Watchmen of the Wall

A Worker Unashamed
Scripture Reading: Exodus 31:1-11; 36:1-7

“Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’” (Matthew 9:37-38).

Exodus 36:1-7 tells about two very important contractors, Bezalel and Oholiab. God picked them by nonnegotiable and perfect design as His servants to furnish His dwelling place. Of the tens of thousands of able-bodied men in Israel, God chose Bezalel and filled him with His Spirit for this divinely unusual task. Exodus 31:2-5 says, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts - to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.” Although we cannot know with certainty the reason for God’s choice, we can surmise that Bezalel was chosen because of his availability to God and his obedience
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Did you know that prior to the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on only a handful of persons? Of God’s chosen leaders, we read only of Moses, Joshua, Othniel, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson, Saul, and David being touched by the Holy Spirit’s presence. Of His prophets the 70 elders of Israel had the Spirit of God on them, as well as Balaam, a few messengers of Saul, Amasa, Azariah, Zechariah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel. These were members of an elite group! Fewer still were the number in which the Holy Spirit chose to remain. Prior to Acts 2 the Holy Spirit came and went as God pleased, falling on His subjects for a temporary task.

In the list of those important few who were filled by the Spirit, Bezalel was the only one who was not a leader or a prophet. He was a wage earner—a blue collar worker. Yet he is the only one in Old Testament history to be filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit to construct a building by a heavenly pattern! Several life applications can be drawn by Bezalel’s experience. First, he was God’s laborer. You and I are not leaders, kings, and prophets over God’s chosen Israel. We are laborers just like Bezalel. First Corinthians 3:9 tells us we are God’s fellow workers. Names were very important to the Hebrew people, often expressing character and destiny. The name Bezalel means in the shadow of God. He was not taking a power hike or craving recognition. He was happy to dwell in the shadow of the Almighty. God’s name was enough for him. He considered it a privilege just to work on God’s team. God wants willing laborers!

Second, Bezalel’s job was out of his league. If he had already possessed everything he needed for the task, God would not have bothered to empower him with His Holy Spirit. God is far too practical for that! He purposely assigned Bezalel a task beyond his capability so that He could fill him with His power.

God has rarely given me an assignment that I considered to be in my league. Anything of priority in the Kingdom is out of our league. When we serve in our church, we must never forget that we are dealing with people’s lives—their internal struggles and eternal destinies. Sincerity and sweat do not always suffice. God places us in positions beyond our capabilities so that we will be at His absolute mercy, realizing that only He can succeed.

Third, Bezalel worked well under authority. Notice in Exodus 36:1-7 that Bezalel not only worked well under God’s instruction but also submitted himself to the earthly authority God had designated—Moses. Authority is an important issue to God and one we struggle with deeply. We may not mind being under God’s authority at times, but we often resist human authorities God places over us. Remember, God is sovereign. If you are where God has placed you—whether at home, on the job, or at church—He has established the authority over you to work His glory in you. And while He expects us to submit to our authorities, He also empowers us for the difficult task.

Lord, I want to be the kind of laborer You can use. One who is happy to work in Your shadow and be on Your team. One who works well under authority. One who doesn’t shrink back from working out of his or her league, knowing that You will equip me with Your power and that all glory goes to You. I thank You for the Holy Spirit who dwells in me today through the work of Christ. Use my life, Lord. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Adapted from A Woman’s Heart, God’s Dwelling Place, by Beth Moore, pages 62-65. Nashville: LifeWay Press, 2007. Used by permission.