By My Spirit

Zerubbabel was the leader in Judah after Cyrus II allowed the first group of Jews to return from captivity in Babylon. He was charged with reestablishing the Jewish nation and rebuilding the Temple. God reassured Zerubbabel that he would succeed, “Not by might, nor by power but by my Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6). Zerubbabel’s tasks were echoes from the Book of Exodus.

Moses had been charged with establishing the Jewish faith and with building the Tabernacle in which God would dwell among His people. To accomplish these two tasks Moses was given two sets of instructions on Mt. Sinai.

First, Moses was given the Law which instructed the people how to love God (Deuteronomy 6:4) and their neighbors (Leviticus 19:18). The Law would transform the Hebrew people into the Jewish nation - “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6).

The second set of instructions Moses received were the detailed plans for constructing the Tabernacle (Exodus chapters 25-31).

The people failed to follow the law almost immediately after it was given. They fell into idolatry as recorded in the account of the golden calf (Exodus 32). The people promised God three times that “All that Yehovah has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient” (Exodus 19:8; 23:3; 23:7). They were confident that they had in themselves the ability to listen and obey all the instructions in God’s Law.

Their pride was their downfall and 3,000 people died in God’s judgement for their idol worship (Exodus 32:28).

In contrast, God empowered people by His Spirit to follow His instructions and build the Tabernacle. The Hebrews were slave laborers – makers of bricks. They were not trained in carpentry, metal working, weaving or as jewelers. All these skills would be needed to complete the Tabernacle.

Now Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying, “See, I have called by name Bezalel, … I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship… and in the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill, that they may make all that I have commanded you (Exodus 31:1-6).

The Jews failed to keep the law because they were trying to do it by their own might and by their own power. Jesus warns us that “the [human] spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). By contrast, God elected individuals with no expectation of success, He filled them with His Spirit, and they “made all that Yehovah had commanded Moses” (Exodus 38:22).

After Jesus ascended to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to fill us and give us the ability “both to will and to work for His pleasure (Philippians 2:13). May the Holy Spirit empower us to achieve sanctification and to serve our God.