The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 296

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-12.-Bezal.eel and .Aholiab. The calling of these two craftsmen for the work of the 811.Ilctua.ry, and the stat.ement concerning Bezaleel that Jehovah had "filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship" (ver. 8), suggest various important lessons. On the distinction of the terms-" wisdom," " understanding," "knowledge," see the exposi- tion, and consult the valuable notes on Eph. i. 8, Col. i. 9, in the Bishop of Durham's Commentaries. The general moral is, that when God has any important work to he done, whether in Church or State, he will not fail to raise up, and in due time to " call by name," the individuals needed for the doing of it. The preparatory training school of these individuals may be f&r removed from the scene of their future labours. Bezaleel and Aholiab were trained in Egypt. Cf. what is said in "From Log Cabin to White House" of Presidents Lincoln and Garfield, of the Uni lied States-" Both of these states- men were born in log-cabins, built by their fathers, in the wilderness, for family homes. Both were poor as mortals can well be. Both were born with talents of the highest order; but neither enjoyed early advantages of schools and teachers . . . Both worked on a farm, chopped wood, and did wha.tever else wa.s needful for a livelihood, when eight years of age," etc. Thus God gifts, trains, prepares men, without a hint of the use to which he means afterwards to put them. Till the event discloses it, the honour in reserve for them is kept a secret, even from them.selves. The gem is polished in obscurity by the master's hand. Ultimat.el.y it is brought to light, and a.stonishes the beholders by the ra.re finish of its beauty. The taberna.cle wa.s built with the spoils of the Egyptians in more senses than one. More special lessons a.re the following- L ALL GIFTS ARE FROM GoD. Not simply gifts of intellect, of oratory, of holiness, of spiritual understanding, but gifts of every kind, from the highest to the lowest. Grace, in the CBBe of Bezaleel, Aholiab, e.nd their fellow-craftsmen, proceeded on a basis of natural endowment. Cf. ver. 6-" into the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom." Skill in handicraft is a species of mental excellence, and deserves the name "wisdom." It, also, is from God. So with all natural talents ; with, e.g., the poetic gift; gifts of music, painting, sculpture, architecture ; business faculty ; the gift of statesme.nship; the power to "think out inventions"; the skill of the artificer. This truth lies a.t the basis of the demand for a religious use of gifts. lL NATURAL GIFJ.'8 ADMIT OF INDEFINITE EXPANSION AND ENLABGEMENT ll'NDEB THE INFLUENCE oF GoD's SPIB.IT. The worke.ce :n the tabernacle were supernaturally assisted in their work. Nothing less thd.Il this is implied in the words-" And I have filled him with the spirit of God" (ver. 3); "into the hearts of all tha.t a.re wise hearted I have put wisdom" (ver. 6). Grace aids nature. Regeneration is often accompanied by a mysterious and almost miraculous improvement in the powers of knowledge, so much su that, from a state of stolid imbecility, a. person may be seen rising up and standing forth e.n Beute argumentative pleader for the truth. (Cf. Dr. Wm. Anderson on "Regeneration," p. 37.) What hol~ good of t~e g_eneral invigor~tion_ of _the ~ow~rs, may be expected to apply in the particular. Dedicat10n of self carries with it dedication of gifui. And if an individwi.l dedicates to God any special gift which he possesses, beeking, whether in the Church or in pursuit of an ordinary calling, to use the same for Gud's glory, it will Le his privilege to have it aided, strengthened, pw-ified, aud br!(ely eu..l.uuired in it~ operation,; by the influences of Divine grace. 'l'he cowruoucsL en. XXlll, 12-17.] THE BOOK OF EXODUS.