Building Like Bezalel

​In Exodus 31:1-3, we’re introduced to a guy named Bezalel: “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘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 wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills.’” Bezalel was a highly gifted craftsman/artisan who led the work of making the holy things for the Tabernacle of God. The passage identified his granddad as Hur, so it’s quite possible that Bezalel was the grandson of the same Hur who—together with Aaron—held up Moses’ arms in prayer in the war with the Amalekites (Exodus 17). So long as Moses’ arms were hoisted up, the Israelites were winning. In short, Bezalel came from a storied lineage. We can note 3 things about Bezalel’s story that apply to us.  
 
We’re Chosen
 
Firstly, just as God chose Bezalel to build the Tabernacle, God has chosen us to do His work! Not only that, but God—just like He did with Bezalel—has also filled you with His Spirit as well as equipped you with wisdom, understanding, knowledge and all kinds of skills—everything that you need to do His work! It’s easy for us to get all technical about our work, focusing on developing and growing the skill sets needed to do our jobs well. But ultimately it is God who equips and trains us.  
 
To Do God’s Work
 
Secondly, as was the case with Bezalel, God equips us for a very important purpose: that we may do HIS work! When we work at our jobs, are we aware that it is in fact the Lord Jesus whom we’re serving (Colossians 3:23-24)? I realize that just because we’re working in a Christian ministry, it doesn’t automatically mean we’re always and fully locked into God and what He may be doing. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we’re God’s handiwork, that we’re created in Christ Jesus to do good works that God has prepared in advance for us to do. So, what is the work? Just as Bezalel was tasked to make the items, the holy things, necessary for the worship of God, you and I are likewise called to craft the holy things of God that reflect His glory. Bezalel made the ark of the covenant, the table, the utensils, the lamps and lampstand, etc.  
 
Of Building His Kingdom
 
We, on the other hand, make and mold lives of Christlikeness and present the finished products to God for His pleasure! Like John the Baptist, we’re the friends of the bridegroom who prepare the bride of Christ and present her in all her glory—or, more accurately, in Christ’s glory—to Him at the last day. For our field staff, the goal of discipleship is to present, one by one, students from all the nations before God at the end of time, each of them forged to full maturity in Christ.  
 
But it isn’t just our work with students, we also have our families, our kids, our church small/home groups, our team members at work, our relations with colleagues in the field, etc. As Ephesians 4:11-13 puts it: “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” And if Bezalel made objects that represented and reflected God’s glory, then it’s the same for us with our students, kids, colleagues, and the like. As we read in 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20: “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?  Indeed, you are our glory and joy.”  
 
And Doing It His Way
 
Thirdly and finally, like Bezalel, there’s an expectation that we are to do our work according to the way God has commanded. Like Bezalel, we too are called to build according to God’s specifications. Exodus 39:43 tells us that after Bezalel (and his team) finished everything, “Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the LORD had commanded.” In our case, we may have our earthly bosses and supervisors who check on us and our work. But ultimately, it is God who will conduct the inspection of our handiwork!  
 
Recall what Paul warned in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15: “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”  
 
Wow. Let’s take heed and build what will pass God’s inspection!