THE FINAL TALK The Lord ended His talk with the prophet Moses on Mount Sinai, by appointing the names of the two persons He chose to build the tabernacle and all its furnishings. He also confirmed the commandment pertaining to the Sabbath Law; and then gave him the two tablets of testimony, before letting him go down to the people. 1- The workers on the tabernacle 1 - 11 2- The Sabbath Law 12 - 17 3- Giving Moses the two tablets of testimony 18 1- The workers on the tabernacle After commanding Moses to build the tabernacle with all its furnishings, according to a living pattern that He showed him, He did not let him choose those who were to do the work, but called by name ‘Bezaleel’ the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, whom He filled with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship. He appointed with him ‘Aholiab’ the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him in his task. He also commanded him to appoint all who are gifted artisans among the people that they may make all that He had commanded. In this command, we notice the following: A- God chose already gifted persons, then filled them with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and knowledge. St. John Chrysostom says that the wisdom of the worker, naturally given to him by God, would be supported by a heavenly wisdom, to help him build the House of God1. God did not disregard the natural wisdom, as it is also His gift, but sanctified it by His Holy Spirit, who supports and helps. B- If God chose ‘Bezaleel’, and filled him with His Spirit (Exod. 31.3), as a confirmation of the importance of God’s role in choosing the overseer, He also chose ‘Aholiab’, to support him. As though the guidance work in the Church is set on the spirit of fellowship, love, and counsel, and not on individual spirit. The secret of success of a priest or minister, whatever his rank is, is not in his individual work, but in his cooperation with his brothers by the one spirit. C- The Lord says, “I have put wisdom in the heart of all who are gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you” (Exod. 31.6). He is proclaiming to Moses his commitment to engage all energies, as God has granted among His people, those with the wisdom of heart, to support the overseers in their work. D- It is to be noticed that the hand of God intervenes in the choice of the workers in His vine, either through, directly designating particular names for particular tasks, or indirectly indicating their required qualifications. That is what the Lord Christ confirmed, when He asked us to pray that God send workers for His harvest. That is why the priest, in every Divine Liturgy (St. Basil’s) cries out saying, “Those who rightly define the word of truth with Him (the Patriarch), grant Your Church, to shepherd Your people in peace”. 2- The Sabbath Law 1 St. Chrys. Concerning the Statutes. 17:11. 224 From all the statutes and commandments that He delivered to Moses, God chose this one (Keeping the day of the Lord) to be His final commandment, which we previously dealt with in our interpretation of the twentieth chapter. Here, we notice that God said to Moses, “My Sabbaths you shall keep” (Exod. 31.13). He did not say “The Sabbaths” or “Your Sabbaths”, but referred them to Him saying ‘My Sabbaths’. So, if “Sabbath” means (rest), by keeping the day of the Lord, we rest in Him, encountering with God the secret of our true rest. At the same time, God would find rest in us, a place in our heart, we, the subject of His pleasure. That is why He calls them, ‘My Sabbaths’, namely, “My rest.” What are these Sabbaths to keep, but the Lord Christ Himself, in Whom, alone, we find our rest, and in Whom, as well, God the Father finds His rest? In Him, we find rest, for He is to us, the Friend, the Redeemer, and the Savior, Who brings us to His Father’s bosom. In Him, God the Father finds His rest, for He reconciled us with the Father. About the Sabbath, He also says, “It is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (Exod. 31.13). The Lord Christ is the sign of the covenant and reconciliation between God the Father and us. in Him, we enjoy sanctification, as He is our righteousness and sanctification. That is why the penalty was very severe, “Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among the people” (Exod. 31.14). Whoever despises the Lord Christ will be deprived of his eternity, will die forever, and will lose his fellowship in the eternal kingdom. In this chapter, the Lord concentrated on the Sabbath, as an eternal covenant (Exod. 31.16-17), as it concerns our eternal life. 3- Giving Moses the two tablets “God gave Moses the two stone tablets of the testimony, written with the fingers of God” (Exod. 31.18), namely by the Holy Spirit,1 that inspired the whole Holy Book. These tablets would get broken through man’s anger and weakness, to be replaced by new tablets, that refer to the replacement of the letter of the Law by the grace, according to the words of St. John the evangelist, “For the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1.17). 1 St. Augustine. On the Spirit and the Letter. 28.
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