Exodus 31:1-18
Thursday, 04 January 2024
"See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship…”-Exodus 31:2-3
We are living in a day and age when professionalism has gone into all spheres of life. There are specialists in all sorts of trade. It is the same with God's work. He uses specific people for very specific work in His Kingdom. He calls, fills and appoints them for the work of their life. The gifts and talents required are all provided by God and the enablement of it also comes from God.
Here in this 31st chapter of Exodus we have the incident where God appoints certain people for the task of building His first sanctuary- The Tabernacle. All the Vision and blue print was shown to Moses in the mountain, but Moses was not the one called to build it physically; God had His workmen. So He directs Moses to them and anoints them with Spirit of God, in Wisdom, in Understanding, in Knowledge and in all manner of Workmanship. God never lacks His workmen in all the ages, for His work. He has them already ready for the service He calls them to do.
The names of the ones called by God gives us a hint to about whom God calls for His work:
Bezalel means 'in the shadow of God'. Service of God can be done only in dependence on Him and not in one’s own strength. Not by our natural plans and schemes.
Uri-means 'enlightened'. The enlightenment of God's Spirit is necessary for this work.
Hur- means 'pure'. In the service of God holiness and purity is the most important character traits that God is looking for. Without which the work we do is not acceptable to our Holy Father.
Judah- means 'praise of God'. The worker should praise God for everything God does through him or her.} Adapted from Kings comments-e-sword
Understanding the nature of God's holy work, we need to prepare ourselves as described above. This chapter also gives us a hint of another important matter in the work of God- that is the Sabbath rest. Anyone who is working for God must have this inner rest of the soul. We by nature are full of our own ideas and schemes. But when the spirit of rest enters us, we are altered and we will cease from striving in our own way. God will lead us peacefully to fulfill His work in His own way. God works His work in His pace and in His time with whomsoever He chooses for that work.
Eph.2:10 says very plainly that -we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. So as described in 1Cor 12 & 14, we are called to work in unity as a Body of Christ. There is no competition but a complementing of one another for all that God is doing collectively through each of us.
God has called us this year (2024) to arise and build— let us take our place in God's Kingdom work and bring glory to His name, who called us through His Son and enables us through His Spirit. May this day be a day of surrender to God- lets pray:
Prayer: Abba Father, I thank you for calling me. Fill me and enable me to do your will in my life for your glory. Amen.