Gifted to do the work
Sept. 4 – Exodus 36:1-7
Bezalel and Oholiab and everyone skilful to whom the Lord has given skill and understanding to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.
2 Moses then called Bezalel and Oholiab and everyone skilful to whom the Lord had given skill, everyone whose heart was stirred to come to do the work; 3 and they received from Moses all the freewill-offerings that the Israelites had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill-offerings every morning, 4 so that all the artisans who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task being performed, 5 and said to Moses, ‘The people are bringing much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.’ 6 So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp: ‘No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.’ So the people were restrained from bringing; 7 for what they had already brought was more than enough to do all the work.
God gave instructions for how the tabernacle – the place of God – was to be built. God also gave people the skills to do the work needed in building the tabernacle. Two of those people are named – Bezalel and Oholiab. (Interestingly the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem is considered the premier art school in Israel.) But there were others as well – “everyone skillful…to do any work of construction” (vs. 1 and 2). The construction of the tabernacle included a wide range of trades – carpentry, metal work, work with fabrics, weaving, work in precious metals.
Not only was the skill given by God, but also “everyone whose heart was stirred to do the work (vs.2)” – that is, was given the desire to do the work, those in whom the Spirit of God urged them to do the work. God gives both the skills and the passion to do the work God has for us. For both are needed. It is not enough to have the skills, the desire has to be there as well; it is not enough to have the desire, the skills need to be there. God is the giver of both.
But work is only possible if there are the resources to do the work. The people of God, the Israelites, gave more resources than were required for the building of the tabernacle. God provided abundantly for the work, through the gifts of God’s people.
Those who gave resources, those who used those resources, became participants together in what God was doing in the world. As we give resources, as we use the resources given, as we use the skills we have been given, as we follow the stirrings of the Holy Spirit, we join our work to the work that God is doing in the world.
PRAYER:
God of grace, we rejoice that the Holy Spirit stirs up in us both the desire and the ability to do the work, your work in the world. Move us from lethargy to energy, move us from denying the gifts you give to joining you on your mission in the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.