Filled With The Spirit to Serve My Lord – all week long

On Tuesday evening, February 27, my wife, Kathy, and I were talking at the end of the day about some important characters we have been reading about in our daily devotions from the Today’s Light Bible. From Exodus 31-38 the names of Bezalel and Oholiab are mentioned as craftsmen who would spearhead the building of the tabernacle, the traveling center of worship for the children of Israel in the wilderness. Kathy joked, “Maybe we should have used those names for our children.” In all honesty, when our children were born, I was willing to be a little more ‘adventurous’ in how we named them. But Kathy had “the back porch test.” She wanted to be able to call their names from our back porch and feel good about what she said. We did not name anyone ‘Bezalel’ or ‘Oholiab!’

However, what strike me about the description of these men is how God blesses them, how He equips them, and how He fills them with the Spirit for these tasks of craftsmanship. 30 Then Moses said to the people of Israel, "See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, 32 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, 33 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. 34 And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. (Exodus 35:30-34)

When I think of the abilities and talents which the Holy Spirit gives, my mind first goes to New Testament verses about fruits of the Spirit (Galatian 5) or the gifts of the Spirit (Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12). Galatians 5 tells us, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23) These fruits and gifts are descriptions of the person’s spiritual character and personality. They deal with interpersonal relationships between God’s people.

But in Exodus, God gives skills of craftsmanship by His Spirit. Bezalel and Oholiab could work with wood and precious metals and fabrics. They could create art in these media, and this art would help the Israelites in their worship. (If you want more information about these men, you could read Exodus 31:2 and 6, 35:30 and 34, 36:1-2, 37:1, and 38:22-23) I personally believe the Lord also fills some with His Spirit for composing and playing music for worship as well. The fact that God blesses people as craftsmen and artists tells me that our faith affects our whole life. Our faith not only impacts our worship on Sundays. The blessings of God shine through in our daily lives, at home and at work.

On of my favorite Bible verses is 2 Corinthians 5:15. I assign this verse for memory to all of my confirmation students. 15 “and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:15) Please notice that this verse instructs us for living – We are to live FOR HIM, FOR GOD. This verse also teaches us how our Lord calls us, or why we would want to live FOR HIM – because Christ died and rose for our sake!

When I hear God’s call, not just to worship on Sundays, but to live for Him at all times, I am blessed by knowing about men like Bezalel and Oholiab. The Lord filled them with the Spirit to do the daily tasks of their work.

What jobs face you all week long, at work and at home? Do you see how you can approach these tasks as opportunities to praise and worship our Lord and even share His love? What a wonderful lesson to learn that God gave His Spirit to Bezalel and Oholiab, and that He blesses us so that we may LIVE FOR HIM!

By the way, have any of you named one of your children Bezalel or Oholiab???