be a Working Foreman – that is, not only did he plan the work and designs, and teach others, but in verse 33 we are told he did this so he too could perform in these areas. If we are to lead God’s workers, we are to get our hands dirty and share in the labor involved.

Everyone working on the Tabernacle had been stirred by God to approach the work with a willing heart. That made the work easier. The positive attitudes of all contributed to a more jovial atmosphere on the work site. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our workplaces were all filled with men and women who had been stirred by God to do their work with a willing heart? More specifically, would it not be great if all our church or mission staff actually satisfied this description of the desired workplace?

Matthew Henry points out that when God makes these appointments, it minimizes the strife that normally occurs, and it increases the support given by others to the individual appointed.

So, what has God called you to, by name? Is He stirring your heart to do it? How are you responding? Are you prepared to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty? Will you teach others what God has blessed you with?

If this short blog has made you think about something differently today, will you share that with me? I'd love to hear about it. Or if you disagree with my thoughts, please share yours. 

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.