And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.
The verse names the skilled tabernacle crafts of cutting and setting stones and carving wood to make intricate, skillful work for the sanctuary and its furnishings. Bezaleel of Judah and Aholiab of Dan were called by name and filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom, understanding, knowledge and all workmanship, with wisdom of heart both to work and to teach others. Their ability was taught and given by God beyond the natural, and the design they followed came from God according to the heavenly pattern, wrought under divine direction with heavenly intelligences cooperating. God still gives wisdom, understanding, tact and practical skill to those willing to learn from Him, depend wholly on Him and be guided by Him, and He requires that same exactitude, skill and perfection in every work done in His service for His glory. Different lines of work were fitted to different talents with part joining perfectly to part, showing that He gives varied gifts and trusts according to varied capabilities and calls workers to unite, help one another and respect one another's work.
Tabernacle Craft and Calling
The verse names the tabernacle crafts of cutting stones in order to set them and carving wood to produce every kind of skillful, intricate work. That cutting, setting, and carving belonged to the making of the sanctuary and its furnishings, entrusted to specially chosen workers endowed with wisdom and understanding for fine workmanship.
Bezaleel of the tribe of Judah was called by name, together with Aholiab of the tribe of Dan, for the building of the wilderness tabernacle. They were filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, including engraving, devising skillful work, embroidery, and weaving, with wisdom of heart to teach others. Bezaleel and every wise-hearted man in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding thus wrought with heavenly intelligences cooperating with the workmen God chose.
The skill for stone-setting and woodcarving was taught and given by God, qualifying the workmen with abilities beyond the natural. The design and directions for the sanctuary came from God and not from Moses or the workers, and the work was done under divine direction and supervision. It was made according to the model of the heavenly sanctuary and the specific pattern shown to Moses, with Christ directing the work as practical training in which everyone including children had an assigned part and learned order, discipline, and service to God.
The descendants of those men in Judah and Dan inherited to a large degree the skill conferred on their forefathers and were regarded as especially skillful in the finer arts. For a time they remained humble and unselfish, then lost hold on God and cherished covetousness. Some grasped for higher wages and served heathen kings with their God-given skill in ways that dishonored their Maker. Aholiab had received wisdom for the tabernacle, and Huram, a descendant of Aholiab, later displayed unusual skill in temple work, yet skill alone did not make his service consecrated while he sought high wages.
Gift for Present Service
The cutting of stones to set them and the carving of wood for skillful work were tasks God commanded for the sanctuary, and they show that He gives wisdom, understanding, tact and practical skill to those willing to learn from Him and work with Him. That gift is given on condition of whole dependence upon Him and willingness to be controlled and guided by Him, walking and working as men and women accountable to God. As workers use the abilities He gives, they gain further wisdom and skill to overcome difficulties. The same gift is still imparted today, for the Lord will give tact and skill to do His work and will impart wisdom to all who have a part in His cause.
God required exactitude, skill, tact, wisdom and perfection in that work for the earthly tabernacle, and He requires that same perfection to be brought into every work done in His service. Workers are to seek mental strength to do everything according to the pattern shown to Moses in the mount. The skill and craftsmanship were given by God and were to be used for His glory. The work followed His design, and those taught by Him put heart, soul and strength into it, so that the hard and strenuous labor of the mechanics, done with heart, skill and strength for His honor, expressed love for God and honored Him.
In the building different lines of work, including cutting stones for setting and carving wood for cunning work, were assigned to different ones while all labored under the supervision of God. The Lord gives talents that enable men to carry forward special lines of work, and each one is to be allowed to do the special work for which he is fitted, so that part fits perfectly to part. Varied gifts must be brought in and varied trusts are proportioned to varied capabilities, for it is the Lord's plan that there shall be unity in diversity rather than all working in exactly the same way. Workers must therefore unite and combine with other minds, give one another a chance, help one another and respect one another's work.
God called people with suitable character and qualifications and gave them aptitude and skill in all manner of workmanship, and He did not leave them to rely on their own human wisdom. Their work was to be a special representation of the exalted character of His service and to represent the sacredness of the human body as a temple. Artisans to whom the Lord has given ability for the most skillful work should therefore not become exalted because of their skill and aptitude, and working men need not be lacking in refinement and true Christian courtesy. The tabernacle displayed His power and majesty, and buildings erected for Him are to honor His name through faithfulness, stability and fitness in every part. When opening providence makes it necessary to erect a meeting-house in some locality, the Lord is pleased if there are among His own people those so gifted with wisdom and skill to perform the necessary practical work.
As God gave the tabernacle workers understanding and ability for skilled craftsmanship in carving wood and cutting and setting stones, so the Holy Spirit gives workers tact and intelligence in making food. That same God now gives skill and understanding in the combining of natural food products, showing His people how to secure a wholesome, healthful diet by carefully combining fruits, grains and roots into wholesome foods. This includes the careful manufacture of health foods as a school industry for the work of building up the body, and that food work is the Lord's work. Skilled stone-setting and woodcarving were among the useful trades valued in Israel, showing that industrial skill was taught as part of a life of useful labor.
