| Bezalel: You are Gifted by God |
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Page 1 of 9 Bezalel: You are Gifted by GodThe Power of One Life 5.0 Exodus 35:30-36:7 by Eric Stillman June 29th, 2008
The book of Exodus begins with the story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt under the leadership of Moses. The whole nation passes through the Red Sea, and comes to Mt. Sinai, where God gives them the laws that explain to them what it means to be the people of God and how they are to interact with each other. One of the central features of Exodus is the restoration of God’s presence, which was lost in Eden, to the midst of God’s people. To this end, a big part of the book is given over to explaining how to construct the Tabernacle, which will be the place where God would dwell in their midst. It’s not easy reading for a 21st century American, but the point of all the details is that this is where God’s presence will be among them. This is why the finest materials are used – gold, fine linen, silver, bronze, precious stones (even the priest is required to have sacred undergarments!) – this will be the place where people meet with God, where he dwells, so only the finest materials must be used in order to give him the honor He is due. And in the midst of that we read about a man named Bezalel, in Exodus 35:30-36:3. |