In my morning Quiet Times with the Lord this week I’ve been reading the end of Exodus. In chapter 31 God announced to Moses that He had chosen a man called Bezalel to do something for Him. I don’t think Bezalel is mentioned before this, but then God chose him and things began to happen.
First of all, God filled Bezalel with His Spirit. Not only that, but God gave him great wisdom, ability and expertise in all kinds of crafts, making him an expert in working with precious materials such as gold, silver and precious jewels.
God then shared what it was He wanted Bezalel to do. He gave very specific plans for a large, beautiful, rich, marquee-like tent where, when it was completed, God Himself would meet with His people. The next chapters are full of God’s intricate designs for the tent. No detail was too small to be overlooked.
And when God finished sharing His design plans, we read that Bezalel (along with another man called Oholiab whom God had also gifted) got on with the job. From paragraph to paragraph we see him busily working on the external material of the tent, the structure, and the breath-takingly beautiful internal decor and furnishings. What a mammoth task. As well as being supernaturally arty, Bezalel must have been incredibly organised.
But the hard work was worth it. When it was all finished, God came down in such glory that no one was able to access the tent. Whenever Moses or Bezalel or the people looked at the tent, they could see the bright cloud of God’s glory over it. And everyone knew that God – their God – was encamped among them.
It made me think that when God calls us to do a specific task for Him, He always gives us the ability to perform it. I wonder what God has called you to do? It may seem huge and impossible to achieve (my God-given dream is to be a published author), but if God has called us to do it, then we can take heart that He will ensure we have all we need to accomplish the job. When Bezalel was given the precise, intricate plans for this tent, he could have just said to Moses, ‘This is a massive job. I don’t think I can do it. What about the expense? What if I’m not good enough? It’s going to take a lot of skill, you know Moses. Not to mention it’ll be hard work.’ But he didn’t, he got on with it. And finished it. And then all the people saw God’s glory.
So what will you and I do with what God has called us to do? Will we be like Bezalel and get on with it, to the glory of God?
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