EXODUS 35
30 Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, 32 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, 33 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. 34 And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer. – Exodus 35:30-35
EXODUS 35 ARTISTIC GIFTS FROM GOD
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When God assigns people to do his artistic design
He chose Bezalel and Oholiab from his various tribes of Israel
To Bezalel, he gave him talent to cut silver, bronze and gold
He was also given the ability to cut stones and carve wood
Oholiab was filled with engraving and embroidering skills
He is able to work with the various yarns and weave linens.
The two people whom God entrusted to oversee the building of the Tabernacle were Bezalel and Oholiab. They were filled with God’s Spirit so they can execute the ornate and very detailed design that God himself created. In order that a divine design can be implemented, he had to ensure that he equipped the people he assigned with the craftsmanship in the building of the Tabernacle. Aside from that, he also gave them the ability to teach and to be knowledgeable in God’s truth.
I am especially honored that not only God gave me the artistic abilities in painting, photography, theatre arts, musical and culinary arts, but also in the literary arts which I have been gifted with much later in life. I never thought that I could write poetry and commentaries for spreading God’s word until I was in my late fifties. He also gave me a hunger for his word and a longing to know him deeply. All these gifts are from God and they need to be used to give him glory.
REFLECTION
· How can God’s gifts be misused by some people?
