Exodus 31:2–3

Whether for "the work of the tabernacle" long ago, or "the work of the ministry" now, God must do the choosing. He must give the call, the qualifying and the appointing. And all of it must be done as He commanded. No man could select, call, qualify or appoint anyone for the work of the tabernacle. No man can do so for the work of the ministry either. And no man could dare appoint himself to the work of the tabernacle. No one can do that for the work of the ministry either.

We freely admit that calls like this one were special and out of the ordinary. But even granting that in full, we must insist that every servant today needs a divine call as clear and as compelling as the call of these pattern servants. True, it will be an inward call, a secret between the Lord and the soul. But that does not make it any less effective.

"I have called by name Bezalel." He was not just a man with natural ability and skill — he may well have had those. For this work God filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, understanding and knowledge. People point out a difference between a photograph and a portrait painted by an artist. The photograph gives the exact features, so it may look very like the person. But an artist can put a living look into the picture out of his own genius and spirit. So we say, "It is a speaking likeness."

I believe it is a great mistake to think these men were simply skilled workmen. It is also a mistake to read this as no more than an acknowledgement that God gives all ability. Something special is here… Our Lord said of the Spirit, "He will glorify me" (John 16:14). The tabernacle was meant to display the glories of Christ. So should we wonder that the Holy Spirit gave special gift and oversight, so that every part would express the thoughts of God exactly?

Bezalel means "in the shadow of God." This speaks of his trust, filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom and understanding. He may well be seen as a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Uri means "Light of Jehovah," and Hur means "white." All these names point to the great workman God chose to build a dwelling place for Him, and to make a kingdom of priests to God — the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Tubal-cain taught every craftsman who worked in bronze and iron." Cain's descendants had unholy skill, and they used it to make a cursed and groaning earth a delightful place, without God present. Bezalel and Aholiab, by contrast, had God-given skill to beautify a sanctuary — a place God's own presence and glory would make holy and blessed.

Service shows God's wisdom when the thing done matches the word of God. "According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do." So the word both guides the servant and tests his work… There is not the slightest trace of anything being left to their own thoughts or imagination.

I believe it is a great mistake to think that these men were simply skilled workmen. It is just as wrong to think that we only have here a recognition that God gives all ability. There is something special here. When we remember what the tabernacle was to show, we are not surprised. Our Lord said of the Spirit, "He will glorify me" (John 16:14). The tabernacle was meant to display the glories of Christ. So why wonder at the special gift and oversight of the Holy Spirit, so that every part might express the thoughts of God perfectly?

With wisdom he would have all the hidden resource he needed. With understanding he would have light from God. Knowledge would give him insight into the details of the various articles. And all workmanship shows that he used what God gave him to produce results.

People point out this difference between a photograph and a portrait drawn by an artist. The photograph gives the exact features, so it may be an exact match. But an artist can put a living look into the picture by his own genius and spirit. So we say, "It is a speaking likeness." The tabernacle and its vessels had to be a living, speaking picture of the things in the heavens, and the mind of God had to be reflected in them. So a man filled with the Spirit of God was needed... Mere accuracy of construction, by human skill, was not what was needed. The work had to be a true reflection of the wisdom of God.

Whether for "the work of the tabernacle" of old, or "the work of the ministry" now, the choice should be God's. So should the call, the qualification and the appointment. And all must be done as God commands. No man could choose, call, qualify or appoint anyone for the work of the tabernacle. Neither can he for the work of the ministry. No man could dare to appoint himself to the work of the tabernacle either. Neither can he for the work of the ministry.

The descendants of Cain received unholy skill. They used it to make a cursed and groaning earth a delightful place, without the presence of God. Bezalel and Oholiab, by contrast, received skill from God. They used it to beautify a sanctuary. The presence and glory of the God of Israel would make that sanctuary holy and blessed.

It is hardly too much to say that most of those who take the place of servants in Christendom look mainly to man to equip them for their work... They give themselves to human learning, to training their minds, and to studying "the art of preaching," to fit themselves for their work. From the very start, the result is often dependence on human power instead of the energy and power of the Holy Spirit.

In the language of Scripture, being full of the Holy Spirit is not said of all believers. It belongs to certain people on special occasions or in special circumstances. Some cases even happened before the day of Pentecost. Without going back as far as Bezalel (Ex. 31:3), Scripture says that the father and mother of John the Baptist were filled with the Holy Spirit, and so was John himself.