14 day plan

God’s Wisdom – you just have to ask!

Day 2 of 14

CEV

Exodus 31:1-5

The Lord Chooses Bezalel and Oholiab

(Exodus 35.30—36.1)

1The Lord said to Moses:

2I have chosen Bezalel from the Judah tribe to make the sacred tent and its furnishings. 3-5Not only have I filled him with my Spirit, but I have given him wisdom and made him a skilled craftsman who can create objects of art with gold, silver, bronze, precious stones, and wood.

Reflection:  Wisdom is mentioned over 200 times in the Bible. In fact, we get many clues as to what wisdom looks like and how we can access it as we read God’s word. There are numerous references, such as this one from Exodus, which demonstrate that wisdom is of God and given by God. We cannot conjure up wisdom on our own. We cannot try to think wise thoughts and expect them to come.

In this passage, God tells Moses what he has given to Bezalel – wisdom – named second only to the spirit of God. In Ezra 7, we read that Ezra possesses the wisdom of his God (v 25) and in Deuteronomy 34, Joshua is filled with wisdom because Moses laid hands on him (v 9).

Sometimes it is easier to define something for what it is not. The news is filled with stories of people who have made foolish choices. One could argue they lacked wisdom. How often do you make decisions that, in hindsight, lack wisdom? Do they have a common element?

Prayer:  Lord God, forgive my foolish decisions. Grant me your wisdom and understanding so that I might make good decisions. Amen.

Exodus 31:1-18

The Lord Chooses Bezalel and Oholiab

(Exodus 35.30—36.1)

1The Lord said to Moses:

2I have chosen Bezalel from the Judah tribe to make the sacred tent and its furnishings. 3-5Not only have I filled him with my Spirit, but I have given him wisdom and made him a skilled craftsman who can create objects of art with gold, silver, bronze, precious stones, and wood. 6I have appointed Oholiab from the tribe of Dan to work with him, and I have also given skills to those who will help them make everything exactly as I have commanded you: 7-11the sacred tent with its furnishings, the sacred chest with its place of mercy, the table with all that is on it, the lamp with its equipment, the incense altar, the altar for sacrifices with its equipment, the bronze bowl with its stand, the beautiful priestly clothes for Aaron and his sons, the oil for dedication and ordination services, and the sweet-smelling incense for the holy place.

Laws for the Sabbath

12-13Moses told the Israelites that the Lord had said:

The Sabbath belongs to me. Now I command you and your descendants to always obey the laws of the Sabbath. By doing this, you will know that I have chosen you as my own. 14-15 Keep the Sabbath holy. You have six days to do your work, but the Sabbath is mine, and it must remain a day of rest. If you work on the Sabbath, you will no longer be part of my people, and you will be put to death.

16Every generation of Israelites must respect the Sabbath. 17 This day will always serve as a reminder, both to me and to the Israelites, that I made the heavens and the earth in six days, then on the seventh day I rested and relaxed.

18When God had finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two flat stones on which he had written all his laws with his own hand.