Exodus 36 Construction
It is time to begin construction of the Tabernacle God has put in the hearts of His people. This is where His presence will dwell with the people.
God gave Moses a personal tour of His designs. Now, He will inspire His chosen craftsmen to construct it. There is NO WAY, other than by His Spirit, that the people could have seen all He wanted. The designs and features were specific, but not exactly able to be communicated with words.
This reminds me of a story of three blind men encountering an elephant. Each touched the elephant in a different location and gave a different interpretation. One touched the trunk and declared it a serpent. The second touched its leg and declared it a tree. The third touched the tail and declared it a broom. All three inferred their own meaning from what they knew. So, if not for God’s Spirit imparting His design, who knows what would have developed.
Let’s join Moses and the craftsmen as they begin the work on the Lord’s habitation.
♥ ♦ ♥
The mounds of material are ready to be passed onto those who will be doing the work. Moses calls for the people’s attention. Once everyone is silent, he declares the leaders of all the construction.
“See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer.” (Exodus 35:30-35)
“Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.” (Exodus 36:1)
Bezalel and Oholiab are brought to the front of the congregation. Moses presents them to the people. “These two men, called by God, will be over all the work of the dwelling of the Lord. They will need your help. You will know in your own hearts the call of the Lord for your skills and participation. NONE will begin work on his own. It will all flow through the direction of Bezalel and Oholiab.
After Moses has set these guidelines, he turns to Bezalel and Oholiab. “Receive the people’s contribution to the work of the Tabernacle of the Lord. May the Lord lead your hands, hearts, and minds to accomplish all that He has designed.”
Bezalel and Oholiab bow their heads in acceptance of this assignment. Then they turn to the people. “All who have a desire to help, please step forward.”
There is a HUGE surge of the people towards the two men. Moses puts his hands up to stop the surge. “How about meeting just outside the camp? This gives more room for movement without being in danger of coming too close to the Mountain of the Lord.”
Moses seeks out Joshua with his eyes. Once he spots him, he gives him a task. “Joshua, gather ten men and have them assist you in transporting these wonderful contributions to the Lord, to the tent of Bezalel.”
Joshua acknowledges acceptance of Moses’ instructions and begins immediately selecting men to help him.
The congregation breaks up, with many following Bezalel and Oholiab to a spot outside of the camp. Joshua sends two of his men to fetch carts, while he and the others organize what has been contributed. Those not included in either group, return to their business of the day. Moses and Aaron watch on.
“I need weavers over here” Bezalel calls while pointing to a place for them to assemble. “Metal workers over by Oholiab.” Oholiab raises his hand to let them know where to gather. “Those skilled in working with wood gather by that tree” Bezalel instructs while indicating which tree he has chosen. “Anyone not in one of these three groups, wait here with me. I will talk with you personally to determine where your skills would fit in with the Lord’s plans.”
The groups begin to split from the main group and gather into their assigned places. There are only a few who remain standing before Bezalel. He questions each. In the group he finds several who are skilled in administration. These will be tasked with tracking all the supplies, the work flow, and finished goods. There is also a group skilled in embroidery. Their skills will be called upon a little later. The remaining people simply want to help in any way possible. Bezalel gives them jobs as ‘runners.’ Their responsibility will be in delivering communications between the groups, bringing supplies, and putting finished pieces together into a single location.
Work begins! Every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats’ hair.” (Exodus 35:25-26)
The structure of the Tent of Meeting was the first work attended to. The special articles for the Tabernacle would wait for a bit; as well as the outer court.
From what the women weaved, all the craftsmen among the workmen made the tabernacle with ten curtains. They were made of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns, with cherubim skillfully worked. (Exodus 36:8) The outer coverings of the Tabernacle were also woven and sewn together. The veil that would stand between the inner court and the Holy of Holies was made by Bezalel himself.
Those skilled in carpentry made the frames, bars, and pegs for hanging the curtains. After the frames and poles were constructed, they were turned over to the metal workers.
The metal workers were busy making the bases, rings, and clasps. There were MANY that had to be made to exacting and matching standards. They would also overlay the frames and bars, made of acacia wood, with gold. Not a single exposed surface would be permitted in the Tabernacle.
The Spirit of the Lord guided the hands of the craftsmen in all their endeavors. Bezalel tried each piece to make certain they fit together exactly as designed. Then the pieces were turned over to the runners to place in storage. The pieces would wait until the entire process was completed before being erected into place.
Work on the Tabernacle took place six days a week. On the seventh, no shuttle, needle, hammer, or carving tool was lifted from its resting place. The seventh day of each week was dedicated to the Lord. It was His Sabbath, and ALL observed it.
Several weeks would pass before the focus shifted to the other items. The people continued to bring donations to Moses’ door for the work. After a few weeks, the craftsmen sent runners to him requesting that the people stop. There was already MORE than enough in donations for the work. Moses put out a decree that NO MORE donations would be accepted. The people respected this, and the piles already collected were slowly dwindling with the work that was taking place. There was still MUCH work to be done.
(to be continued)
Father God, I’m looking forward to seeing Your original in Heaven. What You gave to Moses was a copy of Your Temple. I KNOW that the beauty of it will be beyond my wildest imagination!
Thank You for the skills You placed in each of us. For the craftsmen of Your Tabernacle, to the skills You have given me for sharing Your stories. They could take no more credit for the work than I can. Keep working through me Father.
