3 day plan

Created to be Creative - Part 1

Day 2 of 3

NIV

Exodus 35:35

35He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.

Here in Exodus Moses talks about the special gift of God Spirit that God gave to certain people in building his tabernacle. The Spirit enabled them to use their creativity and pass it on to others.

I believe we all have creative abilities, even if we’re not all spiritually gifted for temple-building. They are linked to our ‘smarts’ – the way we learn. I learn best when I’m actively involved. I will always sit near the front in church and participate in discussion when possible. I like to get hands on and practise. I’m a ‘words’ person, so one of my creative gifts is writing.

It’s easy for us to become disappointed with own abilities if we focus on other people’s talents. But God has given us all creative gifts. You might be good at cooking, or singing, or card-making or problem solving. You don’t have to be the best at the thing you do; just be your best. If you’re not sure what your creative gifts are, ask a good friend; I’m sure they will tell you!

(Now, I think I might just go and get inky and make a card. After I hang out the washing!)

Question
If you are struggling to feel confident about your creative gifts, try this…

Say, “I’m not so good at …, but I’m pretty good at…”

Prayer
Lord, reveal to me the creative gifts you have given me. Help me to use them to serve you and bless others. Amen.

Days

Exodus 35:1-35

Sabbath Regulations

1Moses assembled the whole Israelite community and said to them, “These are the things the Lord has commanded you to do: 2For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of sabbath rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it is to be put to death. 3Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”

Materials for the Tabernacle

4Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded: 5From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of:

“gold, silver and bronze;

6blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen;

goat hair;

7ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather;

acacia wood;

8olive oil for the light;

spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;

9and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.

10“All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded:

11“the tabernacle with its tent and its covering, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases;

12the ark with its poles and the atonement cover and the curtain that shields it;

13the table with its poles and all its articles and the bread of the Presence;

14the lampstand that is for light with its accessories, lamps and oil for the light;

15the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense;

the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle;

16the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils;

the bronze basin with its stand;

17the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard;

18the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, and their ropes;

19the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary—both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests.”

20Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, 21and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. 22All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord. 23Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or the other durable leather brought them. 24Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the Lord, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it. 25Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun—blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen. 26And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair. 27The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. 28They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. 29All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do.

Bezalel and Oholiab

30Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 32to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. 34And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.