Exodus 31:1-5 states “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft!'”
Bezalel was chosen by God to help build the Tabernacle and all its associated items to allow the Israelites to worship God. He gave Bezalel an assistant named Oholiab as well as other craftsmen to help construct these items. Bezalel was chosen by God, filled with the Spirit of God and given great wisdom, ability and expertise. God provided each of these men with the skills and abilities necessary to be master craftsmen. God had very important work for Bezalel and his contemporaries to do and fully equipped them to do it.
Like Bezalel, God has chosen us to do great work. God chose Bezalel for a specific purpose and set of tasks. God has also chosen us and has a purpose for our lives (Ephesians 1:4; 1Peter 2:9). God gave Bezalel a great work to do; God has also given us a great work to do. In Matthew 28:19-20 we read, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
God did not simply give Bezalel this important work to do, without also equipping him to do it. God filled him with His Spirit, and provided helpers similarly equipped with the necessary skills and abilities. He did this directly. None of these men attended trade school or passed proficiency tests. God granted them knowledge and skill as a gift.
God has also given us the ability to be fully equipped, providing the means for it. And while he did this directly with the apostles and prophets, he accomplishes this indirectly in our day and time.
The apostles were given divine assistance in three important areas:
- The Holy Spirit caused them to remember all that Jesus had said and done while He was with them. (John 14:25-26)
- The Spirit of God led them into ‘all the truth’. He revealed to them all that Jesus wanted them to know but had not taught them during his time on earth. (John 16:13)
- And they were given divine power to demonstrate that their teachings were the word of God – by performing miracles. (Hebrews 2:3-4) which included bestowing spiritual gifts upon believers through the laying on of their hands.
Through the apostles and prophets, God has given us His word. II Timothy 3:16-17 reads, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
We must study God’s word and put it into practice in order to be equipped by God. While we do not have miraculously bestowed ‘gifts’ today, we do have ‘God-given’ abilities that He expects us to use in his service. The apostle Peter encourages us to use all that we have received from God – to honour and glorify him.
What Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:8-11 certainly applies to both categories of gifts: “ Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God. Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
God has gifted the church with godly leaders who are to bless each congregation with their work.
In Ephesians 4:11-13 we read, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;”
And while miraculous healing is no longer with us, the ability to pray remains…as James wrote
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”(James 5:13-16)
God still calls to praise him in prayer and to restore the fallen. And he still heals in response to our prayers.
As He did with Bezalel and Oholiab our heavenly Father has given us the opportunity to do important work in His Kingdom. God ensured that these men were fully equipped to do their work and were successful in accomplishing it. If we are going to be successful in completing the work He has given us we, too, must strive to be fully equipped for that work.
The question is: are we allowing God to fully equip us?
- Do we allow the Spirit to guide us in all things through his inspired word?
- Do we spend time in God’s word, understanding His instructions and will for us?
- Are we fervent in prayer?
- Do we exercise the talents God has given us?
- God has put Godly men in our lives who have a responsibility to help equip us. Are we allowing them to do this?
- Owen Sound