Exodus 31:1-11
~15 min read
💭 Consider this: How do you feel about where you’re serving God right now? How do you think your service fits into the broader story of God’s purposes?
TRANSCRIPT
In our study through the book of Exodus, we have come to Exodus 31:1-11. In every church and ministry, there are different works to be done, and God has called certain people to do the work. Every calling has its own unique trials and difficulties, and God, who has called that particular individual, will also equip him or her with the necessary gifts and abilities to accomplish the task.
Take a moment and consider the church and all the ministries. There are preachers and teachers, deacons to serve tables, ushers to welcome the members and visitors, administrators to prepare the necessary resources, people to serve in the PA system, refreshments, flower arrangements, etc.
There is this problem in many churches who try to distinguish or characterize the different ministries according to their level of importance. By that, I mean some people consider the preacher as more important than the usher, or the deacon as more essential than the administrator, and the list goes on and on.
There’s also this misconception amongst many people who do not consider some of these services as a calling. There are some people who have said to me, ‘You are different from me because you are called, and I’m not called.’ They are not referring to my call as a pastor, but they are referring to the call to serve God.
No doubt, some of the ministries are more visible than others, like the pastor and the chairperson standing before the congregation. But there are others who work quietly behind the scenes—formatting the bulletins, recording and hosting the live streaming, collecting and administering the tithes and offerings, preparing and coordinating the order of worship, and so forth.
In order for any church to function effectively, all these services are not only necessary but essential. The reality is that every spiritual work done in the church and for the glory of God is a calling, and it is necessary, essential, and vital.
At this point in time in the book of Exodus, the command was already given as to how the tabernacle and the furniture were to be constructed, how the priests were to be ordained, and how the worship of God ought to be conducted. But in order for the command to be executed, certain people had to be called and blessed with spiritual gifts to construct the tabernacle, the furniture, and make the holy anointing oil. Without them, it would not be possible.
This is what we want to learn from this passage, and we want to focus on the two men mentioned in Exodus 31:1-11—Bezaleel and Aholiab. The title of our message is: ‘No Such Thing as an Unimportant Calling or Gift.’
I. They Were Called
Our first point is: They were called. Bezaleel was the son (grandson) of Hur, and he was from the tribe of Judah. Aholiab was the son of Ahisamach, and he was from the tribe of Dan. Take note of the phrase in verse 2: “See, I have called.” Verse 1 tells us, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying.” So it was God speaking. In other words, these two men were specially called by God. They were not chosen by Moses, Aaron, or the children of Israel, but by the sovereign will of the Almighty God. Their calling was so important that God had recorded it for us in this passage for our encouragement and edification.
When we speak about the calling of God, there are two main areas: there is the general call and the specific call.
- The general call refers to God calling us to salvation—to believe in Him, to worship Him, to walk with Him, to obey Him.
- The specific call refers to the call of God for a particular individual. It applies to that person and not to anyone else.
For example, you are called to be the husband of a particular wife, or the wife of a particular husband, or the father and mother of a particular child, or to a particular career path, or to attend a particular school and university, or to serve in a particular area in the church. And what God has called you to do, He has not called someone else. That is His specific call for you.
Both Bezaleel and Aholiab were called for a specific work. They were craftsmen, and they were very skillful in the works of gold, silver, brass, stones, and timber. Most likely, they had learned those skills while living in Egypt as slaves. We all know that Egypt was known for their construction of monumental structures like the pyramids.
These two men were called to be responsible for the construction of the tabernacle itself and all the furniture that went inside and outside the tabernacle—the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place, the table of shewbread, the golden lampstand, the altar of incense in the Holy Place, the altar of sacrifice and the brass basin in the outer court, and also the holy garments of the priests, Aaron and his sons, and the holy anointing oil to anoint them to prepare them for their sacred duties.
Most certainly, there were other skillful craftsmen in the multitude of the children of Israel, but God had specially called these two persons. It was an extraordinary amount of work. They had to build the tabernacle, which was itself a massive structure. They had to melt and cast the gold and silver into the right shapes and sizes. They had to cut and engrave the stones. They had to sew the garments together, and so forth.
