The Power and the Ability—By Rebecca
I’ve been reading in Exodus lately and Exodus is my favorite book of the Bible! I love to read about God rescuing HIS PEOPLE and the miraculous things he does for them. I love reading about Moses’ calling to serve the Lord (Exodus 3), the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14), the way the Lord led them by cloud and fire (Exodus 13), the way the Lord provided for them with manna and quail (Exodus 16), how he even gave them water from a rock (Exodus 17). I love reading about Moses meeting with the Lord (Exodus 19 and on). It is just such an amazing time of God leading and providing and it is so exciting to hear and know that the same God that I worship and serve today is that same God that did those things then!
Not only do all those parts of Exodus excite me but in chapter 31 there is something else that grabs me each time I read it. The Lord tells Moses in vs. 2-5 “Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him 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 at engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft!” vs. 6 “And I have personally appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be his assistant. Moreover, I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen so they can make all the things I have commanded you to make…”
Why is this so awesome? Well, because God specifically chose…God filled them with his Spirit…God gave them wisdom, ability, and expertise for the job he had for them to do. He didn’t just give the people an assignment to do something but he also specifically gave the skills for that assignment. Not everyone in the camp was given these skills and abilities but those who God wanted to do this work he gave the ability. Moses references this again at the end of chapter 35 beginning of chapter 36.
This is God’s grace to us…he gives us the ability to do what he wants us to do. He doesn’t just do that for these craftsmen in the Old Testament—he does this for us today. Philippians 2:13 “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” THE POWER—that is the wisdom, ability and expertise behind being able to do what pleases him. And how incredible, he gives us the ability, but he also gives us THE DESIRE to do it! God’s grace—he gives us the desire and the power to do what pleases him—AMAZING!
What pleases him? Learning from him and following him-doing what he instructs, choosing to have him as Lord of your life…that’s what pleases him. I want to please him and I want to have the power to do that…how about you?
If you haven’t read Exodus recently—I encourage you to go back to it this week and be awed at what God has done and be encouraged that he is the same God today. Then spend time in Philippians and remember that God can give you the wisdom, ability and expertise to do what pleases him. He has something for each one of us and he can help us do it!