Exodus 31:2-3
See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.
When a Christian considers the impact of being filled of the Spirit, we normally look to one of the Old Testament texts showing how the Spirit's touch caused one to do some mighty act in the power of God, like calling down fire, or killing a giant, or prophesying of some vision of the future. Or we turn to a New Testament passage outlining the fruits of the spirit as evidence of being filled, or point to the gifts of the Spirit used for the building up of the Church. But that's not what we see in Exodus 31.
Here, we find the filling of the Spirit in a most ordinary way. Here we have one man of thousands, living homeless in the Sinai desert. And God is said to have filled him with the Spirit. Not to work a miracle, not to preach to nations, not to subdue pagan enemies. Simply, filled with the Spirit to go to work for the Lord, probably doing the same types of jobs he had been doing all his life. Maybe not even enjoying his work, but having to do them as a slave in Egypt for someone who didn't even appreciate his efforts.
Notice that while Bezalel's task was to construct the tabernacle, its furnishings, and various clothing items for the priests, it was in these ordinary jobs we find him filled of the Spirit. While working on a project like the tabernacle didn't come along every day, I suspect he had already taken on other projects that had dwarfed what was essentially an opulent tent. Sure, getting to work with gold had to be an honor, but the kind of work called for here was like that done by multitudes of people in every major city. Still, God records the fact that it took a touch of the Spirit for Bezalel to be about the Lord's work.
I'm sure it is the same way today. When we offer up what seems to be an ordinary skill to the Lord, whether it be in child care, house cleaning, accounting, military service or driving a taxi, that skill is used of the Lord when we're touched by the Spirit. Like Bezalel, it is often in the ordinary things of life that the Spirit fills us with wisdom, understanding, knowledge and workmanship. We just need to open our hearts and minds to see where the Lord has been at work all along.
Many times, I've wondered if God was using me in his kingdom while I labored for the Air Force. Let Exodus 31 be a lesson for me and any other who feels they are just going about the motions of life. God takes people just like you and me, touches us with his Spirit, and uses us in his kingdom as we offer our lives to him.
LORD JESUS
I invite you to use the ordinariness of my life in your Kingdom. Fill me with your Spirit, so that my every act becomes used of you for your honor and glory. Amen.
See also Exodus 35:31
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