Introduction: Read Exodus31v1to11 and Ex35v30 to 36v7.

Many Christians with practical ability have been encouraged by the prominence given to Bezalel and Oholiab. These two men were filled with the Spirit of God not in order to prophesy but to use their craftsmanship to the glory of God.

Many years ago I can recall the Labour MP, Eric Heffer, a devout Roman Catholic, who before entering politics was a carpenter saying how proud he was that Jesus was not only a member of the working class but for most of his life a carpenter too.

I am going to deal with Bezalel and Oholiab under three headings:

(1) Their limitations.

(a) Bezalel and Oholiab were not the architects of the Tabernacle. The architect was God. He drew up the plans and revealed them to Moses.

God gave Jesus the authority to declare the grand strategy of the Christian Church. It is very simply stated in Mt23v19: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I commanded you." That is the blue print from which we should all work.

(b) Bezalel and Oholiab were dependent upon the freewill offerings of others for the materials needed to build the temple. All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do. Ex35v29. The Israelites provided a huge variety of materials. See Ex35v20to29. In the end the people gave so much Moses had to stop them from giving any more. See Ex36v6.It is amazing the Israelites had so much to give. They certainly did not leave Egypt empty handed. The Bible tells us they plundered the Egyptians before they left and this is no exaggeration.

It was very important that as many as possible were involved in constructing the Tabernacle and its furnishings. Most got involved through giving.

One of the ways many get involved in Christian work is through giving. Some years ago, Pioneer Camp, a Christian camp for young people, was no longer able to hire bell tents. The only way to get bell tents was to pay for them to be made. A letter was sent to the Grace Baptist Churches asking if they were able to help. My church offered to buy a tent. What an excellent way to share in the work of bringing the gospel to boys and girls for many years to come.

(2) Their qualifications.

Bezalel and Oholiab were:

(a) Brilliant designers and craftsmen. They had skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of craft.

• The two men had the skill to visualise the objects described by Moses. They could see in their mind's eye what was needed. This is the sort of ability the building site manager of a major development must have.

• The leading craftsmen had the ability to produce what was required.

• Finally they had knowledge born of experience on how to work with raw materials. It was not easy to cast metals, cut precious stones or cover wood with gold. My friend Mervyn has a contract to go to Singapore and show a firm there how to successfully cast bronze ship's propellers. Mervyn has years and years of experience in this field and has learned how to overcome all the difficulties.

The creative ability of Bezalel and Oholiab was as much a gift of God's Spirit as Moses power to preach and Miriam's to sing. Creativity is one of the ways men and women are made in God's image. If we have practical skills we should be glad to dedicate them to God's service. In my own church, Pat is a gifted gardener and brightens our graveyard with a border of gaily coloured annuals; her husband, Roger, fitted a new kitchen with a level of expertise I could never aspire to; Dennis, a master baker, brings selections of cream horns, eccles cakes and cheese scones for the elderly to enjoy.

It is interesting to note that Bezalel and Oholiab had their specialities:

• Bezalel made the Ark of the Covenant. He made the two cherubim out of hammered gold to his own design. It was a project that gave him licence to use his creativity. See 37v1to5.

• Oholiab embroidered the tapestry for the inner lining of the Tabernacle. He was responsible for designing and embroidering the cherubim on the tapestry. Oholiab was also free to use his craftsmanship to best advantage. See Ex38v23.

It is important for a church to have the right people in the right job. Some people itch to preach but it would be much better if they maintained the graveyard, ran the luncheon club or acted as church treasurer. There other folk who should have a teaching ministry but they are shunted into a siding. Perhaps they are put in charge of the church shop!!

(b) Good organisers.

Bezalel and Oholiab were in charge of a very large team of workers. It included numerous skilled craftsmen and women who spun and dyed yarn and possibly also wove cloth. This team had to be told what to do and their work checked for quality.

For twenty years I organised all the sports, games and other activities for about 120 children at Pioneer Camp. It was a gift I had and it certainly made camp memorable for many youngsters.

Churches, especially well attended ones, need a good administrator. The church secretary may well be as important as the pastor for the health and happiness of the fellowship.

(c) Able teachers.

We read in Ex35v34: And he (God) has given both him (Bezalel) and Oholiab the ability to teach others.

Some people like to show off their skills but are not noticeably willing to impart their know-how to others. When computers were first introduced into schools, experts used to come in, supposedly to show us what to do, but usually more interested in demonstrating their expertise which left the majority of teachers thoroughly depressed.