Most certainly, they could not have done all these things by themselves. Therefore, they had a team of faithful co-laborers. How do we know? Well, God said in verse 6: “and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee.” So there were others who were called to be engaged in this work as well.
Dear friend, have you ever considered your work in the church or in your workplace as a calling? Surely, there may be others who are just as talented or gifted as you are, if not more capable than you. But God has specially called you, and what He has called you to do, He has not called someone else. You must recognise it as a calling.
God may call you through His Word, through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, through the leaders and the people around you, through the circumstances of life, through much prayer. But it always begins with this irresistible desire in your heart to serve Him.
Most of the time, when something was done over the passage of time, people would forget who were the ones responsible for the work done. For 40 years, the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness. As they moved from place to place with the portable tabernacle, surely after four decades, the next generation might have forgotten about Bezaleel, Aholiab, and their team of co-labourers. But there is one who never forgets, and that is the Almighty God.
Have you ever been discouraged that people have forgotten about the work you have done, or they do not even know that you were the one who did it? Maybe you were the one who started the Sunday School, or established a particular ministry and fellowship group, or initiated and supported the mission works in Myanmar and the Philippines, or brought up your children in the fear of God, or ministered to your colleagues who were unbelievers in your workplace.
No one knows, and no one remembers, but God knows, and He never forgets. And He takes into account everything we have done in His precious name because that is His specific call for us.
II. They Were Gifted
Our second point is: They were gifted. Nobody would question that the work was tremendously difficult, massive, and comprehensive. But God will not call someone without equipping him or her with the necessary abilities or gifts to accomplish the work. That was why the Bible said ‘they were filled with the Spirit and with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge’. (Exodus 31:3)
Take note of the phrase: “the spirit of God.” (Exodus 31:3) This was a reference to the filling of the Holy Spirit. They could not be filled with the Spirit unless they were first indwelt with the Spirit. So, first and foremost, they were believers. And out of all the believers, God had filled these two persons, together with their co-laborers, with His Spirit and blessed them with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to do His work.
Many years ago, I was invited to preach in a small church in the eastern part of Malaysia. Just before the worship service, the chairperson said to me, ‘Today, we do not have a pianist, so we have to sing a capella.’ I replied, ‘Well, that’s all right. We can sing a capella.’ Then the chairperson said, ‘the saddest thing is that my daughter is attending the worship service, and she is a pianist. However, she is an unbeliever, so she cannot serve in playing the piano.’
Only the believers are called and gifted to do the Lord’s work. You can have the most gifted pianist in the whole world. If that person is an unbeliever, he or she cannot serve in the worship service or in the church of Jesus Christ. Every believer is blessed with at least one spiritual gift. Some have been blessed with multiple spiritual gifts.
It is called a spiritual gift because it is given to the believer for spiritual purposes. We all have differing gifts from the Holy Spirit, and we are obligated to exercise them. The person with one seemingly insignificant gift is equally responsible and obligated to use that gift faithfully and fully as the one who has multiple spiritual gifts.
No spiritual gift is of any value if it is not used. When I was young, I visited one of the homes of my friends. His father had a large collection of very expensive and valuable guitars. Apparently, some of those guitars were known to be used by top musicians.
If those guitars were to fall into the hands of accomplished musicians, they would be making beautiful music to touch the hearts of many. But those expensive instruments were always kept locked up in the showcase, protected, only to be admired but not to be used. And it is unlikely that anyone will ever get to play on them.
It is very tragic that many Christians keep their spiritual gifts stored up rather than use them to serve the Lord who has blessed them. Dear friend, if you have been blessed with a beautiful voice to sing for the glory of God, and you refuse to surrender that voice, soon you will grow old, and you can no longer hit the same high pitch that you were once able to. And then you will not be able to render your service in that area again.
If you have been gifted to preach, and you refuse to preach, soon your memory will fail you, and the faculties of your mind and speech will not enable you to articulate God’s truth in clarity. Please do not store up your spiritual gifts.
