Single lesson
Bezalel and Oholiab: Gifts for God's Work
Exodus 31:1–11
In this lesson, children hear how God named Bezalel and Oholiab for a special work. They will follow the order of the passage, notice the skills God gave, and see that God’s work included careful making according to his command.
Before you teach
In these verses, Yahweh speaks to Moses and names workers for the Tent of Meeting items and priestly garments. The passage focuses on whom God appoints, what abilities God gives, and the list of things they are to make according to what God commanded.
Students will be able to retell the order of Exodus 31:1–11 and name at least two ways this passage shows God giving people skills for his commanded work.
Welcome: Who chooses the workers?
5 minBegin by telling the children that this passage starts with Yahweh speaking to Moses. Ask them to listen for names, skills, and jobs. Explain that “called by name” means God specifically names Bezalel for this work, so the account begins with God’s choice.
Exodus 31:1, Exodus 31:2
Read and explain: Skills God gives
7 minRead verses 2 to 6 aloud. Point out that God says he has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and workmanship. Explain workmanship as skilled making. Then notice Oholiab and others too. God appoints more than one person, and he puts wisdom in wise-hearted people for this task.
Exodus 31:2, Exodus 31:3, Exodus 31:4, Exodus 31:5, Exodus 31:6
Discuss: What were they to make?
6 minWork through the list slowly. Help the children hear that this was not one small object. They were to make the Tent of Meeting, the ark, furniture, lamp stand, altars, basin, garments, oil, and incense. The long list shows a big task with many parts, all connected to God’s command.
Exodus 31:7, Exodus 31:8, Exodus 31:9, Exodus 31:10, Exodus 31:11
Make and respond: Sequence the passage
8 minChildren make simple sequence cards or draw small pictures for key parts of the passage: God spoke, Bezalel named, skills given, Oholiab appointed, tabernacle items listed, work commanded according to God’s words. As they arrange them, ask them to retell the passage in order and say what came from God in these verses.
Exodus 31:1, Exodus 31:2, Exodus 31:6, Exodus 31:11
Closing: According to all God commanded
4 minFinish by reviewing what the text says. God named workers, gave skill, and said they were to make these things according to all he had commanded. Invite children to say one thing they learned about God and one thing they learned about people from these verses.
Exodus 31:3, Exodus 31:6, Exodus 31:11
Questions to explore
What does the passage say God did for Bezalel before the work began?
Look for God’s own words about calling Bezalel by name and filling him with the Spirit of God, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and workmanship.
Exodus 31:2, Exodus 31:3
Who else does God appoint, and who besides them receives wisdom?
Find the verse that names Oholiab and then notice the words about all who are wise-hearted.
Exodus 31:6
Which items in the list show that the work was large and detailed?
Choose several examples from the verses, such as the Tent of Meeting, the ark, the lamp stand, the garments, the oil, or the incense.
Exodus 31:7, Exodus 31:8, Exodus 31:9, Exodus 31:10, Exodus 31:11
Make, think or respond
Story Order Cards: Named, Filled, Appointed, Commanded
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or textas
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Write or draw six moments from the passage: God spoke, Bezalel named, skills given, Oholiab appointed, sacred items listed, work commanded according to God’s words.
- Mix the cards and let children work in pairs to place them in the order of the passage.
- Ask each pair to read the ordered cards aloud and match each card to a verse.
- Invite children to add one small drawing or word showing what God gave and what the people were to make.
This activity helps children follow the order of Exodus 31:1–11 and notice that God both appoints people and gives what is needed for the work he commands.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, reduce the sequence to four cards and use simple words such as named, filled, helped, and commanded.
- For older children, ask them to sort the list into people God appointed, abilities God gave, and things God commanded to be made.
An optional closing prayer
You might pray: “God, thank you that you speak, choose, and give what is needed for the work you command. Help us listen carefully and use what we have in ways that honour you.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Exodus 31
1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
3 I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship,
4 to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze,
5 and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship.
6 Behold, I myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you:
7 the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent,
8 the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense,
9 the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base,
10 the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office—
11 the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.