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Exodus 31
1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2“Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
3I have filled him with , in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship,
4to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze,
5and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship.
6Behold, I myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you:
7the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the , the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent,
8the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the of incense,
9the of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base,
10the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron , the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office—
11the oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the : according to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”
12The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
13“Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Most certainly you shall keep my Sabbaths; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
14You shall keep the Sabbath therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
15Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death.
16Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual .
17It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.’”
18When he finished speaking with him on Sinai, he gave Moses the two tablets of the , stone tablets, written with God’s finger.
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Questions this passage answers
Who is God?
God is the one living Creator who made everything and depends on nothing, and Scripture answers this question mainly by telling us his character rather than by defining his substance. When God described himself to Moses he said he is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in loving kindness and truth, and yet will by no means clear the guilty. The New Testament adds that this God is finally known in Jesus Christ, who has made him known.
Does God provide for my needs?
Scripture says yes, and it is careful about the word need. God promises to supply what his people need, often daily rather than in advance, and he does not promise surplus, comfort or the removal of hard seasons. Paul, who wrote that God will supply every need, also wrote that he had learned to be hungry.
What does the Bible say about worry?
Jesus forbids worry about food, drink and clothing, and he argues rather than scolds: your Father knows what you need, he feeds the birds, worry adds nothing to your life. Scripture then gives the worrier something to do, prayer with thanksgiving and casting the burden on God, and it limits the horizon to one day at a time.
What does it mean to fear the Lord?
The fear of the LORD is not terror of an unpredictable God. It is the reverence of a creature who has rightly understood who God is, holy, sovereign and near, and who therefore takes him seriously in every decision. Proverbs calls it the beginning of knowledge, because a person who has not reckoned with God has not yet begun to understand anything rightly.