Exodus 31:1-11: a reflection

1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship, 4to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze, 5and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship. 6Behold, I myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you: 7the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent, 8the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense, 9the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base, 10the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office— 11the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”

It is easy to miss how remarkable this passage is. God tells Moses, I have called Bezalel by name, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence and knowledge and all craftsmanship, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones and carving wood. The first person in Scripture explicitly said to be filled with the Spirit of God is not a prophet or a priest but a craftsman, an artist, gifted for skilled, beautiful work.

Notice what that dignifies. We can assume the Spirit's gifts are only for obviously spiritual tasks, preaching, prophesying, praying. But here God fills a man with his own Spirit for the work of his hands, for artistry and craftsmanship and skill. The ability to make beautiful and useful things, to work with excellence in a trade, is presented as a genuine gift of God, empowered by his Spirit, valued, called into his service. God cared about the beauty of his dwelling, and he gifted people to make it.

There is honor here for skilled and creative work of every kind. If your gift is with your hands, your eye, your craft, your ability to make or build or design or fix things well, this passage says that such skill is not lesser or merely secular; it can be a gift of the Spirit, offered to God as real service. God called Bezalel by name and filled him with his Spirit to make things beautifully. Offer your own skills and craft to God as the gifts they are, and do your work, whatever it is, with the excellence of one gifted by the Spirit.

Lord, the first person you filled with your Spirit was a craftsman, gifted for beautiful, skilled work. Thank you that you value and empower skill, art, and craft as genuine gifts, not lesser or merely secular. Help me offer my own abilities and work to you as the gifts they are, and to do my work with the excellence of one gifted by your Spirit.