14 day plan

God’s Wisdom – you just have to ask!

Day 2 of 14

NIV

Exodus 31:1-3

Bezalel and Oholiab

1Then the Lord said to Moses, 2“See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—

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

Bezalel and Oholiab

1Then the Lord said to Moses, 2“See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 4to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. 6Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him.

“I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you:

7“the tent of meeting,

the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it,

and all the other furnishings of the tent—

8the table and its articles,

the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories,

the altar of incense,

9the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils,

the basin with its stand—

10and also the woven garments,

both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest

and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests,

11and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place.

“They are to make them just as I commanded you.”

The Sabbath

12Then the Lord said to Moses, 13“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

14“ ‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. 15For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. 16The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’ ”

18When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.