Skip to main content

The story in exodus 31






 Exodus 31 details God's selection and empowerment of craftsmen to build the Tabernacle, reaffirms the importance of the Sabbath, and concludes with Moses receiving the stone tablets of the covenant.

The Divine Craftsmen

God names and empowers the specific individuals who will lead the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings.

 1. Bezalel and Oholiab: God calls Bezalel, son of Uri, of the tribe of Judah, by name and fills him with the Spirit of God, giving him skill, intelligence, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship. He is given the ability to work in gold, silver, bronze, and to cut and set stones and to carve wood. He is also given the ability to design intricate artistic work.

 2. His Assistant: God also names Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, as Bezalel's assistant.

 3. Empowerment: God emphasizes that He has given wisdom to all who are skillful, so they can make everything He has commanded. This includes the Tent of Meeting, the Ark, the mercy seat, all the furnishings, the priestly garments, the anointing oil, and the incense. This shows that the work is not merely a human endeavor but a divinely inspired project.

The Sign of the Sabbath

Amidst the detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle, God re-emphasizes the importance of the Sabbath.

1. A Perpetual Sign: God commands the Israelites to keep the Sabbath, stating it is a sign between Him and them throughout their generations. It is a sign that the LORD is the one who sanctifies them.

 2.  Consequences for Disobedience: The command is strict: "You shall surely keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you." Anyone who profanes the Sabbath must be put to death. Anyone who works on it will be cut off from his people. The Israelites are to do work for six days, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. This reiterates the sanctity of the Sabbath and its role as a permanent part of the covenant.

The Tablets of the Covenant

The chapter concludes with Moses on Mount Sinai receiving the divine law.

 1. Two Tablets of Stone: After God finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gives him two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone written with the finger of God. This marks the completion of the instructions for the Tabernacle and its service, and the culmination of Moses's time on the mountain.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Story of Genesis 37: Joseph’s Dreams and Betrayal

  Genesis 37 marks the beginning of one of the most compelling and dramatic narratives in the Bible—the story of Joseph.  This chapter introduces Joseph as the favored son of Jacob and sets the stage for a series of events that highlight themes of jealousy, betrayal, divine providence, and resilience.Joseph’s Favoritism and DreamsThe chapter opens by noting that Joseph was seventeen years old and that he was favored by his father Jacob above all his other sons because he was born to Jacob in his old age (Genesis 37:2-3). Jacob’s favoritism was symbolized by a richly ornamented robe, often referred to as the "coat of many colors" (Genesis 37:3).  This special treatment caused resentment among Joseph’s brothers, sowing seeds of jealousy and discord.Joseph further exacerbated tensions by sharing his dreams with his family. In his first dream, he described sheaves of grain in the field, where his brothers’ sheaves bowed down to his (Genesis 37:5-7). In the second dream, the s...
Post a Comment
Read more

The story in exodus 18

  The journey through the wilderness was a test of faith, a series of miraculous provisions and challenging trials. Yet, even as the nation of Israel solidified its identity under God's direct guidance, the practicalities of governance for such a vast multitude became increasingly apparent. Exodus 18 introduces a crucial figure from Moses' personal life and highlights the vital lesson of delegated authority and wise counsel. News of God's mighty acts in Egypt and at the Red Sea had spread far and wide. Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, had heard of everything the Lord had done for Moses and for Israel His people, and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. He took Zipporah, Moses' wife, whom Moses had sent back to him, and her two sons, Gershom ("a sojourner there") and Eliezer ("My God is my help"), and came to Moses in the wilderness, at the mountain of God (Mount Sinai) (Exodus 18:1-5). This reunion was a poignant momen...
Post a Comment
Read more

The story of Leviticus 6

 As the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness, the Lord gave Moses further detailed instructions about offerings and the responsibilities of the priests. God’s holiness demanded precise care in how offerings were handled, ensuring that His people worshiped Him with reverence and obedience. The Lord said, "The person who brings a burnt offering must keep the fire on the altar burning continuously; it must never go out." This fire symbolized God’s constant presence and the ongoing need for dedication and atonement. God also instructed Moses about the grain offerings: the priests were to take a portion as their own to eat, but they had to do so in a holy place, for these offerings were sacred. When it came to sin offerings, the priests were given specific duties to make atonement for the people. They were to remove the fat of the sin offering and burn it on the altar, while the rest of the meat was to be eaten in a sacred place by the priests only, symbolizing their role a...
Post a Comment
Read more