The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 36:2,
"Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work."
We are told the Lord gave certain Israelites special ability to create and construct the various aspects of the tabernacle, "engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers." Exodus 35:35. Among them two are mentioned by name: Bezalel and Oholiab.
What catches my eye this morning is that when Moses summoned these workers to begin the work, two requirements were required on their resume. The first is they had to have been given "ability" by the Lord for the work, the second being they had to be willing to come and do the work. Enabled and motivated.
While I am certain the Lord is quite capable to motivate any one of us for his purposes, I note here that the willingness to come to do the work was something looked for within these workers. From the context, it appears to me that there may have been those who had been equipped by God for the tasks that needed doing, but also unwilling. In any event, the only ones called to the task where those equipped by God and willing to do the work.
I note the Lord appears to operate in much the same way today. When it comes to the work of building God's kingdom, he equips his people for the things that need doing, "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13.
In addition to equipping the saints for works of service, the Lord also encourages those he has gifted to exploit those gifts he has given. Listen to how Peter puts it, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10. Apparently, some of us need the encouragement, we must be willing. God's people are not forced to use what God has gifted them with, they must be "willing to come and do the work" just as those who created the furnishings, equipment and the tabernacle itself in Moses day.
It is interesting to me to see how God equips us. We have all been given the ability to do certain things the Lord wants done. The lone question is whether we are willing to show up to use what it is he has given us.
It appears to be to be very rare in the Scriptures where God overrides the volition he has given to each person when he created us in his own image. Interesting, isn't it? What does this tell you about God?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work."
We are told the Lord gave certain Israelites special ability to create and construct the various aspects of the tabernacle, "engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers." Exodus 35:35. Among them two are mentioned by name: Bezalel and Oholiab.
What catches my eye this morning is that when Moses summoned these workers to begin the work, two requirements were required on their resume. The first is they had to have been given "ability" by the Lord for the work, the second being they had to be willing to come and do the work. Enabled and motivated.
While I am certain the Lord is quite capable to motivate any one of us for his purposes, I note here that the willingness to come to do the work was something looked for within these workers. From the context, it appears to me that there may have been those who had been equipped by God for the tasks that needed doing, but also unwilling. In any event, the only ones called to the task where those equipped by God and willing to do the work.
I note the Lord appears to operate in much the same way today. When it comes to the work of building God's kingdom, he equips his people for the things that need doing, "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13.
In addition to equipping the saints for works of service, the Lord also encourages those he has gifted to exploit those gifts he has given. Listen to how Peter puts it, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10. Apparently, some of us need the encouragement, we must be willing. God's people are not forced to use what God has gifted them with, they must be "willing to come and do the work" just as those who created the furnishings, equipment and the tabernacle itself in Moses day.
It is interesting to me to see how God equips us. We have all been given the ability to do certain things the Lord wants done. The lone question is whether we are willing to show up to use what it is he has given us.
It appears to be to be very rare in the Scriptures where God overrides the volition he has given to each person when he created us in his own image. Interesting, isn't it? What does this tell you about God?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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