Post by Admin on Nov 10, 2016 8:27:21 GMT
The opening questions tonight were about our experiences at work, whether paid work or volunteering. It was plain that experiences in which we felt mistrusted or devalued made for the most dissatisfying experiences.
Bezalel was selected by God – and filled with the Holy Spirit – to lead the craftsmen who would produce everything God wanted in the Tent that would serve as tabernacle for the Children of Israel as they wandered in the desert. The instructions were given by God twice – once before the incident with the Golden Calf, and then again afterwards. Bezalel is the first person explicitly said to be filled with the Spirit in Scripture. It is worth noting that the first person filled with the Spirit is not a patriarch, lawgiver, prophet or judge. It is rather Bezalel, an artist.
An observation after reading the verses at the end of Exodus 35 and beginning of Exodus 36 was that many skills and many contributions were called and needed to accomplish the work God wanted in the Tent. As with God’s work in the world today, all God’s people are called to let the Spirit enrich and support us as God’s Kingdom is constructed. It’s a team effort, requiring everyone to pitch in.
In fact, considering the end of the passage with Moses calling a halt to contributions, a further observation is that we can sometimes go overboard in our attempts to do what we think will satisfy God’s will. That can be a misguided effort to “earn” God’s favor. It can also be a show of ego that shadows over the potential contributions of others – hogging the spotlight.
Our next session will bring this study on Spiritual Gifts to a close.
Bezalel was selected by God – and filled with the Holy Spirit – to lead the craftsmen who would produce everything God wanted in the Tent that would serve as tabernacle for the Children of Israel as they wandered in the desert. The instructions were given by God twice – once before the incident with the Golden Calf, and then again afterwards. Bezalel is the first person explicitly said to be filled with the Spirit in Scripture. It is worth noting that the first person filled with the Spirit is not a patriarch, lawgiver, prophet or judge. It is rather Bezalel, an artist.
An observation after reading the verses at the end of Exodus 35 and beginning of Exodus 36 was that many skills and many contributions were called and needed to accomplish the work God wanted in the Tent. As with God’s work in the world today, all God’s people are called to let the Spirit enrich and support us as God’s Kingdom is constructed. It’s a team effort, requiring everyone to pitch in.
In fact, considering the end of the passage with Moses calling a halt to contributions, a further observation is that we can sometimes go overboard in our attempts to do what we think will satisfy God’s will. That can be a misguided effort to “earn” God’s favor. It can also be a show of ego that shadows over the potential contributions of others – hogging the spotlight.
Our next session will bring this study on Spiritual Gifts to a close.