Appoint נָתַן

We are in chapter thirty-one of Exodus with our word for today. נָתַן give, hand down, set, place, lay, appoint. It is used 2010 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in a lot of ways because it is the basic word for give. In our chapter it is used in the sense to appoint, to assign a duty, responsibility or obligation to someone. We see our word used of Joseph by those who saw his character and what he could do. Genesis 39:4, 8 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and נָתַ֥ן he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had … But he refused and said to his master's wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and נָתַ֥ן he has put everything that he has in my charge. Genesis 39:22 And the keeper of the prison וַיִּתֵּ֞ן put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. Genesis 41:41, 43 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, נָתַ֣תִּי I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” … And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” וְנָת֣וֹן Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. We also see our word used of Moses in sharing the work of judging the people of Israel. Exodus 18:25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel וַיִּתֵּ֥ן and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And in our chapter today we see our word used as God instructs Moses to set up the construction of his tabernacle worship. Exodus 31:1-2, 6 The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel … And behold, I נָתַ֣תִּי have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you. God always appoints or gives us the right person to accomplish His tasks. With the tabernacle worship it was an important task because it was where people connected with God. We also see our word used as a Messianic prophecy predicting that Christ would be appointed not to stay in the grave. Psalm 16:9-10 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or תִתֵּ֥ן let your holy one see corruption. The Holy Spirit connects this to Jesus who did not stay dead but rose again. Acts 2:23-25, 27, 31-32 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him … For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption … he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.I’ll close with this great Psalm that uses our word. Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. וַיִּתֵּ֬ן He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.