In the book of Exodus, there is a man named Bezalel. Most people don't really remember his name from the book. The most common names remembered are Moses, Aaron, and the pharaoh. Bezalel was my favorite person in Exodus however. Not much was said about him but the small amount that I learned about Bezalel really gave me respect for him.
Bezalel was a skilled craftsman. In Exodus 35, it even says that God gave Bezalel the skill of craftsmanship. What really intrigued me about Bezalel is that he took his God given talent and returned it to the Lord. Bezalel was one of the main craftsman involved in building the tabernacles and holy altars for the Israelites. Bezalel built everything the way God commanded him to. Bezalel used his skills the way God wanted him to and built something very sacred and holy. He recognized he was a good craftsman and used that for God. He didn't try to be more than a craftsman and he didn't try to be someone he wasn't. He just took his skills and used them the way God wanted him to.
I really like Bezalel because he used his God given talents to serve God the way he was commanded to and realized who he was as a servant to the Lord. That is a really incredible thing. Can you imagine if Christians today took the things they are talented at and used them for God? Can you imagine if we took our gifts from God and did with them exactly as He commands? Can you imagine if we all realized who we were as God's servants and served in the way we knew how to? So many amazing things would be accomplished in our world and it would be unreal.
As I keep growing in my faith, I want to develop an attitude like Bezalel. I want to find my God given talent and work hard to use it for the Lord. I'd encourage anyone who reads this as well to do the same. Realize that God gave you the skills you have and you should honor him with how you use them. Don't try to be someone you aren't but rather take the skills you have and respect that they were given to you by the Lord and should be used for the Lord. Take on the example of Bezalel and become a servant to what the Lord commands.
I enjoyed this post. One of my favorite quotes?
ReplyDelete"He didn't try to be more than a craftsman and he didn't try to be someone he wasn't."
Bezalel is really unique - the Bible says he was "filled by the Spirit". Very few people in the Old Testament ever had that happen.
ReplyDeletePharaoh recognized the Spirit was in Joseph (Genesis 41:38). The Spirit was in Joshua, which is why God chose Him (Numbers 27:18). The Spirit was in Daniel (Dan 4:8; 6:3).
Working on the tabernacle must have been real serious to God if the Spirit filled the workers. Pretty awesome.
Good stuff, Zach