Biblical Examples of a Three Dimensional Educator

God’s word is replete with three-dimensional educators.

In the Old Testament God raised up three-dimensional educators to equip His people with what they needed to know, to believe, and to do in worshiping and serving Him

Bezalel was such an educator whom God describe as an artisan.

And Moses said to the children of Israel, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; “and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship. And He has put in his heart the ability to teach… (Exodus 35:30-34 NKJV)

Bezalel was a three-dimensional artisan in that he employed his head, hands, and heart in the work that God had appointed him to do.

The Head Dimension:  He has filled him with the Spirit of God…in knowledge… (31)

The Hands Dimension: …to work in all manner of artistic workmanship. (33)

The Heart Dimension: And He has put in his heart the ability to teach… (34)

Bezalel had information in his head about what God wanted to be done. And he had the capability of doing the work with his hands. The ability to teach others, however, stemmed from his heart and it was all put there by the Spirit of God. As a result, he was an effective and successful educator. Had Bezalel only been a one-dimensional artisan possessing the knowledge, he could have impressed others with what he knew. Had he been a two-dimensional artisan possessing the information and producing the work himself, he could have influenced others with what he knew and did. Bezalel, however, was a three-dimensional artisan in that his heart was engaged in imparting to others what he knew and what he did. As a result, he was an impactful artisan.

Of course, the greatest teacher who ever walked the earth is Jesus Christ. Nearly 50 times in the gospels Jesus is referred to as a teacher. Forty references stated that He taught. As the great teacher, Jesus:

• Knew His subject matter in His Head as the all-knowing Son of God:
  • He knew His main Subject—the Father (John 10:15)
  • He knew His students—His subjects (John 10:27)
• Taught effectively with His hands by what He did
  • He taught using signs and wonders (John 2:11; John 20:30)
  • He taught with authority so as to distinguish Himself (Mark 1:22)
• Connected with His students in His heart
  • Ten times the Scriptures state that Jesus was moved with compassion
  • Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:17, 18 NKJV)

God’s educational artisans have been appointed by Him to impact the lives of the children entrusted to their care. What was true of Bezalel and the Great Teacher is also true of all of God’s educators. They have been chosen by God just as Jesus and Bezalel were chosen. Indeed, they were knowledgeable about their subject matter, but their teaching did not hinge on knowledge alone. When an education falls short of all three essential dimensions, it runs the risk of falling short of its purpose. An education that is limited to what the teacher knows but is void of effective pedagogy and an caring heart can at best impress students. And, a knowledgeable educator coupled with proven pedagogy while lacking heart can probably influence students. A teacher, however, who knows the subject matter and know how to effectively impart the subject while engaging the heart has the greatest chance to impact students.

A three-dimensional educator whose heart is filled with the Spirit of God has the capacity to touch the hearts of the students. Impact results from a life-on-life transaction. Children who have strong heart transactions at home often have enough deposits to overcome weak transactions at school. By the same measure, children who have weak heart transactions at home can receive enough deposits from a three-dimensional educator to overcome the deficits. That’s where lives are changed, and life trajectories are altered. That’s when students will react to their teachers the way Christ’s audiences reacted to His teaching:

 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching. (Matthew 22:33 NKJV)

That’s impactful teaching.

Click the links to access the Word and PDF versions of the article.