The Lord has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. (Exodus 35:31)
Read: Exodus 35:10-36:38, Matthew 27:32-66, Psalm 34:1-10, Proverbs 9:7-8
Relate: Sometimes I get a little bit jealous. I was raised in a family that is fully loaded with with people in a more “traditional” ministry. My dad was a pastor. So was his brother in law. My sister is a children’s pastor, my cousin who is one of my best friends is a pastor. So are multiple other cousins and uncles around the world. Even more, I have a heart for church planting. I have two cousins who have, or are doing it right now. (Including Rebecca, who wrote here on the River Walk yesterday) The church I am a part of back in the states, although not quite three years old, is already popping out another baby. Part of me wishes I could be back home to be a part of that. Again, my dad planted a church back in Rochester when I was in high school. As much as my heart pushes in that direction, it isn’t even close to what I see God doing through me in the near, or even more distant future. I love to preach and I would like to think I am pretty good at it. But I haven’t found myself behind a pulpit once in the past ten months. Nope. I’m stuck teaching English to Turkish elementary school kids and writing as I can find the time.
I wonder is Bezalel ever felt a bit jealous? Look at who he gets to compare himself to. First there’s Moses. He went up a mountain and came down with the ten commandments. He is leading a group of two million out from slavery and into the promised land. Then there’s Aaron. Yes he has to try and live in his little brother’s shadow. But then again, Aaron is the first and founding high priest creating a dynasty of mediators between God and Israel for the next thousand years. Of course, there’s also Joshua. He is Moses’ handpicked successor. He gets to train and lead the army and will be the one leading the people into the promised land. Bezalel? He gets to make a tent… fun.
React: Moses and Aaron and Joshua are the ones from that generation that we remember. They are the ones who join the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph as greats of the Hebrew faith and the subject of Sunday School lessons world over. Bezalel… who is that? Bezalel was an artist. Oh, yah, one of those types. before we dismiss him, however, let’s not forget one very big but often overlooked fact. Bezalel was the first one in the Bible and the only one on this list said to be filled with the Spirit of God.
Maybe what we are doing isn’t as “big” or as “braggable” in the world’s eyes as that which others around us might be doing. Maybe we might feel that we need to squint a little harder or look a little closer to see how God is using us to change the world. Maybe we are just as obscure as Bezalel standing in the shadows of all the Moses and Aaron and Joshuas all around us. If that is so, let’s throw our very being into making those tents. I will strive to be the best English teacher this world has ever seen so that the world can see the Spirit of God shining brightly through me? You… what’s your tent?
Respond:
Dear God,
Help me to compare myself to nothing else except the best “me” You have called me to be. Until the Goliaths come my way, help me to be faithful in fighting the lions and bears. Help me to strive to do the best and be the most diligent I can possibly be with whatever tasks are set before me. You have filled me with Your Spirit. Help me to make a tent that houses Your presence for all the world to see.
THE RIVER WALK 
You are glorifying God each day in the important and valuable work you do! Thank you for your inspiration and sharing your walk of faith!
You are glorifying God in your work! Thank you for your inspiration and sharing your walk of faith!
Reblogged this on ChristianBlessings and commented:
1 Corinthians 12: 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Praise God there is room for everyone to serve the Lord in the Body of Christ, according to their gifts and the part they have been assigned to function as. Have you found your part?
Amen! You are touching eternity for each child you teach. Build on!
I grew up with my parents always away working hard shifts at a dry cleaners managing a 6 man job. And it was hard to see that God was close to me.. I feel like compared to everyone else god was so far from me the hardships I had that I endured the suffering and pain I came to endure made my skin thick and desensitized. I was hardened by life and I envied those who grew up so much closer to opportunity hope and justice. My native country is vietnam and it was a time of war for parents coming over. I never knew my mother land though im glad because of it’s corrupt political structure. To me the Americans who came to fight the communists were heaven sent almost angelic as a metaphor for light in the chaotic dark. I felt god was so far from me but to sacrifice soldiers to go that distance to spread the word.. I felt that was his gift to me. My life growing up wasn’t perfect but I can be glad for hope and opportunity and a Canadian education. I still feel god was missing from my life the way my parents were when I was growing up but that was just them working hard so I had food clothing on my back and shelter to live in. the same way we never see god because hes working in the backgriund to make things right for me now i guess. Thank you for your tent story. The glory of the Lord is with you.
Currently I’m working in a church plant in central Utah. I’m serving as worship leader there. Surprisingly our team has grown forward rather quickly.
There are time though,that I will watch a tutorial made by bigger churches and long for something more than what i have.
That is when God will call me back to the slender of what he has me doing ‘right now’.
Very good post…..God is in control.
1Co 12:18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
What church?
Calvary Chapel
OK. There’s a few of those. What city?
A small town called Richfield. It’s central southern Utah right in the middle of a very LDS area.
Bezalel was filled with the Spirit of the Lord, a unique experience at that time. He accomplished much … we are filled with the Spirit as believers in Christ. How much could we do for our Savior if we followed the Spirit’s leading each day! Great post Beejai.
you have planted a church right here. thanks!
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I wait tables at an Olive Garden for now. I have asked myself if this is all God has for me. I think God is moving me back into ministry soon. But until then, I will make the Olive Garden the best place it can be! Thanks for the encouragement.
I pulled two stints working as a waiter at Uno’s. It was definitely a fun and challenging job. From another vantage point, it was a rewarding and challenging mission field.
Can I say, I am loving this wordpress community I am finding here? So encouraging. We live in a culture that favors and praises the super start Christians, and sometimes I have found myself lost in the midst of “what am I doing? Does this even matter?” Thank you for pointing our chins up to Christ, realizing no, this is not about us, it is about living for Him. Wherever you are.
🙂
Reblogged this on Shiny Thoughts and commented:
Bezalel – ever heard of him? Another heart-changing blog from this site.
Thank you – again. Your response prayer is the cry of my heart. I wish I listened to my heart better instead of letting my eyes envy others.
I echo what everyone else is saying, you will have no idea what impact you are having by what you do here (and in school) til we all meet in Heaven.
That was wonderful. The video was fantastic and so uplifting and a great reminder…who we are big or small, rich or not – we have a position and a reason to be….
Liked the concluding prayer very much.
Maybe the Lord is redefining what you have come to call church.
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I am also teaching English to young students here in Spain. But our humble ministries are not about us. Praise the Lord! You have a high calling. We all do. Whoever and wherever we are, we are witnesses to the Greatest Wonder this world has ever known! We are children of God! We are seekers after the Son of God. We will follow Him through the big moments and the small. We will follow Him if everyone else forsakes us, persecutes us or just plain forgets about us. We will follow Him right to the cross, through death and up to the very Presence of God! This is where we will look. And we won´t take our eyes of Him for a minute! May He help us every step of the Way!
Your posts are a spiritual blessing poured out for others each day! To God be the glory! Write on my brother in Christ!