"I have chosen Bezalel, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts…people are to work based on everything the LORD has commanded. The LORD has given them wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work…" Exodus 35:30-36:1
I will admit that until this story I had never heard of Bezalel. I doubt he is mentioned prior to this chapter. He wandered onto the pages as an obscure character out of the blue. He had a skill no doubt…some type of artisan ability. But what made him special was that when he came on the scene he came with the fullness of the Spirit of God. God took his talent and infused it with power and this ordinary worker became the lead man to build an exquisite temple for their extraordinary God. I wonder if he realized his wisdom and understanding had exponentially increased overnight? Was he amazed and surprised by the abilities he possessed realizing it was the supernatural filling of the Spirit? He had to be both humbled and grateful for the work God gave Him to accomplish on behalf of so many. Were there moments when the enormity of the requirements of the job taunted him ? We don’t know these answers, but we do know Bezalel was human with fears and insecurities.
God’s timeliness of His word never ceases to amaze me. The subject of work has certainly been considered over the past two years as we have been in the valley of a two-year drought. Bruce’s faith has been both tested and tried during this season. He has been faithful in believing that God is orchestrating the circumstances that will eventually lead to work. Daily he lays it at the Lord’s feet and walks in acceptance and confidence as the monthly pages blow off the calendar. Last night he told me that he was asked the other day how he will feel when work does resume. Would he feel confident that he could still make an impact with all the time that had passed? Had he lost any self confidence through this experience? Bruce told me that his answer began with stumbling words, attempting to formulate his response. Then the clouds receded, and clarity shown bright. He answered that he was confident that whatever God had called him to accomplish, and whenever the call came God would equip him to successfully do the work.
Some of the toughest times are times when we are called to wait…times that seem empty of purpose… times that call out to our deepest fear and greatest need. For one person who has loved and lost it a time of grief wondering if their healing will ever come. For another person it is a time of illness when weeks fade into months. For someone else it is a time of waiting on God to arrange employment… a partner…a pregnancy…this list goes on and on. God is first and foremost a Creator. In every minute of every day His hands are forming opportunities for each one of us. Like creation He breathes wisdom into anything we are called to walk out. His power is at our fingertips because we have been filled with His spirit. We can also walk in confidence whatever situation He brings our way, because like Bezalel we too have been chosen by God and filled with His spirit to accomplish great things. The most beautiful things in our lives will appear when we allow the Creator to create. It is what He does best, and we are reminded of this daily through the beautiful sunrise and sunset.
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed.” Ge 1:31
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