Having a son soon? Still pondering the little guy’s name? Here’s one for ya – name him after that famous guy in the Bible. Call him Bezalel.
Here’s the press release from Moses:
See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship; to make designs for working in gold and in silver and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work. He also has put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to perform every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer, in blue and in purple and in scarlet material, and in fine linen, and of a weaver, as performers of every work and makers of designs (Exodus 35:30-36).
Did you see that? Here was a man who was anointed and pointed, fired and wired by the Holy Ghost!
For construction. Did you know that God can supernaturally fill you with a love and passion for things that get your hands dirty?
For art. Here was a man under the power of the Presence, sent on a divine mission to carve wood and stone and to form silver and gold and bronze.
For design. This man was gifted to do things architecturally and aesthetically that had never been done before. And he was no specialist. He had the unction to function in every inventive work.
For needlework. Now hold on a minute. Aren’t you gettin’ a little girly there, Lord? This guy invites his buddies over for a Spirit-led quilting party.
Then I love this phrase: God “has put it in his heart to teach.” Literally, to pass his anointed skills on to others.
Maybe you’re still a little nervous. How can I tell that the passion is really put there by God? How do I know it isn’t my flesh, or the world or the devil? Let me give you the short answer for now:
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV).
At the core of your being, the center of your existence, God has placed the Ultimate Desire – the deepest longing. It’s a longing for Him. Many addictions, compulsions, or unmet needs actually grow out of a spiritual yearning. Something is missing that can only be satisfied by Jesus Christ. We just try to fill it with the wrong stuff. That’s why Jesus said,
“If you are thirsty, come to me! If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within” (John 7:37-38).
That tells me that He can be trusted with the desires of my heart, and that He understands them, however “unspiritual” they may appear. He also makes it clear that my ultimate fulfillment isn’t in teaching, or stone cutting, or even embroidery (go figure). They’re in Him. If the passion doesn’t flow into or out of intimacy with Jesus, it’s worth a second look.
What if Bezalel lived today? What would God put in his heart to do?
Maybe he’d be an anointed business consultant or troubleshooter.
Perhaps a prophetic computer graphics designer or software engineer.
How about a gifted school administrator, or a Spirit-filled firefighter?
What if Bezelel was actually Bezalella? (You name your daughter that and I’ll never admit in public that I know you!) What if her passion was to be a wife and mother? Or maybe she has a vision to explore space as an astronaut?
Bezelel (or his twin sister) does live today. If you know Jesus, you’re him or her.