Day 29: The Right Person For The Job
[God] has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship.
cf. Exodus 35:31, ESV
What was your first paid job? What did you learn from that position? If you are like me, detasseling corn and bagging groceries taught me that I did not want to do those tasks as a lifelong career. Few of us would be thrilled with having to settle for getting up every day to go to a job we despise.
The way we do our job—no matter how menial the task—says a great deal about our commitment to Christ. When it comes to building the Tabernacle, God has only one person in mind: Bezalel ¾a man of artistic skill chosen because of his ability and attention to detail. Why does God choose Bezalel to do the work? He sees the man’s heart. Bezalel offers the Lord availability, not just mere ability.
The task of building an earthly replica of how God should be worshipped is too immense a task for just Bezalel alone, so God appoints an apprentice, Ohioliab, a fellow craftsman and designer, to help him. Much of Kingdom work is like this: too hard to do alone. Even Jesus needed to appoint disciples to help Him reach the world with the life-giving gospel.
Bezalel has obviously proven himself faithful and trustworthy. Are you “proving yourself” to be someone God can use? How so?
God gives Moses a “package deal”: Oholiab is able to “teach others” (cf. Ex. 30:34b). The duo will have to delegate to others whom God has equipped. The ministry of building the Tabernacle is to be a shared accomplishment. The text specifically mentions how women contribute to the Tabernacle—quite a distinction at that time in history.
What qualities does God look for in finding Bezalel and Oholiab?
Each was a “skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability” (cf. Ex. 36:2a).
Each “was willing to come and do the work” (cf. Ex. 36:2b).
Are you willing to work hard? If so, God will grant you a significant place in His Kingdom. The task may not be glamorous, but it will be necessary. The Teacher urges us to remember: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (cf. Ecclesiastes 9:10, ESV).
Prayer
Lord, help me to accept this attitude to work for Your Kingdom, not for others’ approval. I offer my gifts, talents, and aptitudes for your glory, not just my earthly success.
By Dr. Clint Bryan, Professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences