This is part 1 of a 3-part series. View the entire series here.
“The LORD has gifted Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other skilled craftsmen with wisdom and ability to perform any task involved in building the sanctuary.” – Exodus 35:35 NLT
The building of God’s temple—the place where His glory would dwell—was a herculean task. It was important that everyone involved in the temple’s construction was gifted and knowledgeable in all the right skills, so that the many intricate specifications God laid out could be met. In selecting the craftsmen who would see His plans through, God didn’t leave anything up to chance:
“The LORD has specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. The LORD has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft. And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach their skills to others. The LORD has given them special skills as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet thread on fine linen cloth, and weavers. They excel as craftsmen and as designers” (Exodus 35:30-35 NLT).
God chose specific people for a very specific work. These were people who had spent much of their lives perfecting their craft, investing time and energy into becoming as competent as possible. But God didn’t just choose them and then leave them to figure out the rest on their own—He gave them His Spirit, empowering them with His wisdom and knowledge so they would be equipped to succeed at the task He had called them to do.
There’s a popular saying that goes, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.” It can be hard to know what God is calling us to do. And then even when we do know what He’s calling us to, we may still struggle to feel qualified to do it.
Maybe you feel God is calling you to be a teacher, but you’re afraid of public speaking. Maybe you feel God is calling you to be a pilot, but you have a deathly fear of heights. Maybe you feel God is calling you to be a stay-at-home mom, but you have no model for what a good mother looks like.
Sometimes our fear acts as a warning signal that we’re on the wrong path; our lives in Christ should never be characterized or led by fear. But more often than not, God is going to ask you to step out in faith, to trust that He is capable of calming your fears and providing everything you need to be successful—as long as you’re willing to take the first step beyond your initial fear. This trust is what keeps us reliant on Him. If we’re always living in our comfort zone, doing things we know we excel at, then we won’t really have much need to lean on God for strength, vision, direction, or help. And the good news is that putting your trust in God is always a worthy investment. He will never call you to do something He doesn’t also equip you to do, and He’ll never leave you to do it alone, either.
Take some time to pray and seek the Lord about what He’s calling you to do. Listen to what He says. It may very well be that what He wants for you will at first seem scary, intimidating, or even impossible. You may, like Moses, want to tell God to choose someone else. But push through that feeling. Surrender your future, your career, and your calling to Him. And trust that when He leads the way, when He lights your path, you’ll never end up lost.