Bezalel and Oholiab showed others how to do some of the simpler tasks like making bronze tent pegs and silver hooks for the screening. They willingly passed on their practical skills and insights to others.

It is very important to help others to succeed. Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God." Mt4v9. It is very frustrating not to be able to do something. No one experiences peace when struggling with a task and being unable to do it. So if we can help someone to succeed we will be peacemakers. When I went to Japan I struggled to use chopsticks. Eventually a sweet young woman asked if I held the chopsticks the English way. I replied, "No - my way." She said, "I will show you the Japanese way." The young woman took the chopsticks and placed them in my hand in the right position. From then on I never looked back. I was that pleased! She was a peacemaker.

Able teachers are peacemakers. What a difference it makes when children are taught to read. What a sense of achievement it gives. The church needs its teachers. I am sure that young Timothy profited from being mentored by the apostle Paul. He gives Timothy much good advice in the letters written to him.

Youthful preachers can benefit from advice from seasoned pastors with the gift for teaching. See exposition on Mt5v9.

(3) Their qualities.

Bezalel and Oholiab were:

(a) Willing.

Then Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person who was willing to come and do the work. Ex36v2. Only the willing were used to make the Tabernacle and its furnishings.

It is wonderful when a church is full of willing workers. I am always heartened by the way our small congregation works together to prepare for, serve and clear up after our Good Friday tea. We have a special service on Good Friday and people from other fellowships attend. So quite a lot of work is involved but everyone volunteers to do their bit and it is a very happy occasion.

Conversely it is very sad when meetings and activities close because no one is prepared to accept responsibility for running them.

(b) Obedient.

God told Moses: "They are to make them (the Tabernacle and its furnishings) just as I commanded you." 31v11.

The instructions God gave Moses did allow the craftsmen to show their creativity as, for example, in the appearance of the golden cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant, the ornamental rim on the golden altar of incense and the cups shaped like almond flowers on the golden lampstand.

Jesus gave his followers instructions to make disciples but he did not say what methods they had to use. It is left to each individual to go about it in his own way. However, Jesus expects us to be obedient. He said to his disciples: "You are my friends if you do what I command." Jn15v14.

Paul told King Agrippa at his trial that Jesus appeared to him and told him to go to the Gentiles "to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." Acts26v18. Paul then asserts, "So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven." v19. He certainly was not - an example to us all!

(c) Successful.

Moses records: So all the work on the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD commanded Moses. Ex39v32. Moses inspected all the work and saw they had done it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them. Ex39v43.

Bezalel and Oholiab were successful because they were:

• Good motivators. They got the various craftsmen to work with a will and to remain focused. The work was finished in six months. Nehemiah was a man of the same ilk. He galvanised the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that the city wall was rebuilt in 52 days.

  It is a very great gift to be able to get the best out of people. Dodger used to organise the Brockley Cricket Club draw. He was able to persuade all sorts of people to take books of tickets to sell. No one liked to say, "No," to Dodger. My brother, Philip, and I would often discuss this gift of Dodgers. We both agreed that neither of us would be able to persuade anybody to sell draw tickets on behalf of Brockley Cricket Club. Such friends and acquaintances as we have find it easy to say, "No," to us!

  Sir Alex Ferguson, the football manager of Manchester United, was a fantastic motivator. He was able to get the very best out of his players and was largely responsible for their phenomenal success.

  Good motivators are invaluable to a church. The apostle Paul had what it took. He was able to raise a substantial sum of money from the churches he founded to relieve the poverty of the Christians in Jerusalem.

• Persevering. Bezalel and Oholiab were determined to get the job done. They stuck with it until the project was finished.

  There have been some staggering feats of engineering during the last two centuries. The successful completion of railways, roads, tunnels, bridges and mineral exploitation has been as much due to perseverance as ingenuity.

  It is much easier to start a project than it is to finish it. My Geography students had to complete a long project in their summer holiday for their GCSE exam. Some made a brilliant beginning but a very poor ending.

  Some Christians are full of enthusiasm at the beginning of a new initiative but soon lose interest. We need to be like Paul who could say near the end of his life: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2Tim4v7. Jesus expects his followers to endure hardship as good soldiers.

At the end of the work Moses blessed them. See Ex39v47. Christians who use the opportunities Jesus gives them can look forward to his, "Well done, good and faithful servant." The apostle Paul was able to say in triumph: Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2Tim4v8.