Short but Interesting - Exodus 31

31:1-11 - Chapter 31 is pretty short but has a few important points that are interesting. This is also the last chapter that Moses spends on Mount Sinai before coming back down, and he’s been up there since chapter 24, so quite some time. The Lord had given Moses all these instructions about how to construct the tabernacle, but there are some parts that aren’t explicitly spelled out, like exact what a Cherubim looks like, the intricacies of the menorah, etc. These are all going to require an artistic component that Moses might just not have. The Lord solves that problem by telling Moses “I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri… I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of work-manship.” God has chosen this man, along with an assistant “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.”

Moses is to use these two men as the architect types to actually create what God has commanded, and they will be guided by the Spirit to create it just the way that God wants. This is probably a huge relief to Moses because this undertaking is enormous undertaking and I’m sure that the whole time God was explaining what He wanted, Moses was probably having a panic attack being overwhelmed with the task. So having a couple other guys be put in charge of it, by God, was probably a huge relief.

31:12-18 – Then God reiterates “Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep… every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death.” After all that, all that explanation and instruction about the tabernacle, God’s parting words are “keep the Sabbath day holy,” which seems kind of interesting because of all the commandments He can focus on, it’s that one. I didn’t think too much of it, but TB made a really interesting point that I really needed to hear. I’m just going to quote it because it was so powerful to me, even though it’s long. TB notes, “I’d like to point out that the sense of this scriptural passage is something like this: ‘Once you start your building program, don’t forget about Me, nor my commands to you.’ How human it is that we get a calling from God to do something, and off we go praising God and happily knowing that we have a divine purpose… and then we let our passions run amuck. We forget all about God’s principles and commands, as though they have been put into a state of suspension just for us, because our project is so important it transcends His Laws and Commands.”

I could see Moses getting back down to the people and start on this huge tabernacle project and while trying to do everything right, the way God commanded him, Moses neglecting the fact that this was a spiritual creation, a spiritual journey, and to be a hand holding journey WITH God. I know that I’m called to improve aspects of myself, I often see it as “ok you told me to fix (whatever, pessimism probably) and I’ll report back when I’m done.” I need to take it step by step with God, together. It’s not something I’ll be able to do on my own. I really need to work on this, get rid of the concept of “doing what I’m told” and instead focus on “working with God to do what He wants, how He wants me to do it.”