Some people may ask, ‘How do I know my spiritual gifts?’ God does not give His children gifts without letting them know what those gifts are. If we are unsure of our gifts from God, it is most likely because we have not totally surrendered ourselves to Him. When your life and my life are on the altar of sacrifice, we will have no problem recognizing our gifts and exercising them. Our spiritual gifts cannot be recognized except when we use them.
When a believer walks in obedience to the Lord, filled with the Holy Spirit, and serving God, it will become apparent to him and others what his gift is and how it can be used to bless the body of believers. When a believer has trouble understanding his spiritual gift, it is not because he cannot figure out what his gifts are. Rather, it is because he has not come to terms with the dedication.
On the other hand, when a believer is used mightily by the Almighty God, it is not because he has perfectly understood his gifts, but because his life is a living sacrifice unto the Lord, and he is always seeking for the opportunity to serve Him. As Romans 12:1 tells us: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
If I may pause here for a moment and share with you the testimony of a particular brethren—I will not share his name because he may not want me to do so. Every time when we have our DHW Bible class, we will have a facilitators’ meeting. It is for the purpose of answering all the questions and perhaps anticipating any potential questions that the people may ask.
There is this particular brother who will always come prepared with a long list of answers. It is not easy for him to do that. It takes time, effort, dedication, and commitment. And most certainly, he is filled with the Spirit and blessed with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. He has faithfully exercised that spiritual gift so much so that all the facilitators are blessed each time we attend the meeting. You and I should likewise be faithful in exercising the spiritual gifts that God has given to us, whatever they may be.
III. They Served For God’s Glory
Our final point is: They served for God’s glory. Today, people do not put much emphasis on names. Often, it has little or no significance at all. Parents will name their children after famous celebrities, or they just love those names or the way those names are being pronounced. Even Christians who name their children after the biblical characters without taking into consideration what those names mean.
But in those days, in biblical times, the names of the people meant something significant, and it would always relate to God and their lives. For example, the name Abraham means ‘the chief of a multitude,’ and he truly became the father of a great nation. The name Isaac means ‘he laughs,’ a reminder of how he was born to Abraham and Sarah, who did not believe that they could have a son in their late evening years. The name David means ‘the beloved,’ a reminder of how he was chosen to be the beloved one, of whom ultimately the greater Beloved, the greater Son of David, would come. So, the biblical names were very significant.
But it is one thing to give a child a meaningful name; it is another thing altogether to live up to that name. Bezaleel means ‘in the shadow of God’ or ‘under the shadow of God.’ A shadow is an image that follows an object. What a wonderful description of this particular individual.
The significance of his name was that he was a man who walked in the shadow of God. Wherever God leads, he follows. Whenever God calls, he obeys. God had called him, filled him with the Spirit, blessed him with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, and he faithfully followed God’s call and did as he was told. Bezaleel—in the shadow of God.
Aholiab means ‘my tent or my tabernacle is my father.’ Interestingly, his parents gave him this name when he was born without knowing what would happen in the future. But it was not by chance nor coincidence, but by God’s appointment and by God’s design. He was the one called to build God’s tent—His tabernacle, His dwelling place. Now, that tells us a lot about the sovereignty of God.
Dear friend, thousands of years before we were born, even before the foundation of the world, God already knew us, and He has a sovereign purpose for our existence on this earth. He has a specific call for you and me, and He has gifted us differently to serve His sovereign purpose.
Needless to say, both of them lived up to their names. They faithfully followed God’s call and did as they were told. They lived their lives to serve the one sole purpose—for the glory of God. How do we know? Because the tabernacle was built with all the furniture and the holy ointment. The tabernacle stood as a testimony of their faithfulness. Just as the church that we are serving, may it also be the instrument to stand as a testimony of our faithfulness.
