Exodus 36:1-2

The key to understanding this in a personal way is that these people were involved in building the Tabernacle, which like the Temple is a type of the church. We are to understand that we too, in like manner, have been appointed by God personally to work in edifying—building up—the church. He empowered them with wisdom, and that means skills, or strength of capacity at performing some operation.

He gave them understanding, which means discernment and the ability to arrange or connect knowledge, meaning, specific acquaintance to do cunning works, inventions. By inspiration, by God's Spirit, God added to the natural ability, and so they were empowered to execute God's design in building the church. That is in there for our admonition so that we will understand that every one of us has been handpicked, and that we have been given of God's Spirit, empowered to fulfill our responsibility. The gifts, the ability—the power is already there—and it can be drawn upon. We have the responsibility within our stewardship to use it properly.

Exodus 36:1-2

The principle that is here becomes very important to us in regard to our place in the church of God, and understanding about the Spirit of God, and understanding about God Himself and what He does in this conversion of ours. Here is a very interesting example. These verses show that God Himself was personally and directly involved by means of His Spirit enhancing the natural and developed abilities of the humans. Bezaleel and Aholiab already had skill, but what God did in order to enable these people to perform a function directly for Him, is that He increased their natural ability to enable them to function at a level that is higher than would normally be, for someone who would be skilled just by human skill. A supernatural element was added to their life.