Saturday 19 December 2009

Bezalel the blessed builder

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, - Exodus 31v2-3

Sometimes we can think that only those doing what we consider to the ‘spiritual’ work to be called of God. Sure pastors and missionaries and such are God-called, but the not the everyday working guy or gal. They are just, well, working folks.

I am not so sure about that. I am the first to admit that I don’t have the whole ‘call of God thing’ figured out. I am not sure of the balance between God’s call and our choices. Still, God’s call runs throughout scripture so it is worthy for us to consider.

Anyway, there is at least one place in the Bible where God called and man and He called him to do things that we would not necessarily consider to be ‘spiritual.’

Bezalel was called by God to a special task. God says that He filled Bezalel with the Holy Spirit. He gave him wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and ability in workmanship. The passage goes on the say that he worked with all manner of materials such as wood and metal.

God has a special task for Bezalel. It appears that he was what we would call a builder today. He was not a spiritual leader. It does not look like he was a spiritual teacher. His job was the physical work of the tabernacle and it was a job that God had called him to do.

We talk about people being ‘called to the ministry.’ Might that call to the ministry include a call to enter the workplace and use the skills with our hands that God gives us?

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