Be Equipped Like Bezalel and Oholiab

Be Equipped Like Bezalel and Oholiab                        March 30, 2025

Exodus 31:1-5 states “Then the Lord said to Moses,  ‘Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft!'”

Bezalel was chosen by God to help build the Tabernacle and all its associated items to allow the Israelites to worship God.  He gave Bezalel an assistant Oholiab as well as other craftsmen to help construct these items.  Bezalel was chosen by God, filled with the Spirit of God and given great wisdom, ability and expertise and was called a master craftsman.  God provided them with the skills and abilities necessary to be master craftsmen.  God had very important work for Bezalel and his contemporaries to do and God fully equipped them to do so.

Like Bezalel, God has chosen us to do great work.  God chose Bezalel for a specific purpose to complete  God has also chosen us and has a purpose for our lives  (Ephesians 1:4; 1Peter 2:9). God gave Bezalel a great work to do; God has also given us a great work to do.  In Matthew 28:19-20 we read, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”

God did not simply give Bezalel this important work to do, but also ensured he was fully equipped to do this work.  God filled him with His Spirit, provided him helpers and gave them the necessary skills and abilities.  God has also given us the ability to be fully equipped.  He equips us by:

• Giving us His Spirit through faith.  John 16:13 states, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
• Giving us His word. II Timothy 3:16-17 reads, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
• Giving us the ability to pray.  James 5:13-16 tells us, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
• Giving us skills and abilities. 1 Peter 4:10 reveals, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
• Giving us Godly men.  In Ephesians 4:11-13 we read, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;”

Like Bezalel and Oholiab our heavenly Father has given us the opportunity to do important work in His Kingdom.  God ensured that Bezalel and Oholiab were fully equipped to do their work and were successful in accomplishing it.  If we are going to be successful in completing the work He has given us we, too, must strive to be fully equipped for that work.  Are we allowing God to fully equip us?  Do we allow the Spirit to guide us in all things?  Do we spend time in God’s word, understanding His instructions and will for us?  Do we spend time in fervent prayer?  Do we exercise the talents God has given us?  God has put Godly men in our lives who have a responsibility to help equip us.  Are we allowing them to do this? 

Kevin Pickles, Owen Sound