Exodus 35-37Making a building suitable for Gods dwelling place required special talents. It took the right people to do the job. So as the Israelites began bringing their gifts and offerings for the tabernacle Moses made a special announcement: Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them master craftsmen and designers. So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the LORD has commanded." (Exodus 35:30-35, 36:1).
This is the first time that someone is said to be filled with God’s spirit. This shows how important the tabernacle was. God wanted his house built in a special way. To that end, the same holy spirit who with the father and the son created the world in six days (Genesis 1:2) was poured out on the men who made the tabernacle.
The out pouring of the spirit teaches us something about the importance of spiritual gifts in the church. It takes the holy spirit to build God’s house. In the time of Moses, the spirit came with special gifts for building the tabernacle. Now as the holy spirit dwells in our heart through faith he brings gifts such as teaching, evangelism, discernment, leadership, hospitality, and service. These spiritual gifts are for building God’s dwelling place on earth (see Ephesians 4:7-13), which today is the church of Jesus Christ, whatever spiritual gifts we have come from God the holy spirit, who calls us to use them in God’s house. The scripture urges us “to excellent gifts that build up the church” (1 Corinthians 14:12).
The gift the spirit gave for building the tabernacle where mostly artistic. Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other members of the Israel’s artistic community had a divine calling to make the tabernacle, and with that calling came special gifts from God. This should be a great encouragement to anyone involved in the arts because some people are called to be artist.
(taken from the book Exodus: Saved for God’s Glory by Philip Graham Ryken)