Bezazel Part 1 (what changed at Pentecost)

READ: Ex. 30:22-31:11

I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship,

Exodus 31:3

Observe

We’ve jumped forward several hundred years since our last post to the moment when the Israelites, having been brought out of slavery in Egypt are building a tent in the desert. This tent, called the tabernacle, is going to contain the imminent presence of God and be the source of Israel’s delight and courage. We see God instructing Moses to use a man named Bezalel to make the tent, the ark of the covenant and all the artefacts to go inside them both. Bezalel is to build the first house for God, what a great honour and privilege. 

Bezalel, we’re told, has been filled with the Spirit of God for a particular purpose. His great ability and intelligence, his knowledge and craftsmanship is the gift of God to him. The purpose is God’s gift to him also. The result is that the Spirit of God uses him in ways he never would have dreamt possible.

This moment in Exodus is often cited as being an example of how God’s Spirit worked among his people in the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit would rush on and fill individuals at particular moments for particular tasks. The Israelites are not all living with the Holy Spirit in them, neither do they all experience fillings and of the Holy Spirit or moments of empowerment by the Holy Spirit. 

All that changes on the day of Pentecost.

Apply

With the sound of a rushing wind and the appearance of tongues of fire the Holy Spirit was given to all of God’s people. The Holy Spirit, sent by the Father at the request of the Son, has come to live in you. Jesus made you clean and ready for the presence of God and now God, by his Spirit has come to live in you. 

Now the Holy Spirit isn’t only given to a few people for a particular and very specific task. Now the Holy Spirit has come to all of us. Christians across the globe are all called the temple of the Holy Spirit. Your body is a temple, not because it’s a strong or healthy. It is a temple not because you look after it well and only eat organic foods. Your body is a temple because God has come to live in you, permanently. 

Like Bezalel you can know the joy and privilege of being specially commissioned and specially equipped by God for the tasks his laid in front of you. Like Bezazel God says of you ‘have you seen my child _______ they have been filled with the Spirit for _____. 

Pray

Thank you Father for giving the gift of your Holy Spirit to us. Thank you Father for the privilege of having you live in me and enabling me to do what you’ve equipped me for. Please fill me afresh with your Spirit so that I know new courage and capacity to do what you’ve called me to do.