Recently, one of my sons asked me this question: ‘People call you Paul Cheng, but your full name is Cheng Heng Fook. In heaven, what will your name be? Will it be Paul, or Paul Cheng, or Cheng Heng Fook?’ I thought that was a very interesting question, and I answered, ‘I do not know.’ But whatever name I have in heaven, it is important that that name is recorded in the Book of Life. (Revelation 3:5, 20:12, 20:15, 21:27) It is important that my name—Christian—I am known as a Christian, for I am a child of God because of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am named after my Savior. (Exodus 32:32-33; Psalm 69:28; Luke 10:20; Phillipians 4:3; Hebrews 12:23; Revelation 2:17)
A story was told of Alexander the Great, who was the king of Greece. He was considered one of the world’s greatest conquerors, and his empire stretched all the way from Greece to the northwestern part of India. In the ancient world, his name struck fear in the hearts of many nations, and he took his name very seriously.
One day, a soldier in his army had committed a crime, and he was brought before Alexander the Great for court-martial. The king listened to the charges and evidence, and then he turned to the soldier and asked, ‘What is your name?’ The soldier replied, ‘Alexander.’ Again, the king questioned, ‘What is your name?’ He answered the second time, ‘Alexander.’ Then, with a cry of rage, the king said, ‘I say, what is your name?’
And when the soldier answered for the third time, ‘Alexander,’ the king angrily replied, ‘You say your name is Alexander, and you are found guilty of this crime. Now, you must face the penalty. Either you change your conduct, or you change your name. For no man can bear my name, Alexander, and do the things that you do.’
Dear friend, if Alexander, a mere human being, took his name so seriously, how much more do you think the One who is the living and true God—and we bear His name as Christians? His name is Jesus Christ. How can we bring dishonor to His precious name?
Rather than dishonoring His name, we must honor His name, and we do that by obeying His call. We recognize wherever He leads, we go, and we will faithfully follow His call. And we must exercise the spiritual gifts that He has given to us, whatever they may be. Even if it is just one spiritual gift, we must be found faithful, and we must glorify Him in the things we do, like Bezaleel and Aholiab.
One day, you and I will have to leave this world. The question is: What legacies have we left behind? In the final analysis, have we obeyed God’s call? Have we exercised our spiritual gifts? Have we glorified His precious name?
Perhaps we have, by the grace of God, in the church, in the fellowship groups and ministries, in our families, in our workplaces, in our schools. We have served the One who purposed to glorify Him wherever He leads us. But no one remembers us. It doesn’t matter because there’s one who never forgets.
Just as He remembered Bezaleel and Aholiab and recorded their names in the Holy Scriptures, God remembers everything we have done in His name. So, whatever we do, say, or think, we always consider how we can glorify our Almighty God. We want Him to remember us for the things we have done. Men may forget—it doesn’t matter—but God remembers.
Let us pray. Our Father in heaven, indeed, as we consider this portion of Scripture, even as we consider these two men whom Thou hast recorded for us in this passage—names that people do not know or even have not heard of, but yet Thou hast recorded for us what they have done. They were called by Thee, specially chosen by Thee for a specific work, and they faithfully obeyed Thy call. They were gifted by Thee, filled with Thy Spirit, and blessed with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. And they served for Thy glory and Thy glory alone.
Oh Lord, may this be our example. May these two persons be set before us as examples for us to follow. We know that nothing happens by chance nor coincidence, but by Thy appointment. Thou hast a specific call for each and every one of us. Thou hast placed us in a particular place, whether it be in the church, in the family, in the workplace, or in the society. Thou hast given to us certain gifts that we may serve for Thy glory. May each and every one of us be a testimony that will stand for Thee.
