When God gives His people the Law (Ex. 20), the third commandment is to “not make for yourself a carved image.” God recognizes the allure and beauty of art—in the form of idols—and warns us to not worship these creations over the Creator. He knows that art can form and shape us, both positively and negatively—again, it is powerful. We also shouldn’t take it lightly that God chooses and uses art as the conduit through which He dwells with His people in the tabernacle. Whether it’s the ability of art to captivate and capture our heart or the decision to reveal Himself through it, God understands the significance of art—so much so that He dwells with His people in the midst of it.

Sure, the book of Exodus is more than a manifesto for Christians and the arts, as the tabernacle and priestly garments boast meaning beyond aesthetics, but it’s certainly not less. If we pay close attention to the Scriptures, specifically Exodus, we will see a God who, an artist Himself, is completely committed to art and artists—and that can do us some good given our art problems to date.