“The LORD said to Moses, ‘See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri […], and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship.’” —Exodus 31:1-3
The people of Israel were a talented group. Their time as slaves was horrible, but it had taught them useful skills, including construction and craftsmanship. After laboring to build beautiful structures designed to impress the world, they wouldn’t have been too daunted by God’s command to build Him a house.
Imagine the excitement of the craftsmen when they heard Moses’ instructions for the structure God wanted them to create. This tabernacle, the tent that would house God’s presence, would be magnificent. It would be the finest thing they had ever made. Perhaps they had worried their skills would be useless in their new life, where survival would be more important than the creation of beautiful things.
But God has a reason for each of our talents. He chose them for us, and He will not let them go to waste. It would have been easy for Him to simply speak His house into existence, as He had done at the beginning of time when He created the world. But instead, He wanted people to build this for Him. They bore within them a tiny bit of God’s own creative power, and He wanted them to use it for His glory.
How amazing this is, to think that God wants us to create things for Him! We have only to look at the world around us to realize that God is a master craftsman. How could we ever come up with a tree? With the vast expanse of sky? With the breathtaking colors of a sunrise?
Yet for some reason, this great Being has gifted us with the same ability to create. When we make things, we reflect Him. He delights in the works of our hands, rejoicing to see what we have made for Him. He didn’t just settle for people making His house; He wanted them to.
He loves our creations!
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