Now - how to use them...
Bezalel and Oholiab were asked to use their skills for 3 reasons. Let's examine those and see what that has to say about how we use ours.
What were they building? A tabernacle. Exodus 25:8 says:
"Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them."
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Does that surprise you? I'd expect God to say, "Construct a sanctuary for Me, so that you'll all have a place to worship Me." Right? The tabernacle is for Israel, right? Well, yes, but first and foremost it's for God! What a surprise! Have you had that experience as a parent, or observed it? Those "I need to be close to you" moments? When a parent constructs some way to be physically close to their kid, like putting on a movie, just to snuggle, laying down to take a nap with your baby, or wrestling with your grown kid - just to be physically close. God wants to be close to his people, and that's the first and foremost reason that He asks Bezalel and Oholiab to use their skills.
How could you use your skills to create places where God can be close to his people?
(And I'm talking everyone - God didn't lead just the religious or righteous Israelites out of Egypt, He led them ALL.)
Have you framed your skills in this way? Does your home have a holy environment that is a safe haven for kids and neighbors? I'm not talking everyone-getting-along-all-the-time, but is there a palpable "God, you're welcome here" invitation? Is your home a place where God can meet his people? Do you use your skills in the workplace - perhaps you're actually involved in creating spaces where God can meet people: hotels, museums, restaurants, etc. Or perhaps God is asking you to use your skills to create a make-shift sanctuary at your desk. In using your skills, do you first create a holy environment at your desk. I'm not saying a framed scripture on your desk (although that could be a good reminder to yourself). Assume that God intends to meet people at your desk, and you'll know what to do - which screensavers to avoid, the overall tone of your cubicle, how to make it inviting not just to you, but to others. Bezalel and Oholiab were hammering away, but REALLY, they were creating a space where God could live amongst them. How can you do likewise?
The sanctuary included an altar of incense. Exodus 30:10 explains:
"Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year; he shall make atonement on it with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once a year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord."
The second reason Bezalel and Oholiab were asked to use their skills is to provide a place for the community to worship. That tends to happen when God dwells amongst us. Our response tends to be worship. Create a space where God can meet with people and eventually there will be prayer there - whether your desk or your kitchen. Maybe you've created a home where God can meet with your kids. There are spaces for them to be reflective, there are books laying around that they pick up and encounter God in, there is music playing that puts them in a frame of mind to dialogue with God. If you've helped create that space, expect worship! You might not see it - there will be many silent prayers you're not privy to, but it will happen. At work, a coworker who is constantly hanging out in your space is probably not there to meet with you, but to meet with God. So invite them to pray. Maybe even invite them to sit for a few minutes and talk to God on there own while you go get a cup of coffee.
Or find other ways to use your skills to help God's people worship. Music, food, socializing, crafting, writing, listening, speaking, organizing - these are all skills that can be used to help people worship.
Think through your skill set.
How can you use your skills to create spaces where God will meet with people? Once you do, how can you guide that encounter into worship? Comment below.
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