May 15, 2019

What Are Your Talents?

Exodus 36

Jennifer Bradley
Wednesday's Devo

May 15, 2019

Wednesday's Devo

May 15, 2019

Central Truth

Each of us has been given specific skills for a specific purpose commanded by God.

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Key Verse | Exodus 36:1

“. . . [E]very craftsman in whom the LORD has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded.”

Exodus 36

Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the LORD has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded.”

And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work. And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the LORD has commanded us to do.” So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.

And all the craftsmen among the workmen made the tabernacle with ten curtains. They were made of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns, with cherubim skillfully worked. The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, 1 36:9 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains were the same size.

10 He 2 36:10 Probably Bezalel (compare 35:30; 37:1) coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another. 11 He made loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain of the first set. Likewise he made them on the edge of the outermost curtain of the second set. 12 He made fifty loops on the one curtain, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was in the second set. The loops were opposite one another. 13 And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to the other with clasps. So the tabernacle was a single whole.

14 He also made curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle. He made eleven curtains. 15 The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. The eleven curtains were the same size. 16 He coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves. 17 And he made fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain of the one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the other connecting curtain. 18 And he made fifty clasps of bronze to couple the tent together that it might be a single whole. 19 And he made for the tent a covering of tanned rams' skins and goatskins.

20 Then he made the upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood. 21 Ten cubits was the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each frame. 22 Each frame had two tenons for fitting together. He did this for all the frames of the tabernacle. 23 The frames for the tabernacle he made thus: twenty frames for the south side. 24 And he made forty bases of silver under the twenty frames, two bases under one frame for its two tenons, and two bases under the next frame for its two tenons. 25 For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty frames 26 and their forty bases of silver, two bases under one frame and two bases under the next frame. 27 For the rear of the tabernacle westward he made six frames. 28 He made two frames for corners of the tabernacle in the rear. 29 And they were separate beneath but joined at the top, at the first ring. He made two of them this way for the two corners. 30 There were eight frames with their bases of silver: sixteen bases, under every frame two bases.

31 He made bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle, 32 and five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the tabernacle at the rear westward. 33 And he made the middle bar to run from end to end halfway up the frames. 34 And he overlaid the frames with gold, and made their rings of gold for holders for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.

35 He made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; with cherubim skillfully worked into it he made it. 36 And for it he made four pillars of acacia and overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were of gold, and he cast for them four bases of silver. 37 He also made a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework, 38 and its five pillars with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals, and their fillets were of gold, but their five bases were of bronze.

Footnotes

[1] 36:9 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
[2] 36:10 Probably Bezalel (compare 35:30; 37:1)

Dive Deeper | Exodus 36

This week, I've been watching Making It, a wholesome show hosted by Ron Swanson and Leslie Knope that brings craftsmen from all over the country in a friendly competition to build things with their hands. I can't relate to this skill that these contestants share with Bezalel and Oholiab, but it's cool to watch their God-given talents and think about how similar talents were used to build the tabernacle. 

Exodus 36 is full of good truths. It reminds us that God has given each of us skills to use for His kingdom (Exodus 36:1); it gives us a picture of generosity so great that God's people had to be restrained from giving (Exodus 36:3-6); and it shows us that while God has a grand, all-encompassing plan, He also cares deeply about the details (Exodus 36:8-38). My biggest takeaway is how everyone played a part to ultimately create something that pleased God. Whether it was Moses leading with God's command, the people bringing materials as freewill offerings, or the craftsmen carrying out the construction, God stirred the hearts of His people to each play a role, none less important than the other.

I used to feel resentful toward people who were really good at something, whether it was singing, sports, dancing, or making things. I'd try to think of my own natural talents and couldn't come up with anything worthy of mentioning in an icebreaker game. What I've come to realize is that God doesn't care about our talents—He cares about how we use them. In my case, I had to lay down my pride to stop trying to find an impressive hobby that I could "use for God" and start using my own testimony to do what we're called to do in the first place and just share Christ with people. When God calls us to do something, He provides the resources and ability to do it. And if it's not the glamorous path we had in mind for ourselves, then it's a good reminder that Someone else belongs at the forefront.

Discussion Questions

1. What skills or talents has God given you? Are you using them for yourself or for His purpose?

2. Do you trust that God is using you as part of His bigger plan? If not, what's stopping you from believing this today?

3. Have you thought of ways to use your gifts or personal experiences to serve in the church? If loss is part of your story, check out GriefShare and Shift at Watermark. If you have a knack for hospitality, look into Frontlines. Or if you have talents in fine arts, check out the many opportunities within Watermark Arts