Exodus 37

“Bezalel made the ark….” Exodus 37:1

“Bezalel made the mercy seat….”  Exodus 37:6

“He made the two cherubim….”  Exodus 37:7

“He constructed the table….”  Exodus 37:10

“Then he made the lampstand….”  Exodus 37:17

“Bezalel made the altar of incense….”  Exodus 37:25 (ALL HCSB)

As in many cases for Biblical names, Bezalel’s name matches his character/calling.  Although there are four possibilities of interpretation, the commonly held meaning of “Bezalel” is “In the shadow of God.”  This is then explained as “In the protection of God.”

This explanation coincides marvelously with the name of Bezalel’s colleague Oholiab.  His name means “Father’s shrine/temple.”

When you put the two together, you get “The protection of God in our Father’s temple.”  Pretty cool…as long as you are near the temple!

The Bible can be summed up as the story of man’s desire to separate from God and God’s deliberate strides to commune with mankind.  Each God-stride established a more permanent presence with His people.  Beginning with the Tabernacle, God commissioned a portable house of presence.  Wherever He led, Israel was to follow.  God stopped, and they set up the tent.  If you wanted to dwell with God, you had to literally follow Him around.

The temple was a more permanent house for God’s presence, laid in a foundation.  A problem arose when God’s people turned their hearts from Him.  As a result, God drove Israel from His temple.  The temple may have been a permanent structure, but men could be separated from it…through exile or ceremonial uncleanness.

With the giving of the Holy Spirit, Jesus consecrated the bodies of His followers as worthy to receive His presence.  In essence, wherever the believer goes, they are under “the protection of God in our Father’s Temple.”

“I will never leave or forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV)

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”  1 Corinthians 6:19 (NKJV)

Ultimately, all followers of the Messiah will permanently dwell with God in Heaven.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:3 (NKJV)