Exodus 31

God filled some Israelites with his spirit of creativity

Then the Existing One told Moses, 

“I’ve summoned Bezalel by name (Uri’s son and Hur’s grandson from Judah’s lineage) and filled him with my spirit, giving him skill, intelligence, and perception about all kinds of craftsmanship. He can create artistic designs out of gold, silver, and bronze. He can chisel stones and carve wood for all kinds of projects. I even assigned Oholiab (Ahisamach’s son from Dan’s lineage) to be his assistant. I put skill in the hearts of all your creatives so that they can make all these things I told you about: the meeting room, the chest of evidence, the chest’s golden lid, all the room’s furniture (including the table and it’s accessories), the pure-gold lampstand with all its accessories, the altar for roasted offerings with its accessories, the basin with its stand, the woven clothes, the priestly clothes for Aaron and his sons, the dedication oil, and the fragrant incense for the sacred area. The creative professionals should make all of those by following my instructions.”

Use the Sabbatical to reconnect with God

The Existing One told Moses,

“Observe my sabbatical because they’ll be a token between Israel and me throughout your generations. They’ll remind you that I’m the Existing One who purifies you. Observe the sabbaticals because they are set apart for you. Whoever violates the sabbatical should be executed. Whoever works on those days will be estranged from their people. Do all your work in 6 days and take a sabbatical on the 7th to find restoration with me. That day is set aside for the Existing One. I repeat: whoever does any work on that day should be executed. The Israelites should maintain restoration throughout their generations as an ongoing alliance with me. It’ll be a token between the Israelites and me forever. The Existing One made the world and heaven in 6 days but on the 7th he rested and was refreshed.”

God gives Moses the evidence

When God finished talking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him two slabs of stone with the evidence written on it by God’s own finger.