The verse names the skilled tabernacle crafts of cutting and setting stones and carving wood to make intricate, skillful work for the sanctuary and its furnishings. Bezaleel of Judah and Aholiab of Dan were called by name and filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom, understanding, knowledge and all workmanship, with wisdom of heart both to work and to teach others. Their ability was taught and given by God beyond the natural, and the design they followed came from God according to the heavenly pattern, wrought under divine direction with heavenly intelligences cooperating. God still gives wisdom, understanding, tact and practical skill to those willing to learn from Him, depend wholly on Him and be guided by Him, and He requires that same exactitude, skill and perfection in every work done in His service for His glory. Different lines of work were fitted to different talents with part joining perfectly to part, showing that He gives varied gifts and trusts according to varied capabilities and calls workers to unite, help one another and respect one another's work.
Tabernacle Craft and Calling
The verse names the tabernacle crafts of cutting stones in order to set them and carving wood to produce every kind of skillful, intricate work. That cutting, setting, and carving belonged to the making of the sanctuary and its furnishings, entrusted to specially chosen workers endowed with wisdom and understanding for fine workmanship.
Bezaleel of the tribe of Judah was called by name, together with Aholiab of the tribe of Dan, for the building of the wilderness tabernacle. They were filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, including engraving, devising skillful work, embroidery, and weaving, with wisdom of heart to teach others. Bezaleel and every wise-hearted man in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding thus wrought with heavenly intelligences cooperating with the workmen God chose.
The skill for stone-setting and woodcarving was taught and given by God, qualifying the workmen with abilities beyond the natural. The design and directions for the sanctuary came from God and not from Moses or the workers, and the work was done under divine direction and supervision. It was made according to the model of the heavenly sanctuary and the specific pattern shown to Moses, with Christ directing the work as practical training in which everyone including children had an assigned part and learned order, discipline, and service to God.
The descendants of those men in Judah and Dan inherited to a large degree the skill conferred on their forefathers and were regarded as especially skillful in the finer arts. For a time they remained humble and unselfish, then lost hold on God and cherished covetousness. Some grasped for higher wages and served heathen kings with their God-given skill in ways that dishonored their Maker. Aholiab had received wisdom for the tabernacle, and Huram, a descendant of Aholiab, later displayed unusual skill in temple work, yet skill alone did not make his service consecrated while he sought high wages.
Gift for Present Service
The cutting of stones to set them and the carving of wood for skillful work were tasks God commanded for the sanctuary, and they show that He gives wisdom, understanding, tact and practical skill to those willing to learn from Him and work with Him. That gift is given on condition of whole dependence upon Him and willingness to be controlled and guided by Him, walking and working as men and women accountable to God. As workers use the abilities He gives, they gain further wisdom and skill to overcome difficulties. The same gift is still imparted today, for the Lord will give tact and skill to do His work and will impart wisdom to all who have a part in His cause.
God required exactitude, skill, tact, wisdom and perfection in that work for the earthly tabernacle, and He requires that same perfection to be brought into every work done in His service. Workers are to seek mental strength to do everything according to the pattern shown to Moses in the mount. The skill and craftsmanship were given by God and were to be used for His glory. The work followed His design, and those taught by Him put heart, soul and strength into it, so that the hard and strenuous labor of the mechanics, done with heart, skill and strength for His honor, expressed love for God and honored Him.
In the building different lines of work, including cutting stones for setting and carving wood for cunning work, were assigned to different ones while all labored under the supervision of God. The Lord gives talents that enable men to carry forward special lines of work, and each one is to be allowed to do the special work for which he is fitted, so that part fits perfectly to part. Varied gifts must be brought in and varied trusts are proportioned to varied capabilities, for it is the Lord's plan that there shall be unity in diversity rather than all working in exactly the same way. Workers must therefore unite and combine with other minds, give one another a chance, help one another and respect one another's work.
God called people with suitable character and qualifications and gave them aptitude and skill in all manner of workmanship, and He did not leave them to rely on their own human wisdom. Their work was to be a special representation of the exalted character of His service and to represent the sacredness of the human body as a temple. Artisans to whom the Lord has given ability for the most skillful work should therefore not become exalted because of their skill and aptitude, and working men need not be lacking in refinement and true Christian courtesy. The tabernacle displayed His power and majesty, and buildings erected for Him are to honor His name through faithfulness, stability and fitness in every part. When opening providence makes it necessary to erect a meeting-house in some locality, the Lord is pleased if there are among His own people those so gifted with wisdom and skill to perform the necessary practical work.
As God gave the tabernacle workers understanding and ability for skilled craftsmanship in carving wood and cutting and setting stones, so the Holy Spirit gives workers tact and intelligence in making food. That same God now gives skill and understanding in the combining of natural food products, showing His people how to secure a wholesome, healthful diet by carefully combining fruits, grains and roots into wholesome foods. This includes the careful manufacture of health foods as a school industry for the work of building up the body, and that food work is the Lord's work. Skilled stone-setting and woodcarving were among the useful trades valued in Israel, showing that industrial skill was taught as part of a life of useful labor.