Vayakhel - Pekudei

The Medrash (cited by Rav Elimelech Bar Shaul) cites two seemingly contradictory psukim from the Torah. On the one hand we're told of the stars above - "HA'MOTZTI B'MISPAR TZVAOM, L’KULAM BESHEIM YIKRA - He brings out their host by number, He calls them all by NAME." (Yishayahu 40:26). On the other hand is the pasuk - "LeKULAM SHEIMOT YIKRA - He calls them all by their NAMES." (Tehillim 147: 4).
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The Medrash explains the 2 scenarios referred to here. One is that G-d calls the heavenly hosts as one unit. At other times He calls each star by its individual name. The Medrash goes on to apply this duality to man, citing Parshat Vayakhel as a proof text - "See Hashem has called Betzalel by name" (Shmot 35:30).
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We are all chosen to fulfill individual potentials. But there is also an aspect of our identity as part of a community. These two roles create constant tension because one encourages us to develop our unique character while the other obliges us to subordinate ourselves to the needs of the community. We struggle to discern when we are divinely called BSHEIM - with one communal name, and when we are called BESHEIMOT- as individuals.
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It is not by accident that this Medrash uses the metaphor of stars to represent the Jewish People. This is one image conjured by G-d in telling Avraham about his descendants. The other image is that of sand. It is relevant to the topic of individual versus communal potential to ask why two seemingly similar similes were given to represent one idea. The answer lies in the subtle difference between sand and stars. When you look stars you see a large uncountable number. But you can still point to each one and identify it as a lone star. Grains of sand however, blend together into one entity. This represents the dual nature of every Jew as an individual and as part of a nation.
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Another Medrash on our parsha states that Hashem pointed to Betzalel's name in a book which listed every person in the world who ever was or will be born. From within all those names Hashem chose that of Betzalel and told Moshe that he's the chosen one. Why? Rabbi Neal Turk suggested many years ago that the message was that just like Betzalel had his specific purpose for which he was chosen so too every person that was or ever will be born has their unique calling as well.
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Rav Moshe Feinstein stressed the fact that Betzalel's talents were spotlighted within a context of service of G-d. Similarly we should all realize our calling and harness our abilities for the service of G-d. This is perhaps the true meaning of the Gemora, which states that 2 comedians merited Olam HaBA. The reward was not simply for making people laugh, but for their understanding what their unique talents were and using them for good, for the sake of heaven. May we all be so blessed.