In Whose Heart the Lord Put Wisdom

Two relatively unknown characters of the Old Testament are Bezaleel and Aholiab. They were the chief constructors of the tabernacle for the children of Israel in the wilderness in the days of Moses. The Lord said, “I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee; The tabernacle of the congregation” (Exodus 31:2-7). One of the things that the account makes clear is that they were given wisdom and gifts from the Lord. Moses described again the two of them this way, “See, the Lord hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri… and he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship…. He hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work” (Exodus 35:30-31, 34-35). And in case we missed it, the next chapter says again: “Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary” (Exodus 36:1). They were able to do the great work the Lord had for them in building the tabernacle in the wilderness because they were given wisdom and understanding and skills by the spirit of God.

                Exodus 37 describes what Bezaleel and others made for the tabernacle. They made the ark of shittim wood (v1-5), the mercy seat of pure gold (v6), two cherubims of gold (v7-9), the table of shittim wood (v10-15), vessels for the table (v16), candlesticks of pure gold (v17-22), seven lamps of gold (v23-24), the incense altar of shittim wood (v25-28), and holy anointing oil and spices (v29). The next chapter continues the list with the altar of burnt offering (v1-2), the vessels of the altar (v3) a brasen grate (v4-7), the laver of brass (v8), and the court (v9-20). That is a long list of the works they accomplished, and these men had been given great gifts from the Lord to construct all of these sacred parts of the tabernacle. One verse summarizes their work this way: “And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord commanded Moses. And with him was Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a cunning workman” (Exodus 38:22-23). Perhaps one of the lessons for us in this account is that the Lord can similarly inspire us and enable us to do a great work with the talents He has given us. We know that “there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God,” and the story of Bezaleel and Aholiab show us that the Lord can use us in His work if we will employ the talents He has given us (Doctrine and Covenants 46:11). And the only requirement is that we desire to help: “If ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work” (Doctrine and Covenants 4:3). This is how it was for the children of Israel in that day: “And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it” (Exodus 36:2). If our heart is stirred up to want to participate in the work of the Lord, whether physical or spiritual, then He can put wisdom in us and enable us to do great things just like Bezaleel and Aholiab in ancient times.