We call ourselves Christians. We bear the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We want to bring honor to His name. So, help us to live such a life—not for ourselves, but for Thy glory and Thy glory alone. We give Thee thanks, and we pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
THE BOOK OF EXODUSGod’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To PassGod’s Prophecy and Promise Had Come To PassExodus 1:1-7
From Prosperity to PersecutionFrom Prosperity to PersecutionExodus 1:8-14
God’s Protection in the Midst of AdversitiesGod’s Protection in the Midst of AdversitiesExodus 1:15-21
The Faith of JochebedThe Faith of JochebedExodus 1:22-2:10
Moses in EgyptMoses in EgyptExodus 2:11-15
Moses in the Desert of MidianMoses in the Desert of MidianExodus 2:16-25
Moses and the Burning BushMoses and the Burning BushExodus 3:1-9
Who Are You?Who Are You?Exodus 3:10-15
Who Am I?Who Am I?Exodus 3:10-15
God’s Message to Israel and EgyptGod’s Message to Israel and EgyptExodus 3:16-22
What If They Still Don’t Believe?What If They Still Don’t Believe?Exodus 4:1-9
Send Someone ElseSend Someone ElseExodus 4:10-17
Moses’ Return to EgyptMoses’ Return to EgyptExodus 4:18-20
When Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got WorseWhen Things Seemed to Get Better, They Got WorseExodus 5:10-21
When We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble ComesWhen We Have Done Everything Right, and Yet Trouble ComesExodus 5:22-6:5
Having to Learn the Same Lesson TwiceHaving to Learn the Same Lesson TwiceExodus 6:6-12
Faithful or UnfaithfulFaithful or UnfaithfulExodus 6:13-27
What God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and ObedienceWhat God Wants Is Our Faithfulness and ObedienceExodus 6:28-7:7
The First Plague - The River of BloodThe First Plague - The River of BloodExodus 7:14-25
The Second Plague - The FrogsThe Second Plague - The FrogsExodus 8:1-15
The Third PlagueThe Third PlagueExodus 8:16-19
The Fourth PlagueThe Fourth PlagueExodus 8:20-32
The Fifth PlagueThe Fifth PlagueExodus 9:1-7
The Sixth PlagueThe Sixth PlagueExodus 9:8-12
The Seventh PlagueThe Seventh PlagueExodus 9:13-35
The Eighth PlagueThe Eighth PlagueExodus 10:1-20
The Tenth PlagueThe Tenth PlagueExodus 11:1-10
The First PassoverThe First PassoverExodus 12:1-13
The Feast of the Unleavened BreadThe Feast of the Unleavened BreadExodus 12:14-28
Departure From EgyptDeparture From EgyptExodus 12:29-42
This Do In Remembrance of MeThis Do In Remembrance of MeExodus 12:43-51; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!Message 2: What is Church to you? My Covenantal Family!Exodus 12:48-49, Colossians 2:11-12
Redemption and ConsecrationRedemption and ConsecrationExodus 13:1-2, 11-16
Precious Lord, Take My HandPrecious Lord, Take My HandExodus 13:17-22
Between the Desert and the Red SeaBetween the Desert and the Red SeaExodus 14:1-14
Crossing the Red SeaCrossing the Red SeaExodus 14:15-31
The Song of PraiseThe Song of PraiseExodus 15:1-21
Will You Obey Or Not?Will You Obey Or Not?Exodus 15:22-27
The Danger of a Complaining SpiritThe Danger of a Complaining SpiritExodus 16:1-3
God’s Response to Israel’s ComplaintsGod’s Response to Israel’s ComplaintsExodus 16:1-10
The Test of FaithThe Test of FaithExodus 16:11-20
Lessons About the SabbathLessons About the SabbathExodus 16:21-36
Do Not Test GodDo Not Test GodExodus 17:1-17
Lift Up Your HandsLift Up Your HandsExodus 17:8-16
The Blessedness of ReunionThe Blessedness of ReunionExodus 18:1-12
Why Do We Have Leaders?Why Do We Have Leaders?Exodus 18:13-27
I Will Carry You On Eagles’ WingsI Will Carry You On Eagles’ WingsExodus 19:1-6
Approach God Fearlessly or FearfullyApproach God Fearlessly or FearfullyExodus 19:7-15
God Reached Out And SpokeGod Reached Out And SpokeExodus 19:16-25
