Well-Equipped to Do His Will

You've got what it takes

Happy Wednesday! Now that the holidays are over, I’m finally starting to get back into a healthy routine and it is much needed. I love taking breaks, and I think rest is important, but I’ve found that I’m usually at my best when I keep myself busy and working toward whatever goals I’ve set. With that being said, the start of the New Year seemed like the perfect time to embark on something that has been extremely intimidating to me in the past: the Old Testament. 

Over the last few months of intentionally trying to spend time in the Word, I’ve learned so much and feel like I know God in a different way than I ever have. I guess that’s the difference between head knowledge and heart knowledge—just knowing the facts vs. actually pursuing a relationship with Jesus. There’s so much to learn from Jesus’ life in the Gospels and the testimonies from the rest of the New Testament, but I knew I was holding myself back from seeing the whole picture by continuing to shy away from the Old Testament. 

There have been several times over the years when I’ve made it through Genesis, but drifted off somewhere in the middle of Exodus, amidst all the plagues and Moses’ trials with Pharaoh. (Little did I know that Exodus was “light reading” compared to Leviticus and the other books that directly follow.) I’ll admit, it’s still hard for me to get through some of the passages and chapters—there’s something so heavy about the Law—but I’ve been amazed at what God has shown me this time around, simply because I was willing to keep my heart open. 

The stories of the Old Testament can seem like almost basic knowledge when you hear them over and over again, and it was easy for me to think that there was nothing to be gained by actually reading through them. The people lived so long ago, and many things don’t apply at all to our lives today. Needless to say, Exodus really is the last place I would have expected God to speak to me. Yet as I was reading through paragraph after paragraph of Exodus 25-30, where God gives Moses the instructions for building the tabernacle, there were certain words and phrases that began to stick out to me. He tells Moses how each part of the tabernacle should be constructed, from the walls to the altars to the lampstand, all down to the exact measurements, so it would be a proper sanctuary for Him to dwell in among the Israelites. After describing a long list of materials and steps that Moses would need to follow in order to build the various parts of the tabernacle (like weaving cherubim into curtains and crafting priestly garments out of precious stones), God would say all these things should be done by “a skilled worker.” Several times He mentions a job in the building process and says it should be done by “the work of skilled hands.” The tunics and sashes should be made by an expert embroiderer; the anointing oil and incense should be the products of an expert perfumer. In other words, God wanted the tabernacle built by the best of the best with no margin of error. I started to feel overwhelmed for Moses; that was a pretty tall order to be given. In addition to following hundreds of steps exactly as God had listed them out, he’d have to hope there were skilled enough workers to find from the Israelites to get each job done. 

Though most of us aren’t asked to build an actual tabernacle in our lifetime, you might agree that there have been times when you’ve been faced with your own “tabernacle” to figure out or deal with. Moses was definitely not the first person or the last person to be presented with an overwhelming project or problem that needed solving, and I can attest to many times in my life where I had no idea how I was going to accomplish what I felt God was asking me to do. But when we get lost in feelings of helplessness instead of having trust, the focus shifts from what God can do to what we can’t do. Self-doubt creeps in and we end up feeling stuck.

It’s like God knew Moses would be having all these emotions; in the very last paragraph of instructions for the tabernacle, He casually mentions, 

See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you (Exodus 31:2-6, emphasis added).

God gave Moses a task, something that seemed daunting and maybe even impossible without His help, and then provided everything that was needed. Even if a situation seems difficult, He doesn’t ask us for anything more than what He has already prepared and given to us. I love that God showed us His intentionality in the ways He gave specific people the precise talents and skills they would need to do the jobs He called them to do. With anything you might be facing, it produces so much peace to know that God has supplied either you, or the people around you—family, friends, coworkers, etc.—with the skills you need to accomplish what He’s placed before you. 

I think it also gives a whole new meaning to Colossians 3:23, at least for me. Paul reminds us,

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

God asked Moses for skilled workers, and then gave people the wisdom and skills to do what He commanded Moses. We’ve all been created intentionally and with different strengths, talents, and gifts. I’m thankful God reminded me that these are not random. Whatever talents you have, things you are good at, or strengths that others recognize in you, they were put in you with specific purposes in mind. We are not our own, and shouldn’t live as though we are. Whatever job or vocation God has placed you in, whatever family you were born into or brought into, these are places where God may create opportunities for you to use the things He’s given you. 

This is specifically helpful for me, since I’ve found that it’s easy to turn to complaining or feeling burnt out when it comes to things like working. Instead of being lazy or choosing to take the easy way out of things, I’m always glad to be reminded that I am not here in the world to work for other people, but rather for God. So it’s important to pay attention to what God has put in front of you right now, and also to be conscientious of what others may be struggling with as well. Work hard where you are, and be willing to offer help when it’s needed; the strengths, wisdom, and talents we have were not given to us for our own enjoyment, but for the good works God designed for us to do for Him. 

It never fails to amaze me how God is so creative in the ways He speaks to us. Though I wouldn’t have guessed Exodus would give me anything I could relate to—God tends to humble me with His irony—it’s helped me to have a more open mind going into the rest of the Old Testament. I suppose there’s a reason Isaiah said, 

the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8).