The Story Of Bezalel And Oholiab: Exodus 31:1-6

The Story of Bezalel and Oholiab: Exodus 31:1-6

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

“See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.”

“And I, indeed I, have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you …”

A very long time ago, God chose two people for a very special assignment. This task was so important that God endowed each of these men with the Holy Spirit in a remarkable way. Now in Old Testament times, God did not give the Holy Spirit to all believers, as He does in the present day. He gave His Spirit to specific people to do highly important tasks. So this was a most unique and unusual thing for the Lord to do with these two gentlemen.

God gave these men wisdom, understanding, knowledge and unique skills. The work that they were called to perform would have a profound impact upon the lives of everyone in the entire community. In fact, the things they created would be the object of wonder and mystery even to this day.

So, what exactly were these gentlemen called to do? Evangelism? Prophecy? Teaching? Healing? No, it wasn’t any of these things …

They were called and empowered by God to build stuff. Specifically, they were called to build the things that would become the tabernacle of God in the wilderness. The Lord gave these individuals His Spirit so that they could build items that would have a lasting, eternal value.

Now the work we will do on this trip may not be quite so wondrous and mysterious. I doubt that Steven Spielberg will ever make a movie called “Indiana Jones and the Newly-Painted Dormitory Rooms” or “Raiders of the Lost Computer Lab.” Somehow the title just doesn’t have the ring of a box-office smash.

But there is a question that remains, that we should ask ourselves about the work we will do on this trip –

Is the anointing, or the power of God, upon me as I do this work today?

It’s really hard to think that mundane, basic things like painting walls or rebuilding a stairway could be the object of God’s attention, or that this kind of work would require the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish it. But if you stop and think about it, what activity would any of us do that is too small or too trivial to invite God’s blessing over it? Consider this for a moment:

We all want to do a good job in the things we do, whether it’s at the workplace, or at home, or on the mission field, wherever that place might be. We want people to take notice of the quality, detail and attention we have invested in the work we have done. When we are recognized or rewarded for a job well done, we feel good about ourselves, and we take pride in our accomplishments. This is as it should be … a poorly done job can be criticized, and an average job can be overlooked, but an exceptional job gains approval from everyone. God clearly has enabled us to come to Cape Town South Africa. He has provided us with the resources, the money, and the opportunity to come to this place and make a difference in people’s lives, starting with our own lives. We have worked, planned, prayed, and dreamed, and the Lord has responded in a big way. He has taken our actions over the past few months, placed His blessing upon them, and now we are able to travel halfway around the world to experience life and ministry in new and exciting ways.

It is obvious to me that the blessing, or the anointing, of God already has been upon the work we have done to this point. I am quite sure that His blessing and His power are upon us now, as we look to install computers on the campus, or rebuild stairways, or apply some fresh paint in the places where it is needed. I am excited about the things we will be doing, and I am so grateful that God has brought each of us into this venture. We are going to have an awesome time together.

One thing I have learned about the Lord is this: whatever He sets out to do, He completes. Another thing I have learned is this: God uses regular people who make themselves available, and He does amazing things through them every day of the week. You might not consider yourself to be exceptional, or see your skills as being important. But the truth is this: you have been called, and empowered, to participate in this mission. The Lord sees an exceptional person when He looks at you, and He will enable you to perform at a whole new level, in all the things you will do over the next few weeks.

In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul the apostle prays to “Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” This is my desire, and my prayer, for each of us on this team. As His power works in and through us, I am certain that we will do remarkable things that go far beyond what any of us ever could have expected.

The work we do will be a blessing to people for many years to come, and our work will have an impact throughout the African continent. You might find that statement hard to believe, but it’s true. Just ask the people who will remain in Africa after we leave what they think about our work. They know full well the value of what we are doing …

It all begins with letting yourself become available, using your head, your hands, and your heart in service to others. As we allow God to use our skills and talents, and as we reach beyond our comfort zones, He will enable us to turn ordinary work into extraordinary work.

It is going to be an amazing time together, almost like it was thousands of years ago, when two guys received a work order from an important customer to build an ark and a tabernacle. We have the same God and the same power available to us as they did … let’s see what we can do with our work order.

The world really can change from the gift of a new computer, or from bucket of paint, or from a new stairway. Just watch and see.

This is your time; this is your dance. Live every moment, leave nothing to chance. Swim in the sea, drink of the deep, embrace the mystery of all you can be … This is your time.

Lyrics from This is Your Time, by Michael W. Smith