EXODUS 31 THE COMMISSION In any work we do the purpose needs to be made plain. The Tabernacle was to be the place where God would dwell with His people. This made the work of building the Tabernacle of absolute supreme importance. There could not be a practice run permitted to learn how to do what God commanded. There was no "trial runs" to get mans' approval. All that was given in the instructions given to Moses. God knew what it would look like and that was all that mattered. He also knew Bezaleel ("In the shadow of God") and identified him as the person He wanted to take leadership of this work. God left no question as to the person He was entrusting this work to. This man was "filled with the Spirit of God." Bezaleel's family before him were trusted people who had leadership responsibilities, but that didn't qualify him for the work he was to do. He was from the tribe of Judah, the first one in the order of march when Israel traveled. Aholiab ("The tent of my father") was from the tribe of Dan, the last one in the order of march. And from all those in between, God put into the hearts of people what wasn't naturally there. Along with their natural talents, the spiritual gifts God gave them enabled them to accomplish what was the revealed will of God. The same is true today. Because one may be very skillful in the occupation they work at daily, does not give them priority above others of God's people. God knows each of us and according to His own purposes of grace, enables us and gifts us to fulfill the work He wants us to in the place of His choosing.
The work of the Holy Spirit in God's people isn't always something obscure or seemingly miraculous. Bezaleel was given wisdom to picture in his mind and heart, both of which are closely joined together, the results of the project and the reason behind it before it was begun. He knew what he was doing right from the beginning. The Holy Spirit uses what we have taken in, to produce, by His power, what God intends to be. "To devise cunning works" indicates an artistic mind that can visualize the finished work. When one can do this, he needs wisdom to pass this on to others who may not be able to see what he sees. In using wisdom, a leader may only need to pass on certain parts of the work to different people. His wisdom helps him discern a person's capabilities. One may be skilled in making perfect lumber out of hard wood. Another may know how to make fine gold plate. Another may be able to cast silver and another skilled in weaving and leather work which probably was Aholiab's specialty. In the same way God had His people build a dwelling place for Him. He could have made it instantly with a word. He is using His people today in building His Church. We have a commission also. it involves going, making, preaching, teaching, observing in much the same way the Tabernacle people did their work. We need wisdom from God.
Understanding was given as well because the material they were using was very precious and costly. There was no room for mistakes or "trial and error" work. How to use all that precious material in the right way the first time they took in hand called for unnatural understanding. It had to come from God. We are not dealing with merely perishable material when we are involved in our commission. The Gospel must be clearly understood and presented. The truths involving the new birth, eternal life, eternal security, and the eternal future need to be understood. There can never be allowed in the work of God any misunderstanding of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Any human insertions in relation to the way of salvation has eternal consequences that can never be changed. Understanding of the objective of our work as well as wisdom to see how to make it known to others is how the Holy Spirit enables us to do God's will.
The actual work involved in accomplishing the task of building the Tabernacle called for the special dispensing of knowledge by the Holy Spirit. To be able to actually do the task one has been given may at first cause fear and trepidation lest we make a mistake. Some would rather do nothing to avoid making a mistake. That, of course is not something we can allow to happen because the work is more important than my comfort. We learn to trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit when we are involved in the work of the Lord, not just looking at it or fearfully anticipating it. When we have focused our attention on the work and will of God to which He has called us, then we are given the wisdom, understanding and knowledge to do what God intends in the way He expects us to do it.
All this would have created a big stir in the camp of Israel as the sound of hammers, saws, and calls of workmen sounded day after day where the work was going on. But on the seventh day there was only silence in the camp. No shouts of instruction, no sounds of laboring people, no buzz of voices talking over the project at hand. There was only silence as the busy people rested. But isn't it more important to get the work done as soon as possible? Why waste time? The communion we have with the Lord is much more important than what we do for Him. His work in our hearts is more important than the work in our hands. Fellowship with God and communion with Him focuses our attention on our relationship with Him instead of what people around expect of us or can see as a result of our efforts.
The nations around watching Israel would wonder at the silence of a huge tent city of people for a whole day. The people of God would have to trust God to preserve and protect them on that day of rest. The eerie silence perhaps would have concerned those prying eyes looking on from a distance. They would see the cloud and fire but no activity as the sign of rest between God and His people went on and on hour after hour for the whole Sabbath. God was refreshed by rest at the end of the six days of creation, and He was passing on this same refreshing rest as a sign to His earthly people. During rest periods we are able to reflect on what has been done, and prepare our minds for the work that is ahead. This has the tendency to challenge each laborer to consider who God is, where he fits in God's plan of things, how he has been doing, has he been giving his best to the work and what is reasonable to expect in the next six days of labor. Rest to the body also gives rest to the soul and spirit. Then we are able to be more effective as we move ahead in the "calling wherewith we have been called."