Given

DEVOTION

EXODUS

GIVEN

Ex 31:1-11

31:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts —  4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. 6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you: 7 the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent —  8 the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, 9 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand —  10 and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, 11 and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you."

NIV

Once again we see this same concept about the LORD being the one who gave the knowledge in all kinds of crafts. But here is the first time we are being told the LORD filled men with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all sorts of crafts. If for one minute we think we are the source of our ability, we are so sadly mistaken. From the very moment God begins knitting us together in our mother’s womb, he has determined how we are to be skilled, able and knowledgeable in which craft that would best suit his purpose for our lives. Do we not notice how we all have certain bents in our childhood, certain almost preordained direction of interests? We do not know if these skilled craftsmen were like that or not, growing as children with they interests in crafting items of Gold and silver or weaving fine fabrics into beautiful garments, or cutting stones or being a woodworker. Perhaps they were normal children and then as if a lightning bolt, the Spirit of God filled those men and they miraculously began to sense a new direction in their lives, with newfound skills and abilities in the crafts. We are not told as to which method God used to give these men their skills. But the point is that it was God who brought about their skills, abilities and knowledge. The point is also that these skills, abilities and knowledge were given so they could serve the purpose of God. In our postmodern era, or perhaps even way before that, have we forgotten this point? Have we replaced our learning skills to serve our own purposes rather than God’s? Then again have we witnessed the bent of our childhood, the almost preordained interests of our youth vanish with the infilling of the Spirit of God? Has, in his infilling of the Spirit given us a whole new set of skills, abilities and knowledge along with the call to use them for his purpose? Has our human training and education been from the hand of God or from our own? How many years did these craftsmen engage in their crafts before they were called upon by God, named by God, to do his will? We simply do not know, but we do know God is the one who bestows our skills, abilities and knowledge upon us. One way or another all we are comes from God. Of course we could ignore who we are supposed to be and pursue our own desires, or forge our own path in life, living for our own pleasures, dreams, ambitions and goals. Even if we think we are using our own skills for the work of the LORD, is that what he has given us through the Spirit of God? Maybe so, maybe not. So, we should consider what God would have us do. What plans has he had for us? How will he use us for his glory, for his purpose? What skills, abilities and knowledge in what craft has he given to us? What has God given?