Creator & The Craftsman

I enjoy watching people who have learned a craft or skill. They do so many parts of their craft with ease and almost without thought. They have grown in their skill to the point where it is hard to imagine them ever starting from scratch and becoming so polished and skill. I enjoy woodworking and building something from a simple wooden board into a useful stool, box, shelf, etc.…  I am learning what I don’t know. I purchased a small benchtop lathe a few months back and I’m hoping to learn to make the barrel of a pen out of wood. I’m sure there are a few YouTube videos in my future!

The people of Israel spent some time camped at the foot of Mt. Sinai where Moses was given the law and specifications as to how they were to function as a community both in life and in their worship of God. The Lord gave them specifications on a portable worship space called the Tabernacle. It had lots of detail that the Lord had designed. He called on a couple of skilled craftsmen to make the different specific pieces. Check this out….

²² Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses.²³ He was assisted by Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, a craftsman expert at engraving, designing, and embroidering with blue, purple, and scarlet thread on fine linen cloth. (Exodus 38:22-23 NLT)

I think I would be a bit intimidated to have been called to make the items used in the worship of the community. The Lord had wired Bezalel and his assistant Oholiab for just such a task. The Creator of the Universe called upon these two craftsmen to create the components of the tabernacle that they would not see going forward. They built the Ark, the stands for the curtains, the Altar, table and they also did the curtains.  They were essentially “craftsman on behalf of the Creator. They had abilities that could be used for the Kingdom work among their peers. I wonder if they made mistakes along the way on some of these items. I’m sure I could never find their flaws by looking at their work.

I want to be a “Craftsman for the Creator”. I want to build out my life using the skills and the insights that He has given in His Word. I want to help build out the lives of my family and others that I work closely with every day. The Word of God contains the detailed instructions for me to follow. He has gifted me with talents to be used for Him and His Kingdom.  My role as a “craftsman” is to surrender to the Creator. He is worthy of my very best efforts and skills. He is incredibly patient with me as I develop and become who He’s called me to be.  I have work to do on behalf of Creator God. I need to listen carefully and follow His plans and specifications carefully.

Pressing On!

Dwayne