[I apologize if you received this blog already. The system says it was sent out on schedule, but I see no evidence that it was.]

I can’t leave Exodus without one more mention of Bezalel and Oholiab, the men who built the Tabernacle. We met them first back in Exodus 31:

The LORD said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you. (Exodus 31.1 – 6, ESV)

Bezalel is explicitly mentioned, by name, seven times in Exodus (not counting all the “he built…”), ending with one last shout-out in Exodus 38. After all the construction was finished, a summary of all the materials that had been used starts this way:

These are the records of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of the testimony, as they were recorded at the commandment of Moses…Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded Moses; and with him was Oholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver and designer and embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. (Exodus 38.21 – 23, ESV)

I feel compelled to mention Bezalel and Oholiab one last time because Moses felt compelled to mention them one last time. Moses didn’t make the Tabernacle, Bezalel and Oholiab did. And God wants us to remember their names! They wouldn’t actually serve in the Tabernacle – they’re not Levites – but they faithfully did the work God equipped and called them to do.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2.10, NIV)