Thou Shalt Have No Other GodsThou Shalt Have No Other GodsExodus 20:1-3
Thou Shalt Not Make Graven ImagesThou Shalt Not Make Graven ImagesExodus 20:4-6
Thou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s NameThou Shalt Not Dishonour God’s NameExodus 20:7
Thou Shalt Keep The Sabbath DayThou Shalt Keep The Sabbath DayExodus 20:8-11
Honour Thy Father And Thy MotherHonour Thy Father And Thy MotherExodus 20:12
Thou Shalt Not KillThou Shalt Not KillExodus 20:13
Thou Shalt Not Commit AdulteryThou Shalt Not Commit AdulteryExodus 20:14
Thou Shalt Not StealThou Shalt Not StealExodus 20:15
Thou Shalt Not LieThou Shalt Not LieExodus 20:16
Thou Shalt Not CovetThou Shalt Not CovetExodus 20:17
The Response To The Ten CommandmentsThe Response To The Ten CommandmentsExodus 20:18-21
How God Wants Us To Worship HimHow God Wants Us To Worship HimExodus 20:22-26
Why Would God Allow Slavery?Why Would God Allow Slavery?Exodus 21:1-11
The Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a lifeThe Punishment Fits The Crime — a life for a lifeExodus 21:12-17
The Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eyeThe Punishment Fits The Crime — an eye for an eyeExodus 21:18-36
The Punishment Deters The Crime — property lawsThe Punishment Deters The Crime — property lawsExodus 22:1-15
The Character Of GodThe Character Of GodExodus 22:16-20
Reaching Out To The Down-And-OutReaching Out To The Down-And-OutExodus 22:21-24
The Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of GodThe Compassion, Authority & Holiness Of GodExodus 22:25-31
Truth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But TruthTruth Cannot Be Subjected To Anything But TruthExodus 23:1-9
Remember Who God IsRemember Who God IsExodus 23:10-19
What Must We Do To Have VictoryWhat Must We Do To Have VictoryExodus 23:20-33
How We Ought To Worship GodHow We Ought To Worship GodExodus 24:1-4, 7
On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?On What Basis Can We Approach His Majesty?Exodus 24:4-8
Responding To God’s InvitationResponding To God’s InvitationExodus 24:9-18
The Right Attitude Of GivingThe Right Attitude Of GivingExodus 25:1-8
There I Will Meet YouThere I Will Meet YouExodus 25:9-22
Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?Physical Or Spiritual Bread, Which Is More Important?Exodus 25:23-30
Let Your Light So Shine Before MenLet Your Light So Shine Before MenExodus 25:31-40
The Veil That SeparatesThe Veil That SeparatesExodus 26:1-37
A Day In Thy Court Is Better Than A ThousandA Day In Thy Court Is Better Than A ThousandExodus 27:1-19
Who Can Represent Us Before God?Who Can Represent Us Before God?Exodus 27:20-28:14
How Can We Know God’s Will?How Can We Know God’s Will?Exodus 28:15-30
Is Our Worship Attire Really Important?Is Our Worship Attire Really Important?Exodus 28:31-43
The Ordination Of PriestsThe Ordination Of PriestsExodus 29:1-21
The Provision For PriestsThe Provision For PriestsExodus 29:22-29
Remind Us For We Always ForgetRemind Us For We Always ForgetExodus 29:36-46
Sweet Hour Of PrayerSweet Hour Of PrayerExodus 30:1-10
The Danger Of The Number GameThe Danger Of The Number GameExodus 30:11-16
The Importance Of SanctificationThe Importance Of SanctificationExodus 30:17-21
The Anointing Of OilThe Anointing Of OilExodus 30:22-38
No Such Thing As An Unimportant Calling Or GiftNo Such Thing As An Unimportant Calling Or GiftExodus 31:1-11
The Most Ignored CommandmentThe Most Ignored CommandmentExodus 31:12-18
We Forget So QuicklyWe Forget So QuicklyExodus 32:1-6
Guilty As ChargedGuilty As ChargedExodus 32:7-14
Who Is To Be Blamed?Who Is To Be Blamed?Exodus 32:15-24
If Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up HenceIf Thy Presence Go Not with Me, Carry Us Not Up HenceExodus 33